2011 Outings Reports
Toronto Islands
Saturday, October 1
Leader: John Nishikawa
On a windy, cold and cloudy morning, 22 participants showed up at the ferry docks for a late fall outing on Toronto Island. Despite the ominous start of the day, 78 species were observed by the group. Thanks to the strong north winds, the highlight of the day was the large movement of raptors. 11 species were recorded including Bald Eagles, Red-shouldered Hawks and a Peregrine Falcon. Turkey Vultures and Sharp-shinned Hawks were seen throughout the day and eventually people just stopped counting them. Perhaps a sign of the approaching season, a lone Long-tailed Duck was found near the pier. Among the passerines, 17 species of warblers were observed, mostly Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. Blue Jays were constantly on the move and 5 Scarlet Tanagers in unfamiliar green plumage were found. Also of interest, was the absence of Robins and Cardinals. A pair of American Mink, lounging on the rocks off the boardwalk, was an entertaining sight for everyone. Thanks to the keen eyes of TOC members, it was a great day of fall birding. John Nishikawa
Durham Waterfront, Pickering-Oshawa Second Marsh
Sunday, September 25
Leader: Geoff Carpentier
Five participants joined us to explore the Durham Region wetlands. The day was gorgeous - well almost too gorgeous - as the intense sun pounded down on the forests and fields. Despite this, with some digging, 62 species were recorded by the group.
There are so many great areas to visit in Durham that Geoff had to pick and choose the locales to be checked. The group went to Hydro Marsh (Pickering), Duffin's Creek and Carruther's Creek (Ajax), Cranberry Marsh and Lynde Creek (Whitby) and Second Marsh (Oshawa).
Highlights included:
- 9 Great Egrets - 3 each at Duffin's Creek, Second Marsh and Lynde Creek
- 3 Long-billed Dowitchers at Lynde Creek
- One very small tantalizing Canada type Goose - flying over Pickering GO Station
- 2 Merlins at Duffin's Creek
- 4 Solitary Sandpipers at Hydro Marsh
- 7 species of Warbler including one Blackpoll
In addition, hundreds of Monarchs were observed, mostly sitting on the myriad goldenrod and New England Asters. Can't wait until next year - hope the weather is worse (well slightly!). Geoff Carpentier
Leslie St Spit
September 17, 2011
Leader: Bob Kortright
Birds were almost completely absent as we crossed the baselands of the Spit, with only a half-dozen birds seen diving silently from one clump of dogwood to another and only four of which could be identified. Landbirds remained scarce (only single individuals of corvid, parid, thrush, mimid, and icterid, and five of the six warbler species found) except the flock of 200 European Starlings at the end of the outing, which represented about 80% of the landbirds seen all day. Things did not improve much until we reached embayment D, where we did find some shorebirds and more waterfowl. Ebird flagged the numbers of Gadwall (120) and Hooded Merganser (33) as unusually high, but after seeing none since the spring, the 27 Northern Shoveler, 40 Green-winged Teal, two Canvasback, and nine Scaup were great to see. Nine of 28 participants stuck it out through all six hours, covering over eight kilometres! 48 species were seen in total and the weather and company were agreeable throughout. Thanks especially to Tom Flinn for his sharp ears and eyes and leading half the group around peninsula D.
Bob Kortright
High Park
September 10, 2011
Leader: Steven Favier
A total of 40 species was recorded on the walk by 26 participants. Migrant numbers were relatively low and were scattered throughout the park. Only 7 species of warbler were present and included Tennessee, Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-and-white and Wilson's.
The small duck ponds had a tame Great Blue Heron, several tame Wood Ducks, 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons and a Belted Kingfisher. Other birds of interest included Common Loon, Broad- winged Hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Gray Catbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a late Indigo Bunting. Steven Favier
High Park
May 7, 2011
Leader: Bob Yukich
42 participants took part in the annual early May bird walk in High Park. 65 bird species were seen, including 9 species of warbler. Overall numbers of migrants were low for the date with just single individuals being recorded for 7 warbler species. Many birds had flown overnight. There were virtually no thrushes or flycatchers. However, several Warbling Vireos were on territory where there had been none the day before, and breeding Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were common throughout. Flocks of Blue Jays were noted flying over the park.
We did see some crowd-pleasers, including Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles and the prerequisite breeding Orchard Oriole at the Hillside Gardens. A pair of resident Cooper's Hawks were observed in nuptial fight at the latter location. There were enough birds to please everyone. The most unusual sighting was an American Woodcock flushed in a busy area at the north end of the park at the beginning of our walk. This species is not known to breed in High Park. With our cooler than average spring could this have been a late migrant?(!) Bob Yukich
Leslie Street Spit
May 1, 2011
Leader: Tyler Hoar
Ten participants met on the viewing platform at Oshawa Second Marsh, where small numbers of Little Gulls were eventually seen by all, alongside other highlights such as Bonaparte's Gulls and Forster's Terns. Making our way east, we were surprised to find a singing Bobolink, as well as a low-perched Belted Kingfisher and two Black-crowned Night-Herons across the marsh. A singing House Wren was found in Cool Hollow followed by brief looks at an American Woodcock for some in the group. Our search for the recent Piping Plover on the windy beach was unsuccessful, but we did find fast-moving flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers in Darlington Provincial Park. The walk concluded at lunchtime with a nice collection of mimids seen near the end, as Northern Mockingbird, two Brown Thrashers and a Gray Catbird were all found in rapid succession. Many thanks to Tyler Hoar for leading the outing.
Sarah Box
Leslie Street Spit
April 30, 2011
Leader: John Carley
Forty participants braved the sunny and warm weather on Saturday April 30 on the all-day Toronto Ornithological Club Jim Baillie Memorial Birdwalks excursion at the Leslie Street Spit in Toronto.
In the period from 8 am to 3:30 pm, 77 species in total were observed. Highlights included 8 species of warblers, with a Yellow-breasted Chat seen to the west of the "wet woods", which were indeed wet. A Rusty Blackbird was seen in these woods. Other highlights included a White-eyed Vireo well-viewed and heard at Triangle Pond, and 2 Pine warblers just north of that pond. A third Pine Warbler was seen in the wet woods. 2 Surf Scoters were spotted off the endikement arm, and, for those 14 avid birders who persevered to the end of the hike, their "reward" was an immaculate adult Glaucous Gull which flew past going south, low over the water, to the east of the spine road. Victoria Carley
West Toronto Lakeshore
March 5, 2011
Leader: Garth Riley
Eight participants braved constant rain and visited Humber Bay East and West, Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Lakeview Promenade, finding 35 species in challenging weather. Highlights were migrant Ruddy Ducks and Canvasbacks, the first Red-winged Blackbird of the season for many and a cooperative singing Northern Shrike. Rain put a damper on the outing and the participants called it quits after four hours in the rain and cold. A hardy bunch to have lasted so long in what were miserable conditions. Garth Riley
Durham Region
January 30, 2011
Leader: Rayfield Pye
16 participants enjoyed a cold but mostly sunny day ranging across Durham region, finding a total of more than 40 species. Early highlights included two Swamp Sparrows at Hall's Road, followed by a Brown Creeper, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a small group of over-wintering Red-winged Blackbirds at Lynde Shores Conservation Area. At Whitby Harbour the group was delighted to see a first winter male Harlequin Duck amongst a mixed group of waterfowl including Redheads, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup and four Trumpeter Swans. A few minutes later when the flock of gulls took off from the ice, the source of the disturbance was found to be an immature Bald Eagle soaring above in the bright winter sun. A Northern Harrier was seen at the harbour and it may have been the same bird we saw a few minutes later at Watson's St. Bridge, where some members of the group also saw a Northern Mockingbird. Thickson's Woods was relatively quiet, and Oshawa Harbour was frozen over. The trip concluded on a high note when a flock of 30 or more Horned Larks, and a single Snow Bunting, were seen on agricultural fields between Courtice Road and Hancock Road. Many thanks to Rayfield Pye for leading the outing. Sarah Box
Sunnyside/Humber Bay
January 23, 2011
Leader: Bob Cumming
18 intrepid participants braved the chilly -15C temperature along Toronto's waterfront on January 23. The locations visited during the afternoon included Sunnyside, Humber Bay East and West , Colonel Sam Smith Park and High Park (in search of a roosting Eastern Screech-Owl). It was a beautiful day for a walk with mist rising over the lake and a gorgeous sunset to the west of Colonel Sam Smith Park. In all we saw 34 species, including 15 different ducks. Other highlights were two Black-crowned Night-Herons, two Northern Shrikes and a Northern Harrier. Special thanks to those who lugged scopes through the snow and made the viewing so spectacular. Bob Cumming