We spent Easter Monday birding and photographing at Col. Sam Smith Park and
High Park, all via TTC.
We were rewarded as soon as entering the pinewoods at Sam Smith Park by amazing
views of the male and female nesting Cooper's Hawks. The male caught a small
bird, plucked and ate it while we watched (and I clicked away on the shutter).
We didn't locate the nest in the dense pines and didn't want to disturb the
birds further. Golden-crowned Kinglets are dripping from the trees and bushes
on the walk down to the lake.
Red-necked Grebes and Horned Grebes are in the inner harbour, with especially
terrific views of the Horned Grebes. Bufflehead were so busily engaged in
courtship rituals that they weren't aware how close they were to us. Other
birds included one lone female Merganser sp., many Tree Swallows claiming the
nest boxes, Barn Swallows, Song Sparrows and a Kestrel.
Mixed flocks of Red-necked and Horned Grebes floated offshore, perhaps
numbering 30 or so.
Over at High Park, we found many more GCKIs, singing White-throated
Sparrows, Double-crested Cormorants and more Buffleheads. We'd received a tip
that there were approx. 10 pairs of Wood Ducks at the duck ponds in the
morning, but by the time we arrived, we were only able to locate one pair in
Grenadier Pond.
Colonel Sam Smith Park is south of Kipling and Lakeshore Blvd. Get off the
QEW/Gardiner at Kipling and go south. Parking is either close to the marina
(free) or across from the old power station that has a large chimney (paid).
By TTC, take the Kipling 44 South bus from Kipling Station to the turnaround in
the park.
Good birding,
Nancy
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