Ex-Torontonian visiting from Houston, TX. I am impressed with the enhancement and naturalization of the ravine and meadow areas since I was living here some 15 years ago. Am based near Woodbine and have been walking the Humber meadows and ravine area. Nothing dynamic, but a good variety from 2 hours this morning 7am - 9am ish, blue-skies, light breeze:
double-crested cormorant - fly over; black-crowned night heron x2; great-blue heron x5; canada goose x6; mallard x12; turkey vulture x1; coopers /sharp-shinned - brief view fly-by; red-tailed hawk x1; killdeer x1; ring-billed gull x20 plus; herring gull juvenile x1; caspian tern x2;
rock dove x50; mourning dove x30; yellow-billed cuckoo x1 upsetting a pair of gray catbirds; chimney swift (heard only); ruby-throated hummingbird (female/juv) x1; belted kingfisher (female) x1; yellow-shafted flicker x8; downy woodpecker x1; hairy woodpecker x1; eastern wood-pewee x1; willow flycatcher x2; least flycatcher x1 others heard; eastern kingbird x7; red-eyed vireo numerous; possible warbling vireo did not get a clean view; blue jay x8;
american crow x3; tree swallow x2; barn swallow x5; black-capped chickadee numerous; american robin beyond numerous! ; gray catbird x7; european starling x15; cedar waxwing x20; yellow warbler x14; common yellowthroat x2; american redstart x1 male x1 female; chipping sparrow x17; song sparrow x11; rose-breasted grosbeak x1 female; northern cardinal x7; red-winged blackbird numerous; common grackle numerous; brown-headed cowbird x5; baltimore oriole x1 female; house finch x1 male; american goldfinch numerous; house sparrow numerous; oops fogot northern mockingbird x3
50 species albeit nothing unusual - I am truly impressed for a within the city area, congrats on letting the natural vegetation grow and the maintenance of the riparian habitat; mammals were limited to cottontail, musk rat, groundhog, gray squirrel; and what I think was a woodland vole rather than a meadow vole. Robin A. Owen.
