last saturday morning at Col.Sam Smith Park

[ravynne40]

I was out birding early on Saturday morning, and there were 2 red necked grebes building a nest not sure how to describe exactly where in the park
but it was across the lake not too far from the swans nest
it was really wonderful to watch

ravynne

[Kin Lau]

Very cool. I just saw your pics, and it looks like they're trying to build a nest.

I hope they're successful. The next closest nest is all the way out at Burlington.

[ravynne40]

sadly I think they are gone, I went out last night in the rain ...yes, the rain  :?  and i didn't see any sign of them or their nest, maybe they went elsewhere, but i did see 2 Black Crowned herons in the trees near the pond, a little far for my little camera to get a decent picture of but they were beautiful,i had my binoculars so i could watch them,
 the herons were located in the pond area where the look out deck is? (it kind of looks like a gazebo without the top)

thanks Kin Lau

i posted a small video on my flickr site, its a little shaky, i didn't have my tripod with me, but i saw you post about videos somewhere..and now i can't find it

Irene
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravynne40

[Brian Bailey]

This pair have been hanging around for the past week or so.  They were there again this evening, but I still haven't seen the kind of courting/nesting behavior that you saw.  Was this on the east side of the harbour area?  That's were I've been seeing them.  It's also where there was a failed nest attempt last year.  That one was the first ever recorded nest in Toronto!

The TRCA put in two nesting rafts in hopes of encouraging a successful nest this year.  One of them is right near where I think your photos were taken.  There were some weeds piled on it right after it went in about 6 weeks ago, but I haven't seen any sign of use since.  The original vegetation on the raft is now gone.

There's another raft on the south side, but it's floating on quite an angle, and I don't think any birds are likely to use it.

It seems kind of late to start nesting, but last year's nest wasn't noticed until early July.  They also did that here one day, gone the next thing well into June, so don't count them out yet!

BB

[ravynne40]

its the first one you come across the marina where all the boats are, i was told by a more experienced birder that day that there were some seagulls harassing the grebes over the rafting nest and while i was there the gulls were sitting on top of the raft squawking, they seemed very territorial. earlier in may i saw some swans eating some of the vegetation off the raft as well ( would guess it is on the east side)

i'm glad to hear that they are still might be there, they are so cute to watch, they seemed very attentive towards each other. i will keep my eyes open for them again for sure i'm just a hop skip and jump away from the park.

Irene

[Brian Bailey]

The two grebes were there this evening, guarding a small nest.  The nest appears to be a bit of vegetation piled on to a submerged rock.  Too bad they're not using the raft.  When the lake level drops, the nest will probably fall apart.

Both grebes were staying very close to the nest, chasing off any geese that got too close.  I didn't see any courting.

BB

[ravynne40]

The two grebes were there this evening, guarding a small nest.  The nest appears to be a bit of vegetation piled on to a submerged rock.  Too bad they're not using the raft.  When the lake level drops, the nest will probably fall apart.

Both grebes were staying very close to the nest, chasing off any geese that got too close.  I didn't see any courting.

BB

I saw one yesterday morning coming across the marina making noises, (calling?) I'm glad to hear they have a nest now! let's hope the water doesn't drop too quickly or too soon. I was happy to see the one I did but it was too far to get a good picture.

IreneC.