Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: JW Mills on October 31, 2011, 10:06:47 PM

Title: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on October 31, 2011, 10:06:47 PM
It's time again to take regular strolls thru the area.
 
Oct 31
 
Mallards
Black Duck
GB Heron
Blue Jays
Cardinal
Robins
RWBB's
Waxwings
House Sparrows
Junco
Chickadees
Flicker
Hairy
Downies
 
Highlight of the day was hand-feeding a Downy and some Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: dawnofthewolf on November 01, 2011, 06:46:21 PM
How muddy are the trails there?
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on November 01, 2011, 10:09:15 PM
The main trails are wet in places but passable. Most side trails are nothing but mud.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Moira on November 06, 2011, 12:47:19 AM
I really enjoyed my walks thru there last year John.  I must try and make it again this year.  Woodpecker heaven!
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on November 15, 2011, 09:48:58 PM
Wait til winter Moira.
I stopped in today at 3:30pm for a quick walk. I did not see a single woodpecker. I can't remember being skunked before. Perhaps the warm weather is keeping them further north.
 
Nov 15
 
Canada Geese
Mallards
Mourning Doves
Robins
Cardinals
Waxwings
RWBB
Junco
WB Nuthatch
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on November 16, 2011, 09:19:08 PM
I was so unnerved by the lack of woodpeckers yesterday that I had to go back again today. I got there at 2:30 and the Parks Dept was there trimming back the bushes along the main trail. Judging by the amount of work done I think they must have been there yesterday as well. The chainsaws and mulching machine were making one h of a racket and I'm wondering if this has sent the birds deeper into the woods.
 
Nov 16
 
Canada Geese
Mallards
Hooded Mergansers
GB Heron
Blue Jays
Cardinals
Robins
RWBB
Waxwings
Juncos
House Sparrrows
House Finch
WB Nuthatch
Chickadees
Downy
 
The above birds were seen some distance away from the work area.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on November 17, 2011, 09:01:31 PM
I was there for a couple of hours this morning, nice and sunny but quite cold! I was happy to see lots of downies and hairies, and Mr. Red-bellied.

These are mostly from the south end of the woods.

BCCH
BLJA
DEJU
WBNU
CEWA
AMGO
AMRO
RTHA
SSHA (flying over)
ATSP
HOSP
ROPI
MODO
RWBB
NOCA
EUST (including one doing a killdeer impression)
CAGO
MALL
GBHE
RBGU
HERG

And one cheeky winter wren that would dance on a brush pile and dive into it repeatedly.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: GStuart on November 18, 2011, 08:08:18 AM
I suspect that by CEWA you mean CEDW.  And a few years ago CAGO was changed to CANG.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on November 18, 2011, 12:56:53 PM
Oops, I was just using the codes we use at work. I'm guessing the ones I used might be for Cerulean Warbler and Cackling?
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Reuven_M on November 18, 2011, 03:52:51 PM
The other major one is yellow warbler - YWAR to avoid confusion with yellow wagtail of all things
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on November 27, 2011, 01:44:13 PM
Short walk today to check out this feeder business.
 
Nov 27
 
Canada Geese
Mallards
Blue Jays
Cardinals
Robins
Hairy
Downy
House Sparrows
Juncos
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on December 06, 2011, 08:47:42 PM
Dec 6
 
Mallards
Cardinals
Robins
Hairies
Downies
Red-bellied
House Sparrows
Junco
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on December 09, 2011, 03:29:18 PM
Dec 9
 
Mallards
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Robin
Hairies
Downies
House Finches
House Sparrow
Juncos
WB Nuthatch
Chickadees
Winter Wren
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Rob'in'To on December 11, 2011, 09:14:51 PM
I was at Lambton around 3:30pm on the 9th since work was called off due to a power failure.  I recon I just missed you.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on December 14, 2011, 03:11:22 PM
Dec 14
 
Mallards
Common Merganser
Goldeneyes
Buffleheads
GB Heron
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Robins
Hairies
Downies
Red-bellied
House Sparrows
House Finches
Juncos
WB Nuthatches
Chickadees
 
Highlight of the day was hand-feeding a Downie
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on December 15, 2011, 02:17:18 PM
In addition to the usuals and a very cooperative White-tailed deer buck, I saw a very late American Woodcock at around 12:45 today in the north part of the woods, on the west side of the black chain link fence and towards the hill. It is incredibly muddy around there and I don't recommend exploring there unless you have waterproof hunting boots/wellingtons. I flushed him by accident and tracked him down to confirm the ID, and definitely a woodcock. It didn't appear to be injured and flew well. Unfortunately I don't have a photo because he bailed as soon as I found him again.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: dawnofthewolf on December 19, 2011, 06:36:28 PM
Quote
It is incredibly muddy around there and I don't recommend exploring there unless you have waterproof hunting boots/wellingtons.

