Thank you to Jay for finding the Worm-eating Warbler yesterday, to the
unknown group of birders (unknown to me) who refound it this morning,
and to Mark who directed me to the right area this morning after I had
stumbled up and down hills for 90 minutes before getting to the right
area. As Hugh Currie reported today, the Worm-eating Warbler seems to
have been in one small area all day. It is in the company of some other
fine birds and requires mostly stopping and standing in one spot and
waiting for them to come to you. With this bird there was also an
Ovenbird, Blue-headed Vireo, a Nashville Warbler, a Great-crested
Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped warblers and many many White-throated
sparrows. This small area yielded the best birds of High Park that day.
Birding up and down the whole west section of the woods from the North
end of Grenadier Pond to where the Worm-eating Warbler was there were
only 9 species of warbler, mostly one of each, including:
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Nashville
Yellow
Black and White
Black-throated Green
Common Yellowthroat
Palm
Yellow-rumped
The Worm-eating Warbler and the Ovenbird were often found in close
proximity, always low to the ground. At one point Mark saw the
Worm-eating Warbler only a few feet in front of him and it crossed over
our path and stayed nearby for a few minutes.
A second Ovenbird was in the middle of the Japanese Garden area just
below the Grenadier Restaurant, keeping company under one bush with a
Hermit Thrush.
Early in the morning a Virginia Rail was on the far western shore of
Grenadier Pond foraging.
Around 2 p.m. several people saw at least one Purple Martin amongst the
Tree, Barn and Cliff Swallows at the south end of Grenadier Pond
Directions:
For the Worm-eating Warbler area, In Toronto exit the Lakeshore Blvd. at
Parkside and drive all the way north to Bloor, turn left, and then turn
left again into High Park. Take the road to the right which is one-way
going south into the park. As you are driving along you will see a
large children's play area to your right, in the northwest corner of the
Park. Park the car and walk just to the west of the play area. You are
at the top of a ravine area over Wendigo Creek, I believe. There should
be a bench at the top overlooking the ravine. Take one of the small
trails (can be a little steep) down from here and start looking almost
immediately. The first time I saw it it was actually visible from the
top. Stop often and stop for long periods. The birds were travelling
together so if you are not lucky keep looking for one of the other birds
mentioned above.
