Ashbridge's Bay - No Harlequin/Chat but Trumpeter Swans, etc

[Andrew McKinley]

Hi everyone,
I went to Ashbridges bay this morning in search of the Harlequin Duck but I couldn't find one. I also checked on the Chat but it seems to have disappeared as well. However, to my delight, I spotted 4 Trumpeter Swans in the central Bay, 3 adults and 1 Cygnet... I could only see a tag on one of them and they were all quite close to shore. I also spotted a Greater Black Backed Gull, a flock of common redpolls, and two Gadwalls. There was also a bunch of more common species, cardinals, buffleheads, red breasted mergansers, a hooded merganser, long tailed ducks, and mallards. I will post pictures of the Swans, the Gadwalls, and the redpolls in abit.
-Andrew

[Julie]

We were down at Ashbridges too, with the same results as Andrew. We noted a mute swan in constant aggression posture following the juvie trumpeter around. In addition, there was a female wood duck huddled with a group of mallards at the boat ramp. Two American tree sparrows, both nuthatches, a kestrel, a small kettle of three redtails riding a thermal very high, and two hooded mergansers were highlights for us. Too bad about the chat's absence, especially for the woman who'd driven all the way in from Brampton, but given the brisk breeze I'd say it was a smart bird. Thanks to the two generous birders who helped us find the chat's former hangout!

Julie