Spring at Sam Smith March 14

[Irene]

Today I spotted several Killdeer flying around and calling , they were very loud, a few tree swallows! a mink, several song sparrows, a few GoldFinches, Robins, Rednecked Grebes, Trumpeter Swans and the usual Mallards and geese
Near the Marina where the Purple Martin house is, was a Starling coming out of the house, I guess he's found himself a home there.

There were also several RedWinged Blackbirds still foraging for food and not diving at heads yet. LOL!

Happy Birding and Happy Spring!
Irene

[Irene]

oops, forgot to mention, a cowbird and a few beautiful very red male Cardinals.

[Brian Bailey]

I saw many, but not all, of the same species there this evening.  I also had 2 Song Sparrows singing.  Not the first I've seen, but the first  I've heard.

BB

[Rob'in'To]

I was there briefly on Monday and had much of the same sightings.

The Red-necked Grebes were looking like they wanted to start building a nest at that platform in the marina.  And a couple guys with cameras were hopping the rocks, getting to that little piece of land off shore, to try and get as close to the Grebes as possible.  Of course the Grebes moved further out into the marina until person(s) left.  The Grebes would come back, and surprisingly enough, person(s) would try the same stunt...  and get this, he got the same re-action!  Grebes would swim away!  Don't the Red-neck Grebes have a hard enough time down there during nesting season?

I was hoping for Horned Grebes.  I recall seeing many there last year around this time.  I could not find one.  And an attempt at Humber Bay East yesterday had none sighted.

[Irene]

Aww, its sad when camera people do that, poor grebes, they do have a hard enough time building nests they don't need interference from us, last year there were signs up stating that the area was a special nesting area and not to go further past the sign, so far I have not seen the signs back up, maybe it is time to put them back.
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Grebes, they were the first waterfowl (other then mallards) that I actually photographed and filmed! I'm going to have to try that again soon.

[BC]

One of those signs was up throughout the winter. Evidently, more signs are needed.

The real problem is that signs such as 'Don't feed the Geese', 'Leash Your Dog' and 'Protected Nesting Area' are routinely ignored by selfish people.

Over the past few years, I've seen several dog-owners allow their pets to swim in that area.

[mr.sharp-photo]

i went today.
three National Geographic photographers were camping out right on the shoreline. think they were shooting the next magazine cover. considering they weren't hidden at all and one was sitting there, smoking, i hope their pictures of 2 mourning doves and one gull end up making them rich.

the grebes were nowhere near the shore. there was one coot (not sure where the 2nd coot went that i saw on Friday).
i saw 2 or 3 gold-crowned kinglets. a nice treat.
song sparrows x 3 or 4.
but otherwise, it was quiet.

[Molebird]

We also went yesterday and saw the NG people poised on rocks scaring the grebes away.  Somehow we don't see the grebes being any more successful than in previous years.  If the people don't scare them off, the dogs will certainly try, and if that doesn't work, the cormorants will take their nests apart twig by twig.  

Among the birds posted by Mr. Sharp and Irene we also saw an Eastern Phoebe, Pine Siskin, Tundra swan - accepting food from people having lunch nearby, Tree Swallows, Northern Mockingbird (our first this year), and a Raven carrying a large twig - obviously for nest building.  If only the grebes could nest in trees.

On Sunday at Leslie we saw a man hand feeding two Trumpeters and when we later sat on the beach nearby, two Mutes swam to us and walked across to beach reaching at our hands.  These swans are either very hungry or too used to people feeding them.

[mr.sharp-photo]

We also went yesterday and saw the NG people poised on rocks scaring the grebes away.  Somehow we don't see the grebes being any more successful than in previous years.  If the people don't scare them off, the dogs will certainly try, and if that doesn't work, the cormorants will take their nests apart twig by twig.  

Among the birds posted by Mr. Sharp and Irene we also saw an Eastern Phoebe, Pine Siskin, Tundra swan - accepting food from people having lunch nearby, Tree Swallows, Northern Mockingbird (our first this year), and a Raven carrying a large twig - obviously for nest building.  If only the grebes could nest in trees.

