Downsview Park

[Rotarran]

The old thread got kinda stale so I've created a new one and will do so every once in a while.

As mentioned in my last post in the previous thread, I saw Ivy (79AN) at Downsview.  Here's a picture with its leg-band clearly visible and showing the 79AN ID marker.  



As per Rob'in'To's link -- http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/ ... ne-falcon/ -- this bird was born in New Jersey and made her way to Toronto some time in the fall.  She's also been spotted downtown apparently.

While the prospect of having a Peregrine Falcon on site is exciting, I also fear for many of the other birds at the park.  She was harassing 3 Red-tailed Hawks all morning and I'm afraid she may hunted down the little local Kestrels.  I hope not, but I was looking for the Kestrels all day and didn't see them.  The last time a Kestrel was seen at DV (as far as I know) was December 23 and the first time the Peregrine was spotted at DV was on December 13.

Please advise if you've seen Kestrels at Downsview since Dec. 23.  

Here's a short video of Ivy harassing a RTH (sound may be loud due to wind buffeting):
https://youtu.be/tx1Xsv1zMUQ

[Dinusaur]

Lovely photo and the video of the peregrine. When I was there this afternoon I didn't see it.
Rest assured - the Kestrels were there this afternoon - two were hovering close to the railway track.

[Rotarran]

Thanks Dinu.  That's good news.  

I guess I was a bit paranoid but then I haven't really heard or read much about Peregrine / Kestrel interactions.  No doubt that's in part due to the fact that they inhabit such different habitats and probably rarely come into contact with one another...other than during migrations.

In any case, this should be an interesting bird to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months.

[randallpink]

So beautiful, great photo! I saw her a week ago! thanks for identifying her

[Napper]

Nice

I thought I spotted Peregrine's  last year at Downsview but... they were  moving soo fast I could not positively identify them..

As for activity at the airfield,  last week it was very bleak, a few Red Tailed Hawks and nothing else except a few Rock Pigeon's that have moved indoors(hangers) .


NO Snowy's so far this year

Napper

[Rotarran]

Had a hefty helping of Downvsview birding today.  It was an interesting day with the most species I've seen since the fall.  Here are some highlights from today:

- Saw a Coyote near the traintracks ...didn't get a picture but I talked to some fellow birders who said he's there often and may have an injured leg.  

- I saw a Peregrine Falcon flyby ...might have been Ivy the same New Jersey Peregrine that was seen in late December and early January.  It flew westwards towards Jane.

- Out of the 7 birds of prey I saw today (1 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Red-tailed Hawks and 3 Kestrels), 4 of them had prey...3 mice and 1 squirrel (RTH).  Never seen such hunting success in one visit.

- I wandered over to the William Baker trail today which is across the street from Sheppard (connected via a small bridge) and part of the Downsview Park complex.  This trail took me through some nice wooded areas which is where I found a Cardinal, a Chickadee as well as 2 Downy Woodpeckers.  It is also a favourite hunting and hang-out place for the Hawks...now I know where they go when not circling over the fields and grasslands.  I remember there was talk about extending Downsview Park to this area but had forgotten about it until I checked it out today.  This is great news, it gives us a habitat that is kinda lacking before at Downsview...I'll be sure to bird this woodlot often.  A word of caution though, the trail is currently very icy in some places.  

[JW Mills]

Just wondering whether to create a separate hotspot for the William Baker Trails or include them under Downsview Park?

[Rotarran]

Just wondering whether to create a separate hotspot for the William Baker Trails or include them under Downsview Park?

Personally I prefer to keep it all Downsview because it is an extension of a Downsview Park initiative.   And if you look at a map (below), you'll see it's really not that big (circled in red).  If it were its own hotspot, it would be one of the smallest.  From the map you can appreciate how it once was all one big wildlife area but with the weird way Sheppard is shaped it kinda cut it off very abruptly.  



Plus in a way what we lost to development in the south end of the park, we gained with William Baker trail so it kinda evens out.  That's my 2 cents.

[Rotarran]

But I will say this, I'll always submit reports (both here and on ebird) noting if I only saw a bird on that trail (such as the Chickadee) that way there's no confusion.  Especially when it is concerning a rarity...but then we're always quite precise with rarities.

[JW Mills]

Fair enough, let's keep it as part of Downsview Park

[Dinusaur]

Saw this magnificent animal in the park this afternoon together with a pair of Mocking bird, three Red tailed Hawk, a pair of Kestrels and a dozen or so American Tree Sparrow. Initially I thought it was one of those leash free dogs that the park is inundated with. luckily for this Coyote none was around at that time.

[Rotarran]

That's a gorgeous shot Dinu!  Yeah I saw a Coyote last week but didn't get a pic.  I passed by today after visiting Rosetta McClain Gardens in the morning to see that Tufted Titmouse.  At Downsview, the birds of prey were quite active again.  Kestrels with prey and the Hawks interacting quite a bit.  I didn't see it but I'm certain I heard a Peregrine harassing a Red-tailed Hawk in the W. Baker trail.  Didn't have that much time, was hoping to see the Rough-legged Hawk that's been reported at the Downsview Airport but no luck.

[Bird Brain]

Fantastic photo - very healthy looking coyote!  

[Flyingbass]

I haven't seen the peregrine in a while, but today I did see a cooper's hawk in William Baker!

[Rotarran]

I haven't seen the peregrine in a while, but today I did see a cooper's hawk in William Baker!

Not sure how similar Coopers sound to Peregrines but I heard one or the other last time I was there.  Didn't see because the bird was on the other side of Baker but it was interacting with a Red-tailed Hawk...that call is unmistakable.