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Toronto Reports / Fall warbler migration
« Last post by Shortsighted on Today at 12:59:52 PM »So far, I've managed to find a few juvenile warblers migrating through the eastern part of the GTA, mostly in Scarborough and Pickering. In each case of finding subjects, they were present in small mixed groups, that were slowing moving through the mid-story and bushes with directional intent. Sometimes there was faint warbler twitter, while sometimes the warbler moved in complete silence, revealing their presence through twitching of foliage, or notable movement up and down, sometimes confusing when leaves are dropping as well.
For instance, last night there was a consistent NW wind and a drop in temperature (12-degrees at 6:30 a.m.) that should have been auspicious for warbler influx. A few reports have indicated the arrival of many warbler species at Tommy Thompson, while most other reports seem rather anemic, some reporting no warblers at all. Yesterday at Darlington (Oshawa) I saw three warblers all morning (Yellow, Redstart & Blackburnian). This morning, at Petticoat Creek Park, I saw only one Redstart. After searching my most productive sites a second time, and keeping an eye on sunlit sections, I found a small group of Magnolia (maybe four warblers) along with a couple of Chestnut-sided. After 5 minutes of viewing they were gone without so much as a farewell. Revisiting the other hotspots proved uneventful. A Great crested flycatcher landed in a tree next to me and gave me that look, you know the look, as if to communicate ... don't hold your breath ... I'm bored too.
I believe that the peak in warbler passage is usually from August 31st to September 5th. After that, it's hit-and-miss. Then again, what do I know ... I listen to flycatchers. Keep that under your hat.
For instance, last night there was a consistent NW wind and a drop in temperature (12-degrees at 6:30 a.m.) that should have been auspicious for warbler influx. A few reports have indicated the arrival of many warbler species at Tommy Thompson, while most other reports seem rather anemic, some reporting no warblers at all. Yesterday at Darlington (Oshawa) I saw three warblers all morning (Yellow, Redstart & Blackburnian). This morning, at Petticoat Creek Park, I saw only one Redstart. After searching my most productive sites a second time, and keeping an eye on sunlit sections, I found a small group of Magnolia (maybe four warblers) along with a couple of Chestnut-sided. After 5 minutes of viewing they were gone without so much as a farewell. Revisiting the other hotspots proved uneventful. A Great crested flycatcher landed in a tree next to me and gave me that look, you know the look, as if to communicate ... don't hold your breath ... I'm bored too.
I believe that the peak in warbler passage is usually from August 31st to September 5th. After that, it's hit-and-miss. Then again, what do I know ... I listen to flycatchers. Keep that under your hat.