On Sunday at Leslie we saw a man hand feeding two Trumpeters and when we later sat on the beach nearby, two Mutes swam to us and walked across to beach reaching at our hands.  These swans are either very hungry or too used to people feeding them.

SS is one of the more frustrating parks to be in.  The off-leash dogs and the invasive photographers/birders drive me nuts. and don't get me started on the litter that litters the park. (for the record, my other frustrating parks would be Brickworks, Humber Bay East on a weekend and Lambton Woods on a weekend).

[Irene]

I want to add, yesterday we headed to SS and there was no parking unless you wanted to pay for it, and believe it or not out of the three of us, nobody had change..so we opted for Humber Bay Park East. It was nice, quiet with a few birds.
First time I have seen blue teals! woohoo!

That being said, Sam Smith's is usually my first choice to go to for the birds. I also think it depends on what time of day one goes there, I have been there when the park seems virtually "empty", most people that cross my path are friendly and say hello. Its one of the few parks that I feel safe at too. I like "knowing" the park and a few sweet spots I have found for certain birds without scaring them off which is a bonus.
I am looking forward to birding this year, hopefully more then I got to last year.

[Trillian Flummox]

Yes, there is rarely any parking available in the free lot on a weekday - I think the college kids prefer it to the paid lot that's closer to the school. They can afford to drive cars but not to pay for parking - the life of a student!  :?    When I use the paid lot, I walk the little path beside the creek (behind the skating rink) and usually see something worthwhile, like the flock of kinglets.  I'm also very lazy about looking for change and just jam my visa into the parking meter!

[Rob'in'To]

Ya, those college kids.  Haha!  Driving some nice cars, better than many I have owned over the years yet cannot pay for parking...  or will not.  Gotta give them credit though, it's a longer walk from the free parking area to the buildings.  Can't call them lazy!  

I do the VISA shot as well.  It sucks on a bitter cold day because that machine can be sooooooooooooooooooooooo slow.

Sorry I twisted this thread from bird sightings to something else.

[Photowyzard]

==== UPDATE on this POST ===== edited.

Since I mad this, I spoke to a Supervisor of Toronto Parks.  This is a very complicated issue and there is more too it than just calling and complaining about parking abuse.

Just to give you an idea...

a) the city can't ticket without permission from the Property owner
b) If Parks gives the police the go ahead to ticket, the tickets won't hold up in court because you can't prove who walks into the park and then leaves to go to Humber College etc.
c) they are working on various possible solutions and do have the best interests of park patrons at heart.  because of the proximity to the college and business, it is an extremely difficult situation to manage
d) there is a parking lot of 2000 units scheduled for Humber College in a year or two.  however, it doesn't mean the "free" spots won't be taken up first, this is something they are looking at as well
e) possibly, they may add more parking along the road

Best advise, get there early or after 3:00 and you can park free at the Green P if spaces are not available.  Complaining won't help as they are well aware of the issues and are trying to resolve it.

Hope this helps shed some light.

[thouc]

Molebird, a Raven in Toronto would be pretty unusual, and a nest building one outright sensational. Are you sure about the identification?

Regarding parking, I contacted the Parks department in the fall and got about the same answer. Hope they come up with something to solve it.

[Bluffs Birder]

I agree with Thouc that they are quite a rare find in the city.

For anyone who is like me and doesn't drive this might be your best bet within the city:
In the northeast corner of the city (in Rouge Park) there has been a nesting pair over the last couple of years, not 100% sure if they're still there or not but almost 100% sure I heard one 'croaking' at a fairly close range on Thursday when I was there.  I was busy talking to someone from the Zoo and couldn't run off in search of it.  Don't know if they've ever been successful or not with breeding.  Also, If I recall correctly, they had Common Raven listed on the 'Recent Sightings' board displayed in the window of Pearce House, the park's headquarters building.  I've seen and/or heard them a number of times from the Beare Wetland area of the park usually to the north.

Walter