Lambdon Woods and Sam Smith

[mr.sharp-photo]

I did a repeat visit to the woods today.
i have never seen so many downy and hairy woodpeckers in my life. at one point, i saw 5 pecking at one tree.
no sign of P Woodpecker, though.



i probably saw 50 woodpeckers today. no joke.  i spent most of my time listening and watching and not taking pictures.

and from Sam Smith at 4:30 PM - i finally saw the kestrel(s) that people say they always see.



i'm pretty certain people feed it. it was making quite a bit of noise and seemed to follow me for a bit.

also saw a lone goldeneye going for a swim.

[Moira]

I echo your comments about Lambton Woods - I'll definitely make a return visit.  I also went to Col. Sam Smith and High Park (I call it "on the way home")!

[denis]

great shots.
i agree on the kestrel.seems a bit too tame for me.very unusual,how he lets you approach so close.

[mr.sharp-photo]

my kestrel experiences are from the Leslie Spit and Brickworks. so maybe there's the typical "east end" vs "west end" toronto personalities happening.
the Leslie Spit one sometimes doesn't care if joggers get close to it. but it will remain perfectly still.
the Brickworks/Don River kestrel(s) are the same or a little more timid.
the kestrel i saw at Sam Smith was strange. INCREDIBLY vocal. never heard a kestrel KIP-KIP-KIP!  so loudly and for so long. i was "relatively" close for those shots (it was 10+ feet up and i was 10 feet from the tree, standing on the path). it did fly away but not that far and, again, was so vocal.

when i was shooting the goldeneye that was swimming by the docks, the kestrel flew to the top of the the first boat's mast and was keeping an eye on me. he stayed for a few minutes then flew south.

not alarmingly strange, but yeah, seemed to be kind of friendly and curious about people.

[JW Mills]

Great shots!
Glad you had a good day at the Woods!