Happy Mother's Day to those who celebrate. I have a long-standing tradition to have a walk in nature each Mother's Day to remember mom followed by gardening, her favourite pasttime. So at Ashbridges from 8:30 to noon and only from the drive south from the Lakeshore to the parking lot and all along the edge of the marina here are the notables:
Scaup 3
Common Loons 2 overhead
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron 2
Common Tern 3
Chimney Swift at least 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Hairy and Downies
Eastern Wood Peewee, my first of season
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird 2
Yellow-throated Vireo -- in the willows by the marina not far from the Blue-winged Warbler, confirmed by two other birders
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo -- many
Red-eyed Vireo, my first of season
All of the expected swallows but didn't track numbers
Winter Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, pair
Veery
Swainson's Thrush 2
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
Blue-winged Warbler, likely the one reported yesterday that inspired my trip, secretive, often back side of willows closer to the water
Black and White
Nashville 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart, female
Northern Parula
Magnolia
Bay-breasted 2
Yellow, many
Chestnut-sided, prolific, at least 6-8
Black-throated Blue
Palm, at least 3
Yellow-rump, still everywhere
Black-throated Green
Eastern Towhee, male
Field Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow (long looks finally)
White-throated and crowned sparrows were present in good numbers
It took two passes along the marina to get all these. They were often high up and few were vocalizing.
An injured Opossum was spotted near the willows and some wildlife volunteers have reported its whereabouts and watched until it found haven under some brush but if you see it around and it seems in the open and distressed I think Toronto Wildlife Centre is the place to call but not certain.
Happy Birding
