Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: TomTelford on December 19, 2009, 08:33:24 PM

Title: Mockingbird at Black Creek Pioneer Village
Post by: TomTelford on December 19, 2009, 08:33:24 PM

Was doing the family tour through the old buildings when I spotted this out of the Manse kitchen window.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2593/4198912926_b396b39968_b.jpg)

Tom.

Title: Ref: NMB
Post by: JTF on December 19, 2009, 09:40:54 PM

Very nice shot. I have yet to see one of these.

Title:
Post by: denis on December 19, 2009, 10:31:31 PM

beautiful shot tom
denis

Title:
Post by: Misty01 on December 20, 2009, 07:21:59 AM

stunning picture Tom  :D

Title:
Post by: Moira on December 20, 2009, 08:01:57 AM

Very nice picture.  I was lucky to see on at Humber Bay a while back - great bird to watch and listen to.

Title:
Post by: TomTelford on December 20, 2009, 09:20:23 AM

Thanks guys,  

I was hoping that he/she(?) would make some noise but not a peep...   :(

Oh well...

Tom.

Title:
Post by: Niloc on December 20, 2009, 10:51:23 AM

Very nice detail, I have yet to come accross one of these cuties good eye!

Title:
Post by: BirderBill on December 23, 2009, 01:56:04 PM

I JUST had one of those visit me outside my office window.
... at least I think that is what is was.  I was literally within 1m of it, looking through the window, and what I saw appeared to be darker gray on the underside than this pic.  
Also, size-wise, it seemed more in relation to a bluejay.

Is there something else I might have been looking at?

Title: Re: Ref: NMB
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on December 23, 2009, 05:06:18 PM

Quote from: "JTF"

Very nice shot. I have yet to see one of these.

that makes me laugh.
you've shot every bloody owl that we city folk dream of shooting, and you haven't seen a mockingbird?!?
:)

there are a # that hang around the various Humber River parks in TOronto. relatively plentiful here. also spotted one in Oshawa. this year, i've seen probably 6 or so. maybe more.

Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on December 23, 2009, 06:02:05 PM

Quote from: "BirderBill"

Also, size-wise, it seemed more in relation to a bluejay.

Yes, that's accurate.  I saw a Mockingbird at Lake Wabukayne on Saturday morning - initial glance, appeared to be a Blue Jay, looked again and saw the grey colour plus long tail.  Hadn't seen a Mockingbird up in this area for awhile so he/she was a pleasant surprise.  

Jo-Anne  :)

Title:
Post by: TomTelford on December 23, 2009, 08:04:34 PM

Hey yogistewart,

This was my first mockingbird too!  I've never seen one before, I guess they don't like Durham.  I can watch woodpeckers pretty much any day of the week and we've got hawks and owls a'plenty but no mockingbirds.  Weird.

Tom.

Title:
Post by: Tyler on December 23, 2009, 08:52:39 PM

Hey Tom

I guess you do not bird much near the lakeshore in durham region. Northern mockingbirds are easily found when one looks for them.
Throughtout the GTA they love the habitat along rail lines (i.e. shrubs, brambles, scrub) lots of food and cover. With that said current territories I know of are Newcastle hwy 115 and cp rail line, darlington provincial park, oshawa second marsh (2-3 pairs),and the stronghold "stevenson road oshawa west to whitby harbour/brock st. north to the cp rail line  and south to the lake" this rectangle has anywhere between 6- 10 pairs. This time of year look for berry bushes and you will find the mockers. There is a reliable pair at the Oshawa train station just east of the building along the Via platform. Also there are pairs in the lynde shore area, south ajax, pickering nuke, etc.  

Research done has shown that Durham regions mockers are doing well and are increasing. Would not surprise me that one has not yet shown interest in the scrubby forests se of Orono that are filled with berries most winters.

Title:
Post by: TomTelford on December 24, 2009, 05:26:07 PM

I see where the problem is, there are no winter ripe berries on or near my property and little that I've noticed in the crown lands.  And coincidentally this one was in a berry bush too!

Thanks,

Tom.

Title:
Post by: BirderBill on December 29, 2009, 07:00:45 AM

Thanks for the confirmation of my sighting, as well!  
I tried a shot with a phone-cam, but the bird blended with with its background...
FYI, I know of some Mockingbird sightings at the Distillery District, in the South end by the train track, and in Scarborough by the BROFASCO building at Progress east of McCowan.

The one I spotted is in the Downsview Park area generally.  I have also spotted a Baldie in this area, nesting pair of Turkey Vultures on the "Good Life Fitness" building (ironic...), and the occasional Snowy vising.