Fallout at Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough
Outdoor Ontario

Fallout at Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough

Bluffs Birder · 17 · 4508
« previous next »
Pages: 1 2

Bluffs Birder

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 825
    • http://picasaweb.google.com/walter.fisher
on: May 09, 2014, 11:40:42 AM
There was a decent fallout of migrants at Rosetta this morning.  Fifty-two species in all including the following highlights:

Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow

Walter :)
« Last Edit: May 20, 2014, 09:23:47 PM by Bluffs Birder »

Rotarran

  • Frequent Users
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1358
Reply #1 on: May 10, 2014, 02:25:43 PM
Hey Walter, you weren't kidding, RMcG was off the hook today.  As was your phone lol

But yeah I counted 43 species in total which might just be my biggest checklist to date.  It was a nice surprise to see the RT Hummingbird just before I left.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

Bluffs Birder

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 825
    • http://picasaweb.google.com/walter.fisher
Reply #2 on: May 10, 2014, 11:52:23 PM
Here's a complete list of what was seen Saturday morning by myself and several other birders as we joined together to scour the park.

6:00AM - 2:00PM
Species - 62

Canada Goose
Mallard
Long-tailed Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Walter :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Bird Brain

  • Frequent Users
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 2451
    • http://www.spnc.ca/
Reply #3 on: May 11, 2014, 07:38:45 AM
Wow, Walter - fantastic list and talk about Day of the Warbler!  :D
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

Brown-headed Birder

  • Board Member
  • ****
    • Posts: 38
Reply #4 on: May 11, 2014, 01:24:34 PM
Birded from 7-11 a.m. and highlight was 3 indigo buntings but plenty of other bird too.  In total, 67 species in the park, near the shore or as in the case of two Common Loons, overhead.  The local Red-tails put on quite a show of hunting close to the ground for much of this time to the horror or delight of the non-birders and I had to reassure a few that they were not the intended targets. Here are the main attractions:
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Carolina Wren -- loud and proud
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Gray Catbirds everywhere
Ovenbird
Bay-breasted Warbler
Pine warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Those Indigo Buntings -- high in a pine not too far from the rose garden, right where the path along the bluffs meets the path that goes north.  This tree has had most of its lower branches removed
Orchard Oriole along with all those Baltimores

Cheers, Theresa
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Rotarran

  • Frequent Users
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1358
Reply #5 on: May 11, 2014, 04:16:00 PM
Stopped in for about 1 hour today from 1:30pm to 2:30 and saw the Indigo Buntings (3) and also one Bobolink.  He was high up on one of the pines close to Frank's bench.  Bobolink didn't stay too long, took off into NW direction.

PS: I saw Red Eyed Vireos as well (2).
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

Rotarran

  • Frequent Users
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1358
Reply #6 on: May 11, 2014, 06:49:22 PM
Sorry scratch that Bobolink, the light was playing tricks with me and I misidentified the bird.  It was actually a Brown Headed Cowbird (male) with the light bouncing off its wings making part of them look white and lighting up the back of its head so strongly it looked yellow.  But upon closer inspection of my pictures I can clearly tell it's the light playing tricks with me.  I apologize for the misinformation. :oops:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

Bluffs Birder

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 825
    • http://picasaweb.google.com/walter.fisher
Reply #7 on: May 11, 2014, 07:17:10 PM
Hey Jo-Anne,  Thanks.  That little 23 acre park sure can be amazing at times.

Hey Theresa,  Sorry I missed the excitement at Rosetta this morning, I got asked to go to the Wet Woods.  Maybe not quite as good there today although we did manage to see a Northern Parula and a few other FOYs.  Anyway, you had a few great birds for sure, those Indigos and Tanager would have made my day.  Thanks for sharing the report here.

Hey Elias,  Too bad about the Bobolink, would have been a nice addition to the park list.  I have seen them close to Rosetta in previous years so hope is still there.  Great that you got a couple of Red-eyed Vireos though, I haven't had the pleasure yet this season.

Happy Birding!
Walter :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Bluffs Birder

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 825
    • http://picasaweb.google.com/walter.fisher
Reply #8 on: May 12, 2014, 01:02:42 PM
This morning Betty McCulloch, Terry Whittam and I birded Rosetta McClain Gardens.  Things were pretty quiet during the first hour which gave us time to get most of the regulars out of the way.  Then one by one, even two by two the festivities started to pick up.

Here is the list that we compiled today:

6:00AM - 11:00AM
59 species

Canada Goose
Mallard
Long-tailed Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Walter :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Rotarran

  • Frequent Users
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1358
Reply #9 on: May 12, 2014, 01:21:07 PM
Wow another solid outing!  Thanks for the update.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

Dinusaur

  • Frequent Users
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1590
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@N02/
Reply #10 on: May 12, 2014, 05:31:26 PM
Wow, what a list. What's so special about this place? Higher elevation? Wind direction? May be occasional wedding photo ops or just simply because it is small enough to walk around and find all these varieties.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Rotarran

  • Frequent Users
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1358
Reply #11 on: May 12, 2014, 09:03:34 PM
It's right beside the lake so it benefits from the same effect as most lake-side parks, which is that they get tired migrants that need some rest and a bite to eat before continuing northwards.  And yeah it's a fairly compact, clean, easily traversed park.  Plus it's virtually dog and bicycle free.  And it doubles as a great hawk-watch place in the fall.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Today is a good day to bird!

Bluffs Birder

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 825
    • http://picasaweb.google.com/walter.fisher
Reply #12 on: May 16, 2014, 01:38:43 AM
The birds continued in good numbers on Thursday morning at Rosetta.  All of the usual Warblers were there as well as both Orioles and a few of the Vireos (Warbling, Philadelphia and Red-eyed).  Highlights were a Canada Warbler, 5 Scarlet Tanagers and 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  Three of the Hummers were seen together buzzing a flowering shrub.

Walter :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Bluffs Birder

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 825
    • http://picasaweb.google.com/walter.fisher
Reply #13 on: May 17, 2014, 03:00:46 AM
The following is a complete list of what was seen on Friday morning in and around the park between myself and 4 other birders.

Canada Goose
Long-tailed Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher (bird species #200 for this little 23 acre park!)
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven (2) (likely the pair from the Spit)
Bank Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

The Olive-sided Flycatcher was heard calling repeatedly twice and seen once, albeit a silhouette of a Flycatcher.  Because of the call being so unique to this species, a somewhat melodic "quick three beeeers", I have no doubt in my ID'ing this as an Olive-sided.  Although I myself have never seen or heard this species along the Bluffs before, I know they do breed in at least one area of Scarborough still.  It's likely that this bird will not stay long in the area and may have already continued onward.  It was last seen flying eastward out of a tree on the east side of the park.

Like all green spaces along the lake in the GTA, Rosetta McClain Gardens is located on a major flyway for both spring and fall migration so you just never know what is going to drop in and say "hello".

Walter :)
« Last Edit: May 21, 2014, 10:11:07 PM by Bluffs Birder »

Bluffs Birder

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 825
    • http://picasaweb.google.com/walter.fisher
Reply #14 on: May 18, 2014, 01:05:41 AM
Another 60 species logged at Rosetta on Saturday morning.  These are a few of the more interesting birds seen by myself and 2 other birders.

6:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Species: 60

Iceland Gull (late to leave)
Great Crested Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo
Blackpoll Warbler
Canada Warbler

Walter :)
« Last Edit: May 21, 2014, 10:12:12 PM by Bluffs Birder »

Pages: 1 2