Pipit, Shoveler, and Harlequin in Mississauga

[Reuven_M]

Had some good birds today in a short time birding along the lakeshore in Mississauga.

At Richard's Memorial Park there was an American Pipit feeding along the shoreline, and a male Northern Shoveler mixed with the large flock of Mallard, American Black Duck and Gadwall. Both these species are very rare in winter in Misissauga, being the first and fifth record for eBird respectively.

At the Rhododendron Gardens the continuing male Harlequin Duck was easy to see not far offshore. This bird has been present all winter but moves around quite a bit. Harlequin Duck is actually far more common than the above two species, at least in winter.

Reuven

[Brian Bailey]

That's really surprising about the Northern Shoveler. While they're certainly not common in Toronto in winter, I usually see a few each year  as far west as Sam Smith Park. I guess there aren't many of the sheltered bays they like Mississauga.


BB

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[Reuven_M]

Yeah. The only good spot is at Lakefront Promenade Park, but the bays there freeze very early. We do have lots of wave-washed shores with tons of algae, and so get large numbers of Mallard, American Black Duck, Gadwall and reasonable numbers of American Wigeon. That's where the shoveler was hanging out, but obviously not ideal habitat.

One correction: this is actually the fourth winter (Dec-Feb) record of pipit for peel. The other were all in mid-December.