Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Bird Brain on January 23, 2010, 03:59:38 PM

Title: Male Wood Duck at Lake Aquitaine
Post by: Bird Brain on January 23, 2010, 03:59:38 PM

Hi everyone.  

I just got home from walking around Lake Aquitaine and was pleasantly surprised to see a male Wood Duck swimming around with lots of Mallards at the NW corner of the lake - small patch of open water.  

Also saw the following birds:

Blue Jays x 2
Canada Geese - lots flying by
Cardinals x 2 (1m, 1f)
Chickadees - lots
Crows x 4
House Sparrows - lots
Mourning Doves - lots

Jo-Anne  :)

Lake Aquitaine:  SE corner of Glen Erin Dr./Aquitaine Ave., behind the Meadowvale Community Centre.

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Post by: MEGHAN on January 23, 2010, 08:15:20 PM

Great to see he's still around, and continuing to enjoy the company of the resident Mallards.
Meghan

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Post by: Bird Brain on January 25, 2010, 01:29:44 PM

Monday update:

The male Wood Duck is still here at Lake Aquitaine and it appears that he has finally bonded with a female Mallard!!!  :D  They were sitting side by side, looking quite comfortable and happy on some ice close to water by the concrete barrier/dam (NW corner of lake, behind the community centre).  She no longer chases him away or quacks at him, instead swims around by his side.

Perhaps this year there will be some Wood Duck X Mallard hybrid babies?  

Jo-Anne  :)

Lake Aquitaine:  SE corner of Glen Erin Dr./Aquitaine Ave., behind the Meadowvale Community Centre.

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Post by: Bird Brain on January 26, 2010, 04:19:20 PM

Tuesday update:  male Wood Duck is still here with his "lady love" (female Mallard).  Today they were cuddling, rubbing heads, touching each other's bills, swimming around side by side, etc.  Very cute!  :D  

Jo-Anne  :)

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Post by: Bird Brain on January 27, 2010, 03:13:41 PM

Wednesday update:  he's still here.  :D

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Post by: Bird Brain on January 28, 2010, 12:35:31 PM

Thursday update:  He's still here!  :D  

He's swimming around with Mallards at the farthest NW corner of the lake, directly behind my building.  There's a fenced off concrete walkway with metal bars - just below this to the left there's a small triangle of open water.  It was a pleasant surprise to see him today as the rest of the lake is frozen over so I figured he'd probably headed down to Lake Wabukayne.  :lol:

Jo-Anne  :)

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Post by: Bird Brain on January 29, 2010, 07:23:57 PM

Friday update:  I checked this morning and this afternoon but no sign of him.  He and the Mallards have probably headed down to Lake Wabukayne - will check there at some point next week.

Title: Wood Duck
Post by: amblesidebirder on January 29, 2010, 10:39:21 PM

Great daily report Jo-Anne. I feel bad for you that you have to brave such cold wind chills. It's been so warm here (Vancouver) the birds have started returning earlier then ever recorded in the past. Just this week a Barn Swallow and Townsend Warbler were seen. Not looking good for the Olympics. The locals are wearing shorts.

Title: Re: Wood Duck
Post by: Bird Brain on January 30, 2010, 07:58:14 PM

Quote from: "amblesidebirder"

Great daily report Jo-Anne.

Hi Les.  Thanks!  :D  

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I feel bad for you that you have to brave such cold wind chills.

Last night here it was -25c with the windchill ... interesting frost designs on the inside of all the windows.  

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It's been so warm here (Vancouver) the birds have started returning earlier then ever recorded in the past. Just this week a Barn Swallow and Townsend Warbler were seen. Not looking good for the Olympics. The locals are wearing shorts.

Nice re: Barn Swallow.  They are so pretty.  Cripes, "Spring Olympics".  :lol: ;)