It began with an electronic mail concerning one other birder’s weblog. Then, the blogger in Panama talked about that he was going to be in Toronto in early October. The blogger in Toronto requested if he wish to spend a day birding collectively. That’s how Fitzroy and Leslie grew to become presumably the primary writers in current instances from 10000 Birds to fulfill up.
White-crowned Sparrow
My husband and I collected Fitzroy and his spouse, Sue, at their lodge on October 1. We had been within the west a part of Toronto, so I made a decision to take them to Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Toronto’s west finish. Like so many parks within the metropolis, this one is situated alongside the Lake Ontario shoreline. The park has wooded areas, marshy areas with ponds, and the waterfront. Within the spring, the wooded areas have flycatchers and songbirds, which embody warblers and sparrows. Within the ponds and marshy areas are waders, similar to Black-crowned Night time-Heron. Alongside the waterfront, there’s a tip of land known as Whimbrel Level. It’s a excellent place to see migrating shore birds, particularly Whimbrels, which come via in mid-Might. There are all the time fascinating sightings throughout the Whimbrel watch. This previous Might, an Arctic Tern confirmed up, among the many Widespread Terns. Within the winter, birders come to the park for geese, loons, grebes, and owls.
Injured Dunlin
Our first cease was Whimbrel Level. A Lapland Longspur had been reported there for a few days and it had been seen that morning. Sadly, the hen disappeared throughout our time there. Nonetheless, I used to be capable of present Fitzroy American Black Duck and Gadwall, plus Canada Geese and Mallards. Sadly, we discovered an injured Dunlin on the pathway. It stored making an attempt to fly and finally took off. However, we may see the blood on its physique and a leg dangling down. Migration is so laborious for birds. We figured it was attacked by a predator, which we confirmed after we discovered a Merlin close by.
Merlin
Subsequent, we headed over to the marina space. Within the bushes and bushes alongside the best way, we discovered Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets (proven at high of weblog). There have been White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows. Additionally, we had Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. They loved seeing and getting images of two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Outdoors of the marina, within the lake, we had Pink-Necked Grebes and there have been Widespread Mergansers, resting on some logs.
Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
From there, I made a decision to take them to Excessive Park. It’s a a lot bigger park than Sam Smith, with many alternative habitats, which makes it one other nice birding spot. If the winds had been from the north, I might have taken them to Hawk Hill, inside the park, for raptor watching. As a substitute, I took them to the duck ponds, close to the youngsters’s zoo. Our goal hen was the Wooden Duck. Whereas my husband and I had a picnic lunch, they wandered within the space. They discovered the Wooden Geese, underneath a bridge. They had been thrilled to see the geese and to get such fantastic pictures of that good-looking hen.
Feminine and Male Wooden Geese
The day went too rapidly, and it was time to get them again to their lodge. It was fantastic to play host to visitor birders and to point out off a few the good locations to hen in Toronto. In return, we loved listening to about their birding adventures and to be taught one thing concerning the birds of Panama. I hope now we have impressed a few of our fellow bloggers to fulfill up for some friendship and birding.
Notice: All images are courtesy of Fitzroy Rampersad.
