Indigo Bunting

[birddog]

Today I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Indigo Bunting at Beare Road landfill Site, near one of the new ponds recently added. This is a first for me. Beare Road landfill is part of the Rouge Valley Park System, and can be found by following directions to the Metro Zoo, taking a right on the Zoo turnoff. You will have to park and travel about 1km on foot down and up a small hill. There is 2 new ponds and the bunting was seen on the south west side of the south pond.

[Julia]

For anyone interested, the Bunting by the allotment gardens is back again this year and can nearly always be spotted singing there.  There are at least three of them on territory if you walk along the road that leads from the main road to the gardens, then changes to a footpath past the dream site to centre road.  Once you hear them, look for the highest, most exposed branch you can find, and likely they'll be there.  

Julia

[BIGFRANK]

Thanks Julia I was there a few weeks back after your posting about them. I had missed them in the spring so used them as an excuse to get out and walkabout. They are very beautiful,and a friend and I found one almost on arrival at the gardens.
 Glad U saw and enjoyed them birddog. I just love the vibrant colour!

[Julia]

Yes, they really are beautiful.  To repeat my story again, I got into birding upon seeing an Indigo Bunting one day at the gardens - he absolutely blew me away, I was sure it was an escapee of some kind.  A bird like that, in Ontario!  So they're my favourite for sentimental reasons.  I also love that they're so Hammy!  No quiet lurking around in bushes or sudden flushing for these guys.  If you can spot them you always get a good look.

Julia