Downsview May Report

Rotarran · **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2016, 09:53:08 PM

Well today we added 2 new birds to the park with the Veery and Wood Thrush. As some of you already know some shorebirds are also starting to arrive including the Least Sandpipers. It's time to start checking the ponds regularly for these types of shorebirds.

Here's a pic of the Veery...but I did not manage a pic of the Wood Thrush. That thing is notoriously difficult to photograph, but what a beauty if you do manage.

Napper · **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2016, 10:56:55 PM

Chimney Swifts and Barn Swallows

Today at noon spotted a nice group of Chimney Swifts at Downsview mixed in with a group of Barn Swallows.

Both groups very vocal!

Napper

Rotarran · **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2016, 12:12:51 AM

Good number of birds at DV recently. Today we had a new bird for the park with the Solitary Sandpiper as discovered by Dinu and Merik. Together with the Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and the Killdeer we're starting to get more intrigue in the shorebird side of things. But not to be outdone, the warblers also had a good showing with the Black and White, American Redstart, Chestnut-sided, Palm and Yellow. Other birds of note were a Catbird and the Cliff Swallow again but this time over the small pond.

Merik mentioned he saw a Green Heron by the small pond a couple of days ago but no luck refinding that. Hopefully he'll sign up to eBird and submit that report because he has some great pics.

edit: Oh I almost forgot there was a Cooper's Hawk being chased and harassed by a group of cooperating Robins, Blackbirds and Orioles. It was quite something to witness.

Dinusaur · **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2016, 07:16:46 AM

Also an Eastern Wood-pewee - that was the one we were looking before I left.

Rotarran · **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2016, 05:32:49 PM

Thanks Dinu, yes the Eastern Wood-Pewee was a very nice sighting. Would be nice if one or tow of them hang around for the summer and sing their unique song.

Well despite the inclement weather, I headed out to the park today to see what I could find. And although I got pelted by hail/snow every now and then, overall it was still worth it. Found another new bird for the park, the Ovenbird, and actually managed to get pictures of a Wood Thrush which I am thrilled about. Black and White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Palm Warbler also present. No flycatchers today but the Gray Catbird and Lincoln's Sparrow still hanging around.

Wood Thrush

Ovenbird - not great pic but it's the only time I saw it. I heard it a few times though.

On the shorebird front we had a newcomer (for the year) with the Semipalmated Polover. Greater Yellowlegs still there and so was the Solitary Sandpiper which was kinda all over the park checking out different wet areas and puddles.

Considering the weather, it was really not a bad day at all.

randallpink · **Reply #20 on:** May 16, 2016, 09:44:21 AM

Fantastic birds the past few days! I will be heading over this afternoon at some point

Rotarran · **Reply #21 on:** May 16, 2016, 06:39:45 PM

Male Bobolink between big pond and woods. Also Lesser Yellowlegs at small pond

Napper · **Reply #22 on:** May 16, 2016, 09:33:33 PM

At lunch today I spotted two semipalmated sandpiper's dipping in a creek/ditch on the airport property not far from the Downsview park water collection ponds. Tiny little things they are.

Barn swallows zipping really close by.

Napper

Rotarran · **Reply #23 on:** May 16, 2016, 09:48:03 PM

Good news to report it seems as though we have a new bird (Canada Warbler) for the park as found by Randy Back. The Canada Warbler is one of my favourite Warblers but unfortunately I didn't see it today. Maybe it'll stick around or more will come.

It's interesting that I was just thinking about the Canada Warbler today and also the Bobolink. I saw the Bobolink close to the end of my 2 hours there when the rain was almost upon the park. As mentioned above it was in a grassy area between the pond (or the embankment to the pond) and the woods.

randallpink · **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2016, 10:19:20 PM

Yes it was great to see the Canada warbler today after seeing my first of the year yesterday! It's one of my favourite as well. It was associating with a common yellowthroat for about 5 minutes before I lost sight of it and wasn't able to relocate it. It's too bad I didn't see the bobolink though I was just thinking about it yesterday myself!

Rotarran · **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2016, 08:29:54 PM

Well today I did something that I've never done before, some early morning birding at the park. I knew I couldn't make it in the afternoon due to prior commitments so I thought I'd change it up for a bit and see what I could find in the morning. And it was very interesting but due to limited time I only birded the woods. I saw quite a few warblers including Magnolia and Nashville which were both FOTY as well as Black and White, Black-throated Blue, Palm and a bunch of Yellow Warblers.

The most interesting bird, however, was the Great Crested Flycatcher which hasn't been seen at the park since 2012...one of Jonathan's first ever sightings.

Rotarran · **Reply #26 on:** May 20, 2016, 11:45:12 PM

Flycatcher madness continues at Downsview with a probable Olive-sided Flycatcher (waiting for confirmation in ID section) which Mirek and I observed on the William Baker Trail...in fact there were two because when one flew away, the other followed. This is bird #165 for the park...well I guess 166 because I convinced Mirek to submit to eBird the Green Heron he saw a couple of weeks ago

Overall it was a very good day of birding at the park. First Swainsons Thrush of the year and also a Veery in the woodlot. A few warblers including an American Redstart. A couple of Semipalmated Plovers at the big pond. And yesterday Mirek saw an Indigo Bunting. We looked for it today but no luck.

Rotarran · **Reply #27 on:** May 21, 2016, 09:00:20 PM

Quick update, bounced in and out today just to get a quick idea of what was happening and I just happened to run into an American Coot in the big pond. Apparently (according to eBird) it's a rare bird for this location and time of the year. But it's also the first ever American Coot for the park so that was exciting. Other than that I did see a Blackpoll Warbler foraging in the bushes near the large white poll...haha some sort of pun in there somewhere (blackpoll, whitepoll). Alright so I'm no comedian

Rotarran · **Reply #28 on:** May 28, 2016, 01:22:10 PM

Well other parks are still buzzing with cool sightings but Downsview seems to be winding down with fewer migrants passing through and the resident birds settling in for the summer. Lots of Robin, Killdeer and Blackbird nests. Also the foliage in the woods at Downsview is getting thicker and making it harder to see the birds...mostly birding by ear now.

But the ponds are still worth checking for shorebirds. Yesterday I saw a Lesser Yellowlegs and the day before Mirek saw a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Yes I know they're not exactly Red Knots or Ruddy Turnstones but interesting shorebirds could still be passing through up to the middle of June.

In the field yesterday I heard and saw an Eastern Meadowlark. And I do have a feeling there may be some interesting field birds yet to be found this year...maybe a Grasshopper Sparrow or maybe a Vesper Sparrow...something to that effect.