Current Outings Reports

“Whimbrel and
other Migrants”
Colonel Samuel
Smith Park.

May 23, 2009

Leader: Steven Favier

A total of 43 species were seen on the walk by 22 participants. Six species of warbler were present, including Yellow, Magnolia, Wilson's, Canada, American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. A distant flock of over 50 Whimbrel was observed. Other shorebirds seen were Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover and Spotted Sandpiper.

A Cooper's Hawk was sitting on a nest in a conifer just north of the power plant area. A Warbling Vireo was also on a nest, singing frequently. A pair of Red‐necked Grebes were observed at close range building a nest. They took turns dropping vegetation in the water above a sunken log. Other birds of interest included Common Loon, Willow Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird and Savannah Sparrow.

“Waterfowl”
West Toronto Lakeshore
& Beyond.

Dec 6, 2008

Leader: Dave Milsom

16 attended the T.O.C. outing today to Humber Bay Park and Colonel. Sam Smith Pk. 42 species were seen, including a Snowy Owl on the boat dock at Col. Sam, Vesper and Savannah Sparrows, 4 fly‐by Northern Pintails, and an immature Northern Shrike, all at Col. Sam.

At Humber Bay Park West was a Yellow‐rumped Warbler and a Cooper's Hawk. On the east side of the park were all 3 Mergansers, Redhead Duck, Green‐winged Teal and Ring‐necked Duck, plus a Song Sparrow, a White‐crowned Sparrow and several American Tree Sparrows. A Great Blue Heron was found on Mimico Creek.

All photos by Norah Jancik.

“Waterfowl”
Toronto to Burlington

Mar 1, 2008

Leader: Garth Riley

A successful Toronto Ornithological Club outing started at Humber Bay East with a male and female Harlequin Duck in the southern–most bay along the path to the southeastern tip. Other good birds here included five Horned Grebes, two American Coots, two Lesser Scaup, and three Ruddy Ducks.

At Colonel Sam Smith Park we couldn’t locate the Snowy Owl but were rewarded with a Northern Shrike. At Port Credit harbour, we had a Yellow–rumped Warbler on the east side just south of the Snug Harbour Restaurant and another Lesser Scaup in the harbour. Rattray Marsh was rather quiet in the strong northwest wind, but we did find a Carolina Wren.

At Hamilton harbour west of the ship channel in Hamilton Bay we saw five Bald Eagles. We had both Peregrine Falcons on the lift bridge. We had a Bald Eagle in flight at the Travel lodge in Burlington where we also had close–up looks at a male Surf Scoter and two other more distant Surf Scoters. White–winged Scoters were very common along the western Lake Ontario waterfront, with 124 being seen and several very close views at Port Credit harbour and the ship channel.

“Winter Birds”
Durham Region

Feb 3, 2008

Leader: Rayfield Pye

Thanks to leader Rayfield Pye for an excellent outing. Here are a couple of pictures of the outing.

The first picture is of the group near the Courtice Exit. We saw some large flocks of Bohemain and Cedar Waxwings.

The second was taken on Bragg road. We were looking for Pine Grosbeaks but instead found some flocks of Horned Larks. At Newcastle Harbor we saw two subspecies of Canada Geese, Buffleheads, Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Greater Scaup, Mallard Ducks, Black Ducks, Herring Gulls and Ring–billed Gulls. On Mill Road we saw Hairy Woodpecker, Black–capped Chickadee, Common Redpolls, House Sparrows, Mourning Doves and Goldfinches. All of this was before lunch.

Reported by Norah Jancik.

“Gulls and Waterfowl”

Jan 27, 2008

Leader: Glenn Coady

On the afternoon of Sunday, January 27, 2008, a group of 17 people joined leader Glenn Coady for a Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walk from Sunnyside to Humber Bay Park. The outing lasted from 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. visiting Sunnyside, Humber Bay Shores and Humber Bay Park East. The afternoon was overcast, with light, south–west winds, temperature at –2C and no precipitation.

The group observed 37 species of birds with the highlights being a female Harlequin Duck and two Yellow–rumped Warblers found at Sheldon Lookout, just west of the mouth of the Humber River, and 22 Northern Shovelers and a Horned Grebe at Humber Bay Park East. Very close views of a Beaver were obtained at Humber Bay Park East.

The following species were observed (Sunnyside/Humber Shores/Humber Bay Park East = Total):