Last 2 days Mississauga - Yellow, 9 Orange-crowned Warbler

[Reuven_M]

Done some birding in Mississauga the past few days, including Erindale Park yesterday morning and Lakeside Park, Rattray Marsh, Rhododendron Gardens and Springbank Park today.

The best birds included:
Black-billed Cuckoo - Erindale Park
Northern Waterthrush - Erindale Park
Yellow warbler - Springbank Bark - extremely late!
Orange-crowned Warbler - 9 at Springbank Park! The habitat here is perfect, and there are likely a lot more.

Very good numbers of some common migrants, some good totals include:
Eastern Phoebe - 18
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 95
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 45
Hermit Thrush - 13
Palm Warbler - 100
Myrtle Warbler - 130
Song Sparrow - 180
Swamp Sparrow - 90
White-throated Sparrow - 140
White-crowned Sparrow - 250

Other notable birds:
Bufflehead - 1 at Rhododendron Gardens
American Kestrel - 2 at Rattray and 2 at Springbank
American Pipit - total of 14 flying over at various spots
Other warblers included 1 Tennessee, 1 Magnolia, 2 Blackpoll, 2 Black-throated Blue, 6 Common Yellowthroat
Other sparrows were around including 1 Towhee, 2 Chipping, 1 Field, 15 Savannah, 2 Lincoln's and only 3 Juncos
A few Purple Finch and Pine Siskin flying over
2 Eastern Meadowlark - Erindale and Springbank

Reuven

[mr.sharp-photo]

just curious...
how easy is it to ID an orange-crowned warbler in the fall?
i'm guessing you're going only by its call?

[Reuven_M]

Orange-crowned warbler are not any harder to identify in the fall. They are often thought to be a fairly rare bird, but I think this is most likely just perception, as they are generally found in different habitat  and at a different time of year to other warblers. Any large patch of goldenrod in the first couple weeks of October has a very good chance of holding them. Look for the small size and sharp bill like their two relatives, Tennessee and Nashville warbler. However, orange-crowned rarely has as defined of an eyeline as Tennessee, which always has white, or at least paler undertail coverts, compared to the yellow undertail of orange-crowned warbler. Compared to Nashville, orange-crowned has less of an eye-ring, a less well-defined hood and less contrast between the upper and underparts. Although Nashville is more catholic in its habitat preferences, Tennessee rarely overlap, preferring taller trees (although I've seen all 3 together in a single bush). The other similar species is palm warbler, but behavior, shape and plumage are all quite different when you look closely.