Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Soaring Hawk on July 02, 2010, 11:06:44 PM
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Had a nice walk today at G.Ross Lord Park. I started at Steeles and Dufferin, and worked my way southward through the trails. I noticed the remains of terrible flooding from last week's thunderstorms. Many parts of the West Don river and streams had flood marks up to 3 feet above ground level. I was happy to get my first sighting ever of an Indigo Bunting. Sadly it wasn't a blue male, but a female. Nevertheless I was happy to add another species to my life list. And to another surprise, I saw an Easter Screech owl (grey phase) feather on the ground, and it was very fresh, so there must be a resident around, or hopefully a breeding and nesting pair in the park. There were tons of swallows in all of the open fields and park areas. Other than that the day went by quick....
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I had never seen an indigo bunting until a few years ago and now I see them everywhere! The males are usually high up in a tree- the very tippy top and singing what sounds like to me: "sweet sweet chew chew sweet" or some variation there of. If you hear that look up. Unfortunately they look rather black against the sky. If they are lower down they will make a sharp "spit spit" sound. There are plenty along the road where I live so if you want to take a country drive/walk here are the directions:
From Mount Albert (town is located east of hwy.48, north and east of Newmarket) take Mount Albert side road east to the third concession (approx. 6km). Mount Albert side rd. turns into Ashworth rd. here. You can park along the Ashworth and walk it from the third to the 4th. There is quite alot of wetland here and there are almost always some buntings to be seen in here. There are also some buntings north along the 3rd from the Ashworth. I often see the males down low and they really are spectacular. Aslo to be found in the area are northern waterthrushes, white throated sparrows, vireos, wrens, phobe- often hunting around the bridge, wood thrush, common yellow throats, swamp sparrows and many others I am sure. It is quite a good spot!
Hope you see your bunting!
Brenda