So is the trail going up to Royal York.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on December 22, 2011, 06:40:24 PM
Dec 22
 
Mallards
Goldeneyes
Mourning Doves
Robins
Cardinals
Hairies
Downies
WB Nuthatches
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on December 27, 2011, 11:16:08 AM
Dec 26
 
Mallards
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Robins
RWBB
Hairies
Downies
Red-bellied
House Sparrows
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on December 28, 2011, 07:55:18 PM
Dec 28
 
Canada Geese
Mallards
Common Merganser
Goldeneyes
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Robins
Rusty Blackbird
Hairies
Downies
House Sparrows
House Finches
Juncos
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on December 30, 2011, 03:50:15 PM
I just birded the river along the woods for about an hour with the intention of checking out the large raft of gulls that was there last week. There was only a single Herring Gull left, but I also found...

1 Northern Harrier (male), working the east bank of the river heading north
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Belted Kingfisher
10 Bufflehead
15 Common Merganser
8 Common Goldeneye
Mallards
Juncos
Downies
Hairies
Chickadees
Robins
Cardinals
House Sparrows
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on January 01, 2012, 04:03:23 PM
Jan 1
 
Mallards
Common Mergansers
Goldeneyes
Buffleheads
GB Heron
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Hairies
Downies
Juncos
House Sparrow
Chickadees
 
and 1 basketball floating down the river
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Rarepony21 on January 01, 2012, 10:29:53 PM
Hi zed,
I like reading your reports for James Gardens. I go there all the time and like knowing whats out and about before I get there!!
Keeping that in mind, where do you keep seeing the Great Blue? I really like them but haven't seen one in quite a while. Going tomorrow, hopefully I will luck out and see one!

feathered,
  I cant believe you got to see a belted Kingfisher this time a year as well as a Northern Harrier! That is so great!!!!!


Thanks for keeping us up to date!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on January 01, 2012, 11:33:13 PM
Thanks Rarepony, glad to see the reports are appreciated.
 
As for the GBH, he's usually in one of two places.
First place to look;
Lat 43.671422
Long -79.512171
 
2nd;
Lat 43.663851
Long -79.512933
 
Look for him perched in the trees along the bank.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on January 02, 2012, 09:28:15 AM
Yup, I usually see the Great Blue Heron at the second set of coordinates zed posted. The Kingfisher was in the same general area, hard to see but quite vocal.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Rob'in'To on January 03, 2012, 07:51:38 AM
Always the way with me and that Kingfisher...  hear him loud and clear and very brief views as he flies up and down the river.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on January 06, 2012, 07:22:57 PM
Jan 6
 
Red-tailed Hawks
Kestrel
Canada Geese
Mallards
Common Mergansers
Goldeneyes
Buffleheads
Mourning Doves
Starlings
Robins
Cardinals
Hairies
Downies
Red-bellied
House Sparrows
House Finch
Juncos
American Goldfinch
WB Nuthatch
Chickadees
 
Highlight of the day was watching the Red-bellied chase starlings off its nest cavity!
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: American Redstart on January 08, 2012, 04:02:34 PM
December 8

canada geese
mallards
american black ducks
r.b gulls
mourning doves
downy and hairy woodpeckers
b.c chickadees
w.b nuthatches
american robin
european starlings
northern cardinals
american goldfinch
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: dawnofthewolf on January 09, 2012, 02:21:03 PM
How muddy are the trails there after the recent thaw?
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on January 10, 2012, 06:28:44 AM
Quote from: "dawnofthewolf"
How muddy are the trails there after the recent thaw?
Same as before, the main trails have some muddy patches but are passable, the back trails are mud.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on January 16, 2012, 09:53:24 PM
Jan 16
 
Red-tailed Hawk
Canada Geese
Mallards
Black Duck
Common Mergansers
Goldeneyes
Kingfisher
Mourning Doves
Blue Jays
Cardinals
Robins
Hairies
Downies
Starling
House Sparrows
House Finch
American Goldfinches
Juncos
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Rarepony21 on January 17, 2012, 09:19:51 AM
Would like to add to your list from yesterday:
Brown Creeper
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on January 26, 2012, 03:12:31 PM
Jan 26
 
Red-tailed Hawks
Mallards
Common Mergansers
Hooded Mergansers
Goldeneye
Buffleheads
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Robins
Hairies
Downies
House Sparrows
American Goldfinch
Juncos
WB Nuthatches
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: BoboBird on January 26, 2012, 04:41:34 PM
Thanks for the updates John. Must gander on to there one of these days.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Rob'in'To on January 30, 2012, 05:57:05 PM
An hour in Lambton today just after the noon hour and saw all the regular winter birds being Cardinals, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Robins, Downys, Hairys, 2 Red-bellies, Juncos, House Sparrows, House and Gold Finch, Mourning Dove, Coopers Hawk, both Nuthatch species.

Also saw the Belted Kingfisher working the river.

And the really cool thing was a flock of at least 20 White-winged Crossbills flew in mere feet from me.  I'd never seen a Crossbill before.  So I stood there in awe, not even needing my binoculars.  They were in the tree above me and a small number landed on the ground and picked and kicked away searching out food.  A voice in the back of my head kept saying "hey dumb dumb, take a picture!"  But since this was a lifer for me, I needed to absorb the bird visually for a lengthy time and not worry about getting a shot right away.  After 60 to 90 seconds perhaps, I decided to bring the camera up, but the lens couldn't find them due to the short distance and heavy brush.  And then they all flew off together, heading north/west.  I tried to find them again but didn't happen.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on January 30, 2012, 07:18:56 PM
Jan 30
Looks like Rob had the luck today!
My list;
 
Canada Geese
Mallards
Black Ducks
Common Mergansers
Hooded Mergansers
Buffleheads
GB Heron
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Hairies
Downies
Red-bellied
House Sparrows
House Finches
Juncos
Tree Sparrows
White-throated Sparrow
WB Nuthatches
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on January 31, 2012, 05:33:27 PM
It was pretty quiet this afternoon, though I did have a cardinal singing and a flock of waxwings passing through.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: Rarepony21 on January 31, 2012, 10:26:57 PM
My list for today at Lambton:
WB Nuthatch
H & D Woodpecker
RB Woodpecker
Common Merganser
C Waxwing
H Finch
Bluejay
N Cardinal
C Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Mallards & Black Ducks (a couple very gorgeous hybrids)
Belted Kingfisher (heard not seen)
Herring Gull
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: dawnofthewolf on February 08, 2012, 07:37:04 PM
Is there a way to access Scarlett Rd.(though the golf course) near the railway bridge?
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on February 08, 2012, 08:36:18 PM
Quote from: "dawnofthewolf"
Is there a way to access Scarlett Rd.(though the golf course) near the railway bridge?
Not really, unless you feel like jumping some fences and crossing railway tracks!
You can get to Scarlett by going thru Lambton Park and then east on Dundas.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on February 17, 2012, 09:04:32 PM
Feb 17
 
Red-tailed Hawk
Canada Geese
Mallards
Black Ducks
Common Mergansers
Goldeneyes
GB Heron
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Robins
Hairies
Downies
Red-bellied
House Sparrows
Juncos
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on February 18, 2012, 07:15:59 AM
I saw dozens and dozens of robins and juncos yesterday, as well as a winter wren that made a real fool of me trying to get its picture... :lol:
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on March 01, 2012, 09:49:32 PM
Mar 1
 
Red-tailed Hawk
Canada Geese
Mallards
Goldeneyes
Cardinals
Blue Jays
RWBB
Hairies
Downies
WB Nuthatches
Brown Creepers
House Sparrows
Chickadees
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: American Redstart on March 04, 2012, 09:34:59 AM
march 3

canada goose
mallard
common merganser
red-tailed hawk
ring-billed gull
rock pigeon
mourning dove
downy woodpecker
hairy woodpecker
blue jay
black-capped chickadee
american robin
house finch
house sparrow
red-winged blackbird
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: chudymoose on March 04, 2012, 12:25:19 PM
Hi
New to TaSOB, but not new to Lambton Woods.
To the list of birds posted by American Redstar, I can add:

european sterling
dark-eyed junco
and red-bellied woodpecker

Beautiful, but cold day.
Too many dogs on the loose searching in the bushes
and spooking the wildlife.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on March 04, 2012, 08:06:27 PM
Looks like a big wave of RWBBs has moved in. I didn't see any grackles or cowbirds among them, though. The heron's also still around.
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on March 05, 2012, 09:31:33 PM
Mar 5
 
Red-tailed Hawk
Canada Geese
Mallards
Goldeneyes
Common Mergansers
Mourning Doves
Cardinals
Starling
Hairies
Downies
House Finches
House Sparrows
Juncos
WB Nuthatches
Chickadees
 
and a lot of singing RWBB's
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: JW Mills on March 13, 2012, 11:36:49 AM
Mar 13
 
Red-tailed Hawk
Canada Geese
Mallards
Goldeneye
Blue Jays
Cardinals
RWBB's
Hairy
Downies
Red-bellied
House Sparrows
Chickadee
 
Heard but not seen;
WB Nuthatch
Kingfisher
Title: Re: James Gardens/Lambton Woods
Post by: feathered on March 13, 2012, 03:04:37 PM
Had about the same regulars as you plus a pair of Buffleheads and the heron this morning. Also had two winter wrens singing quietly in the south/middle end of the woods, plus a small flock of GCKIs by the chain link fence and a single mockingbird perched on the overpass railing before it flew to the top of one of the pines on the west side.