Good afternoon
This morning I spent 2 hours in Col. Sam Smith Park. 80 minutes sheltering from the wind & rain and 40 minutes of uncomfortable birding. When I arrived at the park it was a balmy 8 degrees and when I left it was down to 2 degrees with a cold NW wind (as usual). I was real smart and left my gloves at home. I finally said the heck with it and left (I really didn't say heck but I can't print my real words). Even though I was only able to bird a short time I did find 46 species and following are some of them.
Red-necked and Horned Grebes, Redhead (too cold on the hands to look for the Harlequin), Common Loon, Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper, Bank Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (lots), Pine, Nashville, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green and Black-and-white Warblers, and 7 Sparrow species including Swamp, White-throated, Savannah, Chipping and Eastern Towhee. Not a bad haul for a short visit.
The Warblers were at the south end of the sunken area (or bowl) ( or garbage dump).
Oh! and it figures, now I am at home - The Sun is out.
Directions
COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK IN ETOBICOKE -TORONTO
To get to Col. Sam Smith Park from Queen & Yonge Streets. Take the Queen Street Car #501 (Long Branch) west to Kipling Ave. The park is across from the street car stop behind the Humber College buildings. Depending on which Queen Street streetcar you board you may or may not have to transfer from one car to another at the Humber Loop, but this is no big deal.
You can also take the 44 TTC bus from Kipling subway station directly to the Col. Sam Smith Park loop.
By automobile from downtown Toronto drive west on Lakeshore Blvd, cross the Humber River Bridge at Sunnyside and drive to Kipling Ave. turn left (south) and your in Colonel Sam Smith Park..
Norm Murr
