Bird photography walk - Downsview Pk, Feb 9

[mr.sharp-photo]

If any photographers - aspiring, perspiring, expert - want to join this Saturday, we will be on an organized bird walk at Downsview Park. There are lots of birds to see in a relatively small area, and it is a good way to pick up on other people's photography tips.

We'll start at 12:30 at 35 Carl Hall Road (west side entrance in the Discovery centre).  Please take a look at this map as the park can be a little confusing, http://www.downsviewpark.ca/maps-and-di ... s/park-map. We will be met by Johnny Deshman from the park. If you have any questions you can reach him by email here, jdeshman@downsviewpark.ca .

Hopefully we'll get a group out. If you plan on coming, please post here. We'll need some numbers to make sure the day will go as planned. Please share this post with anyone who would be interested in this walk.

[Rotarran]

Yeah sure, count me in.  Looking forward to it.  

Can you maybe post a list of the birds we could potentially see so we could keep an eye out for those?

[mr.sharp-photo]

Yeah sure, count me in.  Looking forward to it.  

Can you maybe post a list of the birds we could potentially see so we could keep an eye out for those?

I'll let Johnny take a look at the list.  but for now, this is what you can look for:

Kestrels
Red Tail Hawks
rough legged hawk
snowy owl (?)
other possible owls (?)
juncos
mockingbird

[Flyingbass]

That is most of what I have been seeing this winter, the most common Owl we've had has been the Barred Ow! There was a Christmas Bird Count done in the park this year, this is what they found, http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12331431.  You never know what you will see!

Cheers,
Jonny

[rcflier]

I will attend,  thanks,  Bob

[byrons]

I'd very much like to attend.  I won't be able to commit 100% until Friday.  But all going well I'll be there.

Byron

[Rotarran]

I'm sorry but I have to bow out...wife just informed me of previous commitments.  Hopefully I'll catch the next one.

[byrons]

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it either.  

Would love to do this on some other occassion.

Byron

[Rotarran]

Even though I won't be attending, I highly recommend postponing / rescheduling it for those that still plan on going through with it.  The reason being that with this amount of snow on the ground it will make walking very very difficult leading to exhaustion within a few minutes.  I just came back from a "short" walk and almost collapsed in the snow.  Talk about cardio.

[Flyingbass]

Hello everyone,

I have decided to  reschedule our organized bird walk at Downsview Park, too much snow!  The park has a lot of interesting locations for birding, with this snow we wouldn't be able to see most of the park.  All this means is that the meeting location (Discovery Centre) will be locked and you won't have access to washrooms. I also won't be there to show you a couple of good spots.  If you still want to go on a birding adventure you are still more than welcome to!  

I am still really excited about a bird walk in Downsview Park, it would be great to share knowledge and see some birds.  I will let you know about any future walks.

Jonny

[byrons]

Jonny,

I hope this does get rescheduled.  It sounds like a fantastic idea and I'm definitely in for a future date.  

Thanks

Byron

[rcflier]

Thanks for the update, I will be watching for the new date.