The Downsview Report

[Rotarran]

I guess I'll create this thread and steadily update it.

I stopped by yesterday for about an hour to briefly check in on the migrant action.  And I was not disappointed.  The park was rocking -- not with yet another concert, thankfully --  but with Golden-crowned Kinglets.  They seemed to be everywhere.  I counted 10 but I suspect there may have been hundreds spread across the entire park.  Also present were 3 warbler species including a Nashville, a Black-throated Green and new for the park a Tennessee.  They were all fairly close together.

A  quick check at the pond only revealed a couple of Canada Geese and Mallards.

[Rotarran]

Yesterday was quite active with lots of sparrow action including: Lincoln's (2), White-crowned (at least 10), White-throated (about 5), and also still many local Song and Savannahs.  Oh and of course a Dark-eyed Junco...first of the season.

A new bird for the park, the Blackpoll Warbler, was found late in the day and continues to add to the tally of warblers seen at Downsview.  Other warblers seen were what looked like the same Tennessee and Nashville from the day before and lots of Yellow-rumped.  There may have been more but the invasion of the Golden-crowned Kinglets made it challenging to get a clear picture in a short period of time.  There were also a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets among them.

Not much Hawk, Duck or Shorebird action.  It's all about the little passerine migrants at the moment.

Edit: Almost forgot, I saw a sizable flock of American Pipits as well.  Monarch numbers seem to be way down...almost disappeared.

[Rotarran]

Today was an interesting day.  Still very busy with migrants including many Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Between the hill and train tracks Dinu saw a Bobolink and close to the greenhouse area I saw a Blue-headed Vireo.  First of the year for me

[randallpink]

Where exactly in the park do you see the most action?  I go once and a while but I never seem to see too much. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places or I'm just unlucky but id love to know where you've seen the most recently! Thanks!

[Rotarran]

Where exactly in the park do you see the most action?  I go once and a while but I never seem to see too much. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places or I'm just unlucky but id love to know where you've seen the most recently! Thanks!

It depends what you're hoping to see and also when.  Obviously migration times are best (spring and fall) for the migrating type of birds.  For warblers, vireos, kinglets and sparrows try wooded and 2nd growth type of areas.  Grasslands with the odd tree and bush can also work.  Because of the park's size, it can take some time...so don't spend too much time in areas of low activity.  Keep moving and keep listening.  Follow your ears...it's usually your best guide to whee the action is.  I know, it's hard to do with all the airtraffic and wind...but that's part of the challenge.

Always check both ponds for ducks, geese, gulls and shorebirds.  For hawks and falcons, it's hit or miss ...it really depends if they're hunting and want to be seen.

And one thing I try to do before entering the park is to leave my expectations behind.  I usually enter with an open mind and open ears and eyes.  Whatever I see, I see.

[randallpink]

Thanks! I may head over this afternoon

[Rotarran]

I swung by today to see what's going on and things have changed a bit.  For one I didn't notice any warbler activity any longer.  Looks like the Nashville and Tennessee have made their move.  

The Blue-headed Vireo was still there as were a number of Kinglets (both kinds).  Newly arrived was a single Fox Sparrow that wasn't too far from all the other sparrows (including White-throated, White-crowned, Song and Juncos).  Also a few Hermit Thrushes seem to have moved in for a brief stay.  I confirmed at least 2 but I know there are more thrushes in the park, I just couldn't see what they were.  I do think they're probably all Hermits....but you never know.

Pond was still pretty quiet but I did find an American Black Duck, only 2nd sighting for the park I think.

We really racked up the warblers this fall.  Since August 25, we have collectively seen the following warblers at Downsview:

- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Yellow Warbler
- Palm Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Wilson's Warbler
- Cape-May Warbler
- Magnolia Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Tennessee Warbler
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Black-throated Blue Warbler
- Blackpoll Warbler

Not bad for fall and for a park that specializes mostly in grassland species in the middle of the city far away from the lake.  I'm curious what we'll see in the spring.

[Dinusaur]

Thanks for keeping the tally Elias. It was indeed very quiet this evening; however, I was presented with this beauty - a male Rusty Blackbird.

[Rotarran]

Beautiful!  Nice find!  I love Rusties...their colour and pattern is so perfect for fall.  Ditto for Fox Sparrows and Thrushes.

[Rotarran]

I passed by briefly today mainly to check the pond for any interesting visitors but it was very quiet.  So I just kinda walked around.  I made my way through the woods looking for ground sparrows and thrushes.  Then when I came out the back exit I walked towards the two tiny bridges that connect the path which eventually leads to that tall white pole.  

As I approached the reeds, I noticed quite a bit of commotion and movement...I was so close to the action that I didn't even need bins to realize I'm looking at the frantic movements of a wren with its tail up like a draw bridge.  But then I put bins to glasses and there it was bird #150 for Downsview Park...a Marsh Wren.  This will change Downsview Park's hotspot colour from green to yellow on ebird.  That may not seem like such a big deal but it is only the 3rd Toronto park north of Bloor with that distinction.  

I've always felt that Downsview had great potential and if it was left alone and not turned into this an everypark for everyone (concerts, carnivals and all sort of other nonsense), who knows what its true limits could have been.  But alas here we are.

I did not get any pics...maybe next time.

[Dinusaur]

Thank you very much Elias for your diligence - it was indeed nice to get 150 bird species in an urban park that, as you said, is trying to become everything for everybody. I remember you urging me and others last year to report on eBird every new bird we found. Hope we find new bird species there as time goes on. I saw a lot of new trees planted - that's good news. I keep visiting this place - walking around the park a few times will keep everyone healthy. Winter months are challenging because of wide open space and strong winds. However, if you want to see a Snowy in the middle of a big city that is very likely the place you want to visit more often.

[Rotarran]

Thank you too Dinu, without your help and efforts and the help and efforts of every other birder at this truly special park, this would never have been possible.  

This park isn't like some of the other parks out there.  Many parks offer instant gratification...lots of birds, lots of species.  Downsview is a slow burn...it slowly unravels to reveal its secrets to you.  Patience is the key and patience often pays off.  It always feels like there is something somewhere in the park, it's just a matter of good instinct and good luck to find it in the sheer vastness of it all

[Flyingbass]

Hello once again,

I am so excited about reaching 150 species.  I started the hotspot hoping that we could reach this level one day, I didn't think it would happen so fast.  I am also thinking ahead to the spring, all of the water features in the park are very new.  I am confident there are going to be a lot more species as the park continues to mature.  

Keep up the good work!  I also will be posting a separate thread about an opportunity to help with a very exciting habitat restoration project.  

Talk soon,

Jonny

[Rotarran]

Thanks Jonny as the founding father of the Downsview Hotspot, we have you to thank for laying the foundation and getting this started

Today was a cold and windy day but I went back to try and maybe get a pic of the Marsh Wren but no luck.  I did, however, run into the Fox Sparrow ...probably the same I saw the other day.  

The Fox Sparrow is probably my favourite sparrow...followed closely by the Lincoln's.  It's always a great thrill to see them

[Napper]

Hey!

wuz that you siting on top of the Hill close to the railway tracks

I think the Killdeer finally departed on  Thursday.

Still seeing a Raven about Downsview once in a while.

Naoper

Oh BTW  DE Junco's arrived en mass in Milton this week.