Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Brian Bailey on May 14, 2010, 10:08:15 PM
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I went for a short walk this evening to see if the Orchard Orioles were still where I'd seen them on Wednesday. The male was still there and still singing, so I think it's probable that he's on territory. I had some interesting sightings before I got there though.
Near the north end of the line of trees that go down the east side of the RL Clark Filtration Plant, I heard a strange call. I couldn't quite place it, but I thought it might be a Thrasher. Getting closer I realized there were two birds singing and one of the bushes didn't seem big enough to hide a Thrasher. Finally one popped out and it was a Bobolink! Sadly, they're not nearly as common as they once were and I haven't heard them sing in a few years. Even still, they were doing a song that I don't ever recall hearing before: Thrown into the usual jumble were some loud bell-like notes. In total, there were 3 males and one female.
The star of the show was a Clay-colored Sparrow in the young deciduous grove at the south end of the filtration plant. I found it right near the construction trailers.
I never actually made it into the park, but I found a pretty good assortment of sparrows. The others were White-crowned (lots), 1 White-throated (I guess they haven't all left yet), 1 Lincoln's, 1 Savannah, and 1 Chipping.
BB