Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: bosh on November 19, 2011, 06:59:39 PM
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It was windy today and the sparrow showing was miserable, but nature compensated with owls and falcons. The Snow Buntings were out in force and I also got a good look at an adult Black-backed Gull fishing. Also plenty of dog-walkers in Toronto's only dog-free wilderness.
Canada Goose 34
Mute Swan 5
Trumpeter Swan 3
Gadwall 26
American Wigeon 12
American Black Duck 22
Mallard 149
Redhead 50
Greater/Lesser Scaup 530
Surf Scoter 5
White-winged Scoter 7
Long-tailed Duck 1030
Bufflehead 184
Common Goldeneye 416
Hooded Merganser 57
Common Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 41
Common Loon 4
Double-crested Cormorant (Dark-crested) 1
Merlin (Taiga) 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
American Coot 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull 13
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Short-eared Owl 2
Northern Saw-whet Owl 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Black-capped Chickadee 9
Snow Bunting 51
American Tree Sparrow 12
Song Sparrow 2
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6101/6365562675_cee22ccdb5.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59284775@N04/6365562675/)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59284775@N04/6365562675/)
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6219/6365949273_d4c8dfb0d9.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59284775@N04/6365949273/)
Merlin (Taiga) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59284775@N04/6365949273/)
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Where did you find the owls?
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Can you give me some tips on where to go at the spit. I was there today and didn't have that good luck.
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It's frowned upon by birders to share exact owl locations if they're roosting, but the Short-eareds, which were in flight, were over the water off the endikement. I think it's luck of the draw to see them because the gulls chased them off quite quickly after they appeared.
The outer path of the Spit seems to be good for Buntings and you can also get a good look at the ducks in the ponds, while the marsh area and the beaches around the cormorant nests give you good angles on more ducks. When I've seen hawks and falcons they've often been over on that side too, but again, it's luck of the draw - they're usually only visible for a few seconds as they swoop by. I usually find good stuff in the marsh area, which is currently accessible because of low water levels but gets cut off in the spring.