Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough

[Walter Fisher]

I birded Rosetta today from 7am - 9am and ended up with 33 species.  Best sightings were Hermit Thrush, Eastern Towhee, Tree Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Hundreds of Blackbirds and Robins flying over the park early this morning as well as a good number of Northern Flickers.

Happy Birding!
Walter

[Walter Fisher]

Much the same on Sunday morning at Rosetta as I birded from 6:30am - 10:30am and got 38 species.  Best sightings were Caspian Tern, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Fox Sparrow.  Also, got a much nicer look at the Eastern Towhee.

Happy Birding!
Walter

[Brown-headed Birder]

Birding this morning started slowly but highlight was an American Woodcock that flew past the washrooms and landed on the western fence by the bungalow.  I believe it was disturbed from a hiding spot by the incessant leaf blowers. Approaching slowly I got a second look before it flew toward the bluffs and I lost it.  Also seen were both Kinglets, several Hermit Thrushes, Creepers, a trio of TVs that stayed awhile, a resident Cooper's Hawk and a Belted Kingfisher travelling back and forth along the Bluffs.  Not terribly busy but you never know what surprise you will get there.

[Walter Fisher]

you never know what surprise you will get there

So true!  Wow, nice find!!!  That would be only our second Woodcock sighting there.  Not bad considering it's a formal garden and not a grassland park.

 Walter

[Rotarran]

Have been frustratingly tied up the last couple of days but I managed to get in some birding last night from 6:30pm to 7:30pm and I picked Rosetta since I live fairly close to the park.  Saw 22 species and my best sighting was a YB Sapsucker.

[Walter Fisher]

A birder/photographer friend got some great photos of an early Blue-grey Gnatcatcher at Rosetta on Tuesday.

Walter

[Walter Fisher]

A good number of birders and birds were at the gardens this morning.  A total of 53 species were identified including an imm Snow Goose, Chimney Swift, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, House Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, and a female Purple Finch.  Also a trailer-load of White-throated Sparrows!

Good birding!
Walter

[mc]

also savannah sparrow....

Savannah Sparrow Rosetta 20150503 Flickr by mc_birding, on Flickr

[Brown-headed Birder]

Great pic MC.  I logged in to remind Walter of the Savannah and a Field Sparrow but there you are with a great pic of the Savannah, which is always better than mere words.  Unlike the normal pattern where many of the birds are in the western end, most were all over the east side.  They seemed to come in waves over the morning so with a lot of patience and standing or sitting it was possible to get over 50 species in the park or on the lake.  Should be good tomorrow too before any afternoon rains.

Theresa

[Walter Fisher]

Hi MC and Theresa,

I was just listing the newest migrants to arrive in the park as that's what most birders are looking for at this point.  Good luck if you go tomorrow.

NIce shot of the Savannah Sparrow MC!

Walter