Bohemian Waxwings

[thouc]

I was checking e-Bird for observations of Bohemian Waxwing near Toronto this year.

Toronto: 1 report (Mar 25, near Don Valley Pkwy)
Southern York region: about 10-15 report (several in Markham in mid-March, several at Lake Wilcox in Jan/Feb, 1 Royal Orchard Apr 6, 1 King City Mar 26)
Durham region: about 20 reports in Oshawa and north of the cities.
Brampton: 1 report Apr 3
Mississauga: 1 report Apr 7

Obviously there are a lot of flocks around that don't get reported, but they aren't seen very often around here, even a big invasion year like this one.

[Rotarran]

Yeah I don't just rely on ebird, I also check here and also just follow my gut sometimes.  I don't expect every sighting to be reported...but it's still a good tool.

I don't report on ebird myself because I already report everything on here.  Or at least of consequence.

[thouc]

I know, but there are at least 1000 checklists from Toronto this year and only 1 observation of Bohemian Waxwing, which is a good indication of how rarely they are seen.

[Rotarran]

I know, but there are at least 1000 checklists from Toronto this year and only 1 observation of Bohemian Waxwing, which is a good indication of how rarely they are seen.

Yeah I know what you're saying.  I think that sometimes people rely a bit too much on the birding hotspots such as Leslie Spit, Col. Smith etc.  Each of my encounters were in somewhat lesser known parks.  In fact my first good encounter was at a tiny pond at an unknown (for birding) intersection.  It was also the same place where I spotted a GB Heron and that Sharp-Shinned Hawk.  But I go to these places because of necessity sometimes (close to work so I can fit in 30 minutes of birding during lunch).

[Palo]

Wow... It's like a Hitchcock movie!  Congrats.  I hope they stalk me too.

[Reuven_M]

Yeah I don't just rely on ebird, I also check here and also just follow my gut sometimes.  I don't expect every sighting to be reported...but it's still a good tool.

I don't report on eBird myself because I already report everything on here.  Or at least of consequence.

You are of course free to report however much or little you want, but reporting on eBird is vastly more helpful to other birders than posting on this forum. Most birders do not check this forum or all the other little forums, discussion groups and blogs around to discover sightings. eBird puts it all in one place and makes it very easy to access information. If I come back in 2 years and want to know where Bohemian Waxwings have been seen in Ontario, I'm not going to find this thread but eBird will give me all the information I want.