Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Whittam on June 13, 2011, 07:05:12 PM

Title: Bluffers Park - Great Egret 6/13/11
Post by: Whittam on June 13, 2011, 07:05:12 PM

The Great Egret I reported last week is still in the ponds at the western end of Bluffers Park Scarboro.  There are also some very noisy Mockingbirds singing in the area.  They are mimicking everything from Willow flycatchers to Blue-jays!   Cheers Terry

Title: Great Egret Scarborough Bluffers Park
Post by: amack1163 on June 22, 2011, 03:46:27 PM

Thanks Whittam for this tip. Was at Bluffers Park on Fathers Day (this Sunday past) and caught this wonderful creature just where you said he'd be. I was also there that Friday and noticed what I believe to be American Bitterns in that very spot (small island in the middle of the marsh), 5 in all. Visited again yesterday and they were still there. You can see photos on flickr here http://www.flickr.com/photos/64018347@N02/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/64018347@N02/)

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Post by: Reuven_M on June 22, 2011, 03:59:58 PM

Those brown stripey ones are juvenile black-crowned night-herons.

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Post by: Whittam on June 22, 2011, 04:00:05 PM

Hi Andrew,  I'm pretty sure the smaller brown heron is a female or immature Black-crowned night heron.  I've seen the male nearby a few times and they like to perch in the trees closer to the base of the bluffs.  That big red eye says Black-crowned night heron to me!  You captured it well. Nice shots of the Egret!   Cheers Terry

Title: I knew I could count on the folks of this site!!
Post by: amack1163 on June 22, 2011, 10:49:22 PM

Thank you guys kindly for IDing that heron. I'm just a rookie but knew that the red eye didn't fit but the rest of the bird was much like the American Bittern. A quick lookup after your posts confirmed the juvenile herons specifically pointing to the spots on the wings. I'm glad I now know what this bird really is. Will be posting a few better shots on my Flickr page. THANKS AGAIN!!

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Post by: amack1163 on July 28, 2011, 08:45:21 AM

I was back at Bluffers Park yesterday just after 5:00PM and the Great Egret was still there. As well both adult male and female Night Herons were out and about (my first time seeing them) as well as one juvenile which is getting a little more white spots. Also saw Belted Kingfishers, Baltimore Oriole, Cardinal, the usual Malards, Gulls, Black Birds, and Canada Geese.