A couple of hours @ the Bluffs

[Anonymous]

Took an early day for myself and decided to hop down to the Scarborough Bluffs with the camera to see what I could find, and I wasn't disappointed at all.  I spent a lot of time watching the Harlequins and found that they don't interact well with other ducks.  Case in point is the Oldsquaw (female?) that was being chased away and later on some Buffleheads came too close as well.  Has anyone else seen this type of aggressive behaviour?

Common Merganser -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... _Merganser

Redhead -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... 21/Redhead

Buffleheads Landing -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... ds_Landing

Male Harlequin, Side View -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... /Harlequin

Male Harlequin, Front View -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... in_Head_On

Male Harlequin chasing Oldsquaw -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... e_Oldsquaw

Caspian Terns @ the Beach -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... pian_Terns

Caspian Tern in Flight -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... _Flying_II

Caspian Tern in Flight (my fave) -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... ian_Flying

[Kin Lau]

Which side of the Bluffs did you find the Harlequins?

That would be quite something if they attempted to nest in Southern Ontario.

[Anonymous]

Eastern Beach

I have a feeling they'll be leaving in the next week or so, given that large areas up north where they nest and summer are still snow covered and cold.  Parents were just up in Fenelon area yesterday and there is still a TONNE of snow left up there, so can you imagine what it would be like further north?

[Tyler]

As much as we can all hope for breeding of harlequins in Southern Ontario, It will not happen. occasionally some loiter into the summer along Lake Ontario. But for Breeding these birds will be returning to Labrador and northern Quebec where there is suitable breeding Habitat is. As for the Long-tails, and Buffleheads they will be building up in numbers for a few weeks yet in Lake Ontario. The main Long tailed Duck Migration out of Lake Ontario is not till mid May. Then they leave the lake each evening by the 1000s.

As for an aggresive Harlequin. I have never seen that anywhere I have seen a Harlequin. I usually see lone drakes in spring trying to court and seduce Long-tailed, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye hens. But never get aggressive.

[Ann Brokelman]

Nice find Attila.  I will pop in and hopefully find them on my way home from work tomorrow.  Great shots also. Ann

[Bluffs Birder]

Great shots Attila!!!  I was at the top of the Bluffs with my binoculars looking down at the Caspian Terns today.  I could only find 2 flying above the filtration ponds, how many Caspians did you see?  Excellent find (Harlequins), I didn't know they were down there, will have to check them out for sure.

Happy Birding!
Bluffs Birder

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone, I appreciate them.

Tyler et al -> just out of curiousity, after looking at their (Harlequins) preferred nesting locales, does anyone else think that the Niagara River would make an excellent breeding location in our vicinity?

Everyone -> I went out trying to find a Black Back Gull (something about them just does it for me) but I couldn't find one.  I know it's a little late in the season, but has anyone seen one still around?

Here's the locations and numbers for the birds that I photographed:

3 Caspian Turns -> Western Beach and over filtration ponds

2 (M+F) Harlequins -> Eastern Beach, tight to the rocks @ first and then out cruising between beach and lighthouse

1 (F) Oldsquaw -> same location as the Harlequins

Numerous (M+F) Buffleheads -> boat launch ramps and Eastern Beach, same as the Harlequins

1 Redhead -> East of the Bridge @ the Yacht Club Entrance Gate

1 Common Merganser -> first in the harbour directly accross from the washrooms, then later with the Redhead.

[Anonymous]

Caspian Turns were out in force really putting the feedbag on, witnessed several dives for food this afternoon.  Merganser and Buffleheads were in the main lagoon where the boat launches are.  Harlequins (M+F) were still over by the beach area.  Saw a raptor at the top of the Bluffs (unidentifiable species type) and also saw a Kingfisher flying between the lagoon and the filtration ponds - hope to get a shot of him tomorrow when I have more time.

Spent some time looking for different or out of the ordinary shots, came up with these two.  Opinions welcomed.

Roosting Buried Head Canada Goose -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... anadaGoose

Mallard Formation over the Bay -> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... _in_Flight

Attila

[Kin Lau]

I've had Great Black Backed Gulls on both the east and west side of Frenchman's bay.

[Tyler]

Niagara nesting Harlequins.... has a nice wishful ring to it.  The problem with Niagara, other than being farther south than any of their breeding sites. Is that the water level fluctuates alot everyday. The amount of water going through the gorge above the Adam beck power station and it's NY twin  rises and falls daily if not hourly due to what the power stations use. (i.e diversion from above the falls, through the welland river and the welland canal) As for nesting sites the river shoreline is steep, lacks small islands and has alot of raccoons along it( major nest predator). these factors make it not favorable for nesting for most waterfowl.

What surprises me is that there are not alot of wintering Harlequins ever reported from the lower Niagara River. To look for this species in the GTA I primarily go to the 3 areas they seem to favor. Humber bay east, the Beaches area, and Oshawa Bay.


Great Black-backed Gulls on Lake Ontario are just a pathetic shell of their former population size. Type E Botulism has basically wiped these gulls out of the breeding bird population in Lake Ontario . 6 years ago there were over 50 pairs of GBBGs on Lake Ontario in 2007 there was only 1 nest! Being the top level scavenger along the lakeshore they encountered alot of dead/dying fish and birds afflicted with the botulism. And then they succumb to it effects after consuming the prey. Last fall next to Loons GBBGs were the most common carcass I found along the northshore of Lake Ontario. And most of these birds (immatures) were probably from the Atlantic. Most GBBGs we see along Lake Ontario now are birds in from the Atlantic ocean/lower St Lawrence and usually are immatures. The Adults usually leave here by mid spring for their eastern breeding grounds, leaving us with immatures summering.

From checking my records over the last decade I can honestly say that this species is much more uncommon now than in the late 90s. I saw my first adult last week  since mid February. I use to see 1-4 of them daily around the oshawa shoreline in April.

[David the park stroller]

AGGRESSIVE Harlequins? In the Rockies once we watched one fly in, dive down under a family of mallard ducklings then come up under the family and kill one of the ducklings!