Birders,
I squeezed an hour in High Park before sunset last night and, while the variation of birds is way down compared to the spring migration, there are interesting observations to be had. In fact, it's a good time to watch and learn about our breeding species.
I focused on 2 main areas - the upper slopes of Hillside Gardens near Grenadier Restaurant and the northerly Duck Pond (not the one in the SE corner of the Park but the one just to the North of it).
There were Robins everywhere, including many Juv's. Clearly it is a very good year for them, as has been noted elsewhere. At the top of the slope was a lone Eastern Kingbird catching insects from the top of a tree. It had been joined by a juv Robin that was comically emulating the Kingbird, attempting to catch insects in the same way and getting nowhere near!
Other birds in the vicinity included Baltimore Oriole, Great Crested Flycatcher (in the thicker shrubbery on the E side of the road down to Colbourne Lodge), a family of House Finches, American Goldfinch, Gray Catbird, White-breasted Nuthatch plus all the usual suspects (Grackle, Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow etc.)
Walking through the zoo down to the Duck Pond my attention was caught by a commotion in the trees. Sitting in the open was a Red-tailed Hawk. The bird was a fairly pale example with quite a light head (except for dark cheeks) and almost no brown breast feathers.
Around the Pond, there were several dozen Chimney Swifts flying at or below tree level, which was quite a sight. It presented a good opportunity to study their shape and flight from close quarters, including compared to the Barn Swallows that were present. There were also lots of Cedar Waxwings (10+) chasing the same insects. Other birds in and around the pond included Black-Crowned Night Heron and a family of Wood Duck (female plus 9 chicks).
Good Birding,
Bruce
