Farewell to Wet Woods 'til next Spring

[Trillian Flummox]

Since my last visit was almost 2 weeks ago, today I decided to make one last short tour of the Wet Woods, knowing it would be my last until next Spring. What a transformation! Everything is now in full foliage, the grasses are high, there are wildflowers blooming and I was amazed to discover how many shrubs are now covered in pretty pink blossoms. It's no surprise that my list of birds was short (I was also only there for an hour), but I know there were many more birds lurking in the depths of the foliage. Often I could see movement and nothing more - I'm sure the birds were having a good laugh at me. I was happy to hear a couple of Wood-pewees calling back and forth and an Alder Flycatcher in the North field, but the only warblers I could hear or see were the Yellows. I crossed the road to the little bay behind the marina and found the 3 white domestic ducks still together but no sign of the 3 white Muscovy ducks. Maybe there would be more to see and hear if you visit early in the morning, but it would be a challenge. On a postivie note, with all the wildflowers there now seem to be a lot of butterflies - which I won't attempt to identify since I seem to have trouble differentiating Viceroys and Monarchs!  

Overall it was a great Spring in the Woods this year, despite the slow start. My personal warbler count reached 25, including that poor Prairie Warbler who was chased so relentlessly. I enjoyed multiple views of the White-eyed Vireo but missed the Blue Grosbeak. Some of my favourite moments included a close encounter with an unaware Woodcock, a low flyover from a Sandhill Crane, watching a Cape May take a bath in a puddle, my first ever House Wren singing its heart out in clear view, an extended view of a Northern Waterthrush foraging right out in the open, and my first Blue-winged and Mourning Warblers. And of course, the time I spent with so many wonderful birders!

-kris

[warbler]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this area!  I've always called it "Warbler Wood".  When I first moved to Toronto from Ottawa a few years back, I thought my birding days were over.  In my first day there I saw more warbler species than in two years in Ottawa.  This is probably the most precious area of Toronto for me, and I'm so happy to live here.

[Rotarran]

Agreed.  The warbler value for square metre is much higher than in any other park.  Plus no dogs and usually the only people you encounter are other birders, which is a bonus too (especially for beginners like me).  Sams is good too but overall a bit unwieldy especially for photography.

I was lucky enough to see the Blue Grosbeak but not in the WW, it was closer to that pass-through station.  My warbler count wasn't that high because I got tired of the wet woods after a while and had to switch things up and visit other parks.  But that's ok, I figure I'll save them for future years...after all I have my whole life ahead of me to bird and try to get them.

My bird highlight must be the Meadowlark of which I got a gorgeous shot.  And I never did see those birds there again.

[rickeckley]

What a lovely farewell post, Kris.  I share your feelings of affection for the Wet Woods.  I was lucky enough to have more time to bird this spring than usual.  I took advantage by staring early and going late and – except for 5 days in Pelee and a few days at Sam Smith when there were good reports, I went to the Wet Woods very often, watching spring and the magical migration unfold there.  Early on was the excitement of seeing examples of each new species come in day by day so that even yellow warblers – yes and even the first Cormorant - were a delight.  Yes, I chased a few birds.  I got some, like the Vireo and the Grosbeak as well as a single Tennessee for my year list and a gorgeous Mourning, a lifer for me. And I missed some, like the Prairie, despite staying so late one evening searching that the sun went down on my 2 kids and me and we almost couldn’t find our way out of the woods. I remember the Meadowlarks circling wildly over the meadow edge of the woods way back in early April. And the Great Horned getting harassed, first by Red-Wings and then by a Peregrine and finally by a Coopers. (and yes, Bob, if you're out there, I know people over estimate their ability to tell a Coopers from a Sharpie – only one of the many pearls of wisdom you shared with me this year).   But mostly I remember just stopping by, knowing that there would surely be some good birds and also some good folks – almost like your local where even if you only have an hour, you know it will be worth stopping in.  I miss it already, but am setting my sights on next spring.  And who knows, maybe this will be the year I discover the joys of fall migration.

Thanks to all my birding friends who made this spring such a high point.

Rick