There was a male Tufted Duck x Scaup (likely Greater) hybrid at the Ward's Island ferry dock today on the Toronto Islands. I'm almost positive this is