Downsviews

[Napper]

Hey!

I have to keep bringing this up until someone else spots this bird.. A very dark  almost black Northern Mockingbird is hanging around the train tracks North of

Wilson ave near the new drainage ponds at Parc Downsview. Lots of Redwing blackbirds and a single swallow buzzing around  today (not a Barn Swallow).


I'm gonna have to smuggle my camera in to the plant to get a pic of this Mocker. That should be fun.

Napper  : o

Tiny Twsp this week end.
We hope.

[JW Mills]

Hey Napper,
I  drive by Downsview via Wilson on my way home, however I'm not familiar with the Park layout.
If you can give me more detailed directions I will try to stop in now and then.

[Napper]

Hey folks!

I mentioned in passing on another thread that Barn swallows showed up in numbers on Friday
over one of the drainage ponds in the park.  They continually spill over the fence to tear up the airfield.

This morning (6:30 am) an unusual raptor cruised over the pond and then towards the airfield.
Looked like a Falcon,  stiff wing beats and glided/soared on straight wings. It hung its talons below it during its brief flyover. It appeared to be larger than a Kestrel. Hopefully it will stick around and I will get a better look at it..

Mayhem broke loose at noon as a very large mixed group of Starlings, Redwinged Black birds, Barn Swallows all startled  up into the air near the pond.  A Few seconds later a large Coopers glided and circled the pond.

I Think I spotted a Chimney Swift mixed up in the mayhem. I'll keep an eye out for them.

A quik edit here.  Canada Geese with goslings (4) in the grass at lunch.  

Napper:)

Hey Zed, any Luck?

[Napper]

Hey!

At 9:30 this morning our mystery raptor made a pass once again. This time wings half folded low altitude shallow dive at some birds in the distance.

Barn swallows all over the place plus one other species of swallow I could not Id.

One Eastern Kingbird on the Chain link fence by the tracks.

At lunch I borrowed a point and shoot but it was pretty much useless. Mr Mocker was too quik

Napper;))

[Napper]

Hey!

Yesterday at 6:50 am there was an extremely irate Northern Mocking bird hanging around on a large Wooden crate behind one of our hangers. A few minutes later I found out the cause.  Two Northern Mocking birds were dive bombing an American Kestrel perched atop a ladder leading to the roof of one of our buildings. One Landed withing a foot of the kestrel and the response was a talon first lunge at the Mocker.

I am beginning to think that there are two Kestrel nests within 500 feet of each other. Both nests are in old unused exhaust ducts.  Both have fledglings and both have adults visiting.  One nest seems to have flying Fledglings.


Napper:))

[Napper]

Hey!

The Northern Mocking bird has started to develop a territory in Downsview.

They are at the Airport.  By the cemetery and at the  MTO building at Keele Street.  

(soon to be a hospital) .4 years ago Mocker's  were non existent.

Kestrel's

2 Kestrel's in nest number 2  have been visible every morning this week in the pipe around 6:30, 9:30 and 12:00  waiting for

food to be delivered.. I don't think they have left the nest for a flight yet.

Napper

[jxg255]

I have had them nesting in a pine tree at the front of the house for years..last year we had to cut down the tree.  But we see them hanging around here all the time...also I work at the Caledonia Rd Home Depot and there are several nesting there on the greenbelt area

[Napper]

Hey!!

Your pretty close, Chimney Swifts at the MTO Building. Keele and 401

2 of them today just after 3:00 pm

Napper:)