Warbler hunt - still looking for timing and locations

[mr.sharp-photo]

is anyone going to declare when les warblers are coming to the GTA?
also looking for good locations to find them.

thanks

[Leslie Kinrys]

May is the time for warblers. You can find them at High Park, Lambton Wood, Colonel Sam Smith Park, the Spit or take a walk in your local ravine or cemetery. If you want to see them up close, check out the banding station at the Spit. Early morning is the best time to go there. Farther afield, you can go to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, the Carden Alvar, Point Pelee or Long Point.

[Bluffs Birder]

Pretty much anywhere, if you look!!!  They're small and fast as heck, they don't sit still for more then a second or two.  Thickson's Woods and Lynde Shores CA are both excellent places to see Warblers as well as Guildwood Park.  We've seen 27 different Warbler species at Rosetta McClain Gardens over the last couple of spring migrations.  The Leslie Spit (Baselands) is another top notch spot.  The Islands.  Take your pick!

Walter

[Bird Brain]

I've had great luck in the past at Erindale Park out here in Mississauga.  

Jo-Anne  

[Luv2Bird]

Vince and I took pics of some Yellow -rumped warblers in Port Credit at the marina last Sunday. Vince had seen one and took some pics  a few days before.  Didn't expect them there, but there must be something there for them to eat , I would think.

[Pruss]

Hey there Yogi,

I can't say enough good things about heading down to Pt. Pelee during the migration.  My wife and I birded there in the third week of May and had good eyes on seven different species at the same time, from the same viewing location.  Over 50 species in a morning of birding, and over a dozen species of warbler.  Not to mention the shore birds, gulls, waders, waterfowl and raptors.  Morning birding from the point up through Pt. Pelee and then afternoon birding with a long lense at Hillman Marsh makes for a fantastic day.  Worth the drive and an overnight in a B&B for sure!

Best of luck on your warbler hunt.

Pat

[Bird Brain]

Vince and I took pics of some Yellow -rumped warblers in Port Credit at the marina last Sunday. Vince had seen one and took some pics  a few days before.  Didn't expect them there, but there must be something there for them to eat , I would think.

Sue ... I was amazed to see some there February 2009 during last year's GBBC.

[mr.sharp-photo]

Hey there Yogi,

I can't say enough good things about heading down to Pt. Pelee during the migration.  My wife and I birded there in the third week of May and had good eyes on seven different species at the same time, from the same viewing location.  Over 50 species in a morning of birding, and over a dozen species of warbler.  Not to mention the shore birds, gulls, waders, waterfowl and raptors.  Morning birding from the point up through Pt. Pelee and then afternoon birding with a long lense at Hillman Marsh makes for a fantastic day.  Worth the drive and an overnight in a B&B for sure!

Best of luck on your warbler hunt.

Pat

because my camera is getting repaired, i don't know if i can make it to Pt Pelee this year. i've also been told the crowds are nuts. is this true?

[mr.sharp-photo]

my only warbler experience was at the Humber Arboretum. it was relatively active last year

[Pruss]

We've also had good warbler experiences at The Spit.  Although at times Tommy Thompson Park does feel a bit like Yellow Warbler Central.  I echo the sentiments written above, get out early and down to the banding station that little peninsula is a beautiful wood to bird in, with nice surprises during the migration.  

We're in Durham region now and will likely check some of the pockets of bush along the lake out here for our warblers... Lynde Shores, Thickson's Woods, etc.  We'd love some pointers from folks who bird out between Pickering and Oshawa on locations of other migrant traps.

Best,

Pat

[Tyler]

biggest tip for warblers in the spring is watch the doppler radar before you go to bed. If there is a strong rainfall/thunder storm that hit after midnight then the woodlots ADJACENT to the lakes will be full of warblers.

General rule of thumb in migration is lakeshore woodlots first then inland sights later in the day. this is due to if many birds land in greenspaces as soon as they cross the lakes. They then start working their way up corridors, hedgerows, creek valleys etc inland.
Durham region sites
Thickson's woods lots of warblers and lots of birders. sometime more birders than birds. The GTA version of Pelee
Lynde shore a hit and miss woodlot.
Darlington provincial park ( my personal favorite May site in ontario) lots of different habitat= lots of different species and usually i have them all to myself.
Oshawa Second marsh/Mclaughlin Bay Nature reserve In the morning Cool hollow woods (se corner of the 2nd marsh) can be great. In the afternoon Ghost road woods at the north end of the marsh. flocks of warblers move up the eastside of the marsh from the hollow to ghost road woods as the day progresses.
Oshawa Creek Woods ignored by most  in the morning the lower creek valley and by mid day anywhere in the valley that is forested. and their are resident pileated woodpecker through out the wooded areas of this valley.

Other site in Durham Region that are good for warblers are Thornton Woods (inland site in east whitby/west oshawa), breeding warblers, Glen major and Durham forest south of uxbridge, Long sault C.A> north of Bowmanville, and the ganaraska forest  which has a healthy population of hooded Warblers.

[mr.sharp-photo]

We've also had good warbler experiences at The Spit.  Although at times Tommy Thompson Park does feel a bit like Yellow Warbler Central.  I echo the sentiments written above, get out early and down to the banding station that little peninsula is a beautiful wood to bird in, with nice surprises during the migration.  

We're in Durham region now and will likely check some of the pockets of bush along the lake out here for our warblers... Lynde Shores, Thickson's Woods, etc.  We'd love some pointers from folks who bird out between Pickering and Oshawa on locations of other migrant traps.

Best,

Pat

I actually applied to volunteer at the banding station. zero replies to my two emails i sent after i applied. just fabulous.
do you just wander around, looking for warblers in the shrubs? or do you actually interact with the banding stn people?

[Pruss]

Both usually.  We do most of our birding on our own, but in the past have walked with the volunteers out to the nets and been invited into the station to watch how they log info and band birds.

The TRCA researcher that runs the station is really friendly (I forget her name...), and the volunteers usually are too.   The easiest way to get to know the folks at the banding station is to walk down there early on a Saturday morning and introduce yourself.  I don't know whether they are accepting new volunteers or not.  There was a time between 2008-2009 when TTPBRS was in-between coordinators that communication with TTPBRS and TRCA was spotty at best.  Maybe that's why your email wasn't returned.

It's worth the walk out to peninsula D when the migration is on.

Pat

[mr.sharp-photo]

they aren't accepting new volunteers.
we were REJECTED

[Pruss]

Ah well... doesn't keep you from beating the crowds down to peninsula d on the weekend and making friends while birding.