High Park Area -- lots of summer species

[MEGHAN]

always very early in the morning.

What is very early in the morning?
6am?

Meghan

[TV Man]

On Monday afternoon I went by the Martin house at the south end of Grenadier pond and there were two Purple Martins sitting on the house. Things have quieted down quite a bit in High Park over the last week.

[stuartimmonen]

TV Man, good news about the martins-- I hope I get to see them.

Meghan, I'm pretty sure the egrets would be there at 6, but I think arriving by 8 would work. They clear out once things get busy in the park.

stuart

[TV Man]

Hi Meghan,

I do not think you have to be there right at 6. I see them a bit later in the morning around 7:30 am too. They can be in either of the duck ponds. The last few days I have seen Great Blue Herons as well. But this last week or so the park is very quiet. One other interesting bird was a Northern Waterthrush on Monday afternoon.

[KPaw]

Hi Meghan,

I do not think you have to be there right at 6. I see them a bit later in the morning around 7:30 am too. They can be in either of the duck ponds. The last few days I have seen Great Blue Herons as well. But this last week or so the park is very quiet. One other interesting bird was a Northern Waterthrush on Monday afternoon.

Definitely quiet right now at the park, the RWBBs are off moulting and, generally, not a lot of activity.   The Egrets I found yesterday were at the Lower Duck Pond (just parallel to the Queensway) but quite far off so bring your long lens..

I also found four Egrets on the Humber just on either side of the bridge entering The Old Mill.... you can get pretty decent photos there and it's not a lot of walking.. I think you can pay to park at The Old Mill.

[stuartimmonen]

Waterthrush? Wow, where was that?

I was divebombed by an angry Ruby-throated Hummer behind the Howard Park TTC loop this morning... didn't get too far into the park, but I've noticed a dropoff in numbers of individuals and species myself.

Here comes fall!

stuart

edit: I found both Waterthrush and Martins this afternoon; the Martins were actually more difficult, with two juveniles only peeking out of the north side of the house briefly. Thanks for the assist!

[MEGHAN]

Hi Meghan,

I do not think you have to be there right at 6. I see them a bit later in the morning around 7:30 am too.

Thanks TV MAn and stuartimmonen, I appreciate the time confirmation.
Everyones idea of "early in the morning" is different.
The last time someone told me they'd meet my first thing in the morning, I said great when? about 6 or so right?
They looked at me in horror and said "I was thinking more like 11am!  :roll:
That's why I was wondering what time...it varies, depending who you ask.  :lol:
Thanks again guys!

Meghan

[Moira]

Hey Meghan,
You'll certainly get a better shot of a white bird shooting early in the morning in this hot summer sun.  Of course, he'd have to be there early in the morning