Carleton (Carlton) Park Brampton

[cairnstone]

Photographed a very large Cooper's Hawk this evening in the park. Obviously a female. The Blue Jays are an excellent tip-off to finding a Cooper's Hawk. Their ruckus usually leads to one.

[cairnstone]

Since my last post:

American Redstart (male), several Wilson's Warblers, a Magnolia Warbler, a Turkey Vulture, a Northern Mockingbird (very tame, along the extreme southwest fence-line, particularly near dusk) and numerous Northern Flickers. I have seen other warblers and vireos I cannot identify. Blue Jay numbers are on the rise. Cooper's Hawks are always lurking.

[cairnstone]

In the park this weekend: Two Veery and a Swainson's Thrush (which I photographed).

[cairnstone]

Here's a link to a photo I took this afternoon (Monday) of a Swainson's Thrush in Carlton Park. The woods in the park are teeming with thrushes at the moment.

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... hrush1.jpg

Also, here's a Carlton Park Cooper's Hawk I snapped in near darkness on September 5:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... 2/coop.jpg

[cairnstone]

Yesterday and today Sharp-shinned Hawk. Got a real close-up look at the Sharp-shinned Hawk today (only about 10 feet away). Also, plenty of Northern Flickers and Swainson's Thrushes. The first White-throated Sparrow of the season today. The juncos can't be far behind.

[cairnstone]

This morning (Saturday) around 8:00: Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Magnolia Warblers (too many to count), Northern Flickers (too many to count), American Redstart, Great Crested Flycatcher (3), unidentified vireo, White-throated Sparrow.

Thursday and Friday: (female) Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-throated Sparrow, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, countless Northern Flickers, unidentified warblers.

As a side note: On Balmoral Drive (which is a stone's throw from the park) I saw a Turkey Vulture on the road eating a dead squirrel. The busy traffic didn't bother it one bit. Needless to say the motorists and pedestrians were startled to see such a big bird close up.

This morning's unidentified vireo I saw again this evening through the binoculars. Definitely a Philadelphia Vireo. Also countless Swainson's Thrushes this evening and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

[cairnstone]

The only way to describe Carlton Park today would be stunning.

I got a lifer today...the Ovenbird. There were so many warblers I could not count or identify them all. American Redstarts and Magnolia Warblers were easy enough, but there were so many others. I photographed a Tennessee Warbler and a Scarlet Tanager. Northern Flickers were too numerous to count. There were two small flycatchers which I suspect were Eastern Wood Pewees, but can't be sure since I did not get a photo. Also a Winter Wren.

I managed a Scarlet Tanager photo here from today:
http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... anager.jpg

And a Swainson's Thrush also from today:
http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... hrush3.jpg

[cairnstone]

I have been off my feet with the stomach flu since my last post and haven't been out. However, yesterday, feeling better I got out briefly.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Great Blue Heron, countless Northern Flickers and a Hermit Thrush. Didn't have the legs to do much of a look around.

I photographed the Hermit Thrush here:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... hrush1.jpg

Just a note: If you visit looking for thrushes you will see a lot more of them if you venture into woods rather than sticking to the path.

[cairnstone]

Today in Carlton Park:

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-3
Hermit Thrush-too numerous to count
Gray-cheeked Thrush-2
White-crowned Sparrow-too numerous to count
White-throated Sparrow-too numerous to count
Song Sparrow-too numerous to count
Slate-coloured Junco-3
Brown Creeper-6
Unidentified warbler
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-2
Winter Wren

Here's a photo of a Carlton Park Brown Creeper from yesterday:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... eeper1.jpg

And a Carlton Park White-crowned Sparrow from today:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... 6/wcs5.jpg

[cairnstone]

This past Saturday morning in Carlton Park Ruby-crowned Kinglets and White-throated Sparrows were present in abundance. Hermit Thrushes have dwindled from well over 100 to a few individuals. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been constant for the last couple of weeks. House and Winter Wrens were both spotted. Immature and adult White-crowned Sparrows were observed. A couple of Swamp Sparrows were nice enough to pose for photos. Slate-coloured Juncos have settled in for the winter. Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen and are usually a good bet around spruce.

A quick walk through the park yesterday afternoon revealed several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a House Wren. The sapsuckers are very skittish.

[cairnstone]

Hooray! The Fox Sparrows returned to Carlton Park this morning. Nice and plump and red.

I managed a quick photo and hope for more. Here's the link:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... /fox02.jpg

[cairnstone]

Since my last post Cooper's Hawks have been very active. I have seen them attack Robins and Sparrows. I haven't seen a successful attack. I have seen both fully mature and immature Coopers.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk on Wednesday.

Four Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (together) Wednesday.

Male and female Purple Finches.

Hermit Thrush numbers are way down, but they are still passing through the park.

Slate-coloured Juncos are increasing as they settle in for the winter.

White-crowned Sparrows continue to be observed. I haven't seen a Fox Sparrow since the weekend, but I am sure more are on the way.

White-throated Sparrows are likely the most abundant bird in the park right now.

Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets continue in good numbers.

Here's a photo of a Carlton Park White-throated Sparrow:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... /wts04.jpg

And a Ruby-crowned Kinglet:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... nglet1.jpg

[cairnstone]

This morning:

Two unidentified warblers. I think Orange-crowned, but can't be sure.

Golden-crowned Kinglets.

At least two Gray-cheeked Thrush eating berries.

Chipping Sparrows along with the usual mob of White-throated Sparrows.

Cooper's Hawk actively hunting. Can sometimes be seen at very close range.

During the week:

Another Fox Sparrow.

Three Gray-cheeked thrush (together).

Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Purple Finches.

Copper's Hawks (tough to tell how many, but they are seen often).

Two American Kestrels. The Kestrels winter along Orenda Road between Dixie Road and West Drive. They are easily seen there, although it is a busy road. They visit the park at times, but do favour the more open Orenda Road which is only a short walk away.

[cairnstone]

At least seven Pine Siskins in the park this morning. The first Pine Siskins I have seen in 2 years. Here's a photo from this morning:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... skin02.jpg

Quite a lot of female Purple Finches in the park, but males are scarce. A photo from yesterday:

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... inch02.jpg

[cairnstone]

I don't know how many Cooper's Hawks are in Carlton Park, but there seems to be several. I was lucky enough to photograph a mature hawk out in the open yesterday. Moments before I took this photo I could hear them loudly calling to each other in the woods:
 
http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... coop02.jpg

And early this morning I encountered an immature in the woods. Got a photo, but couldn't get a clear shot through the tangle of brush. The crunching of leaves under my feet betrayed my presence and it fled before I could get better position.

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/s ... coop03.jpg

I suspect the number of neighbourhood bird feeders contributes to the number of Cooper's Hawks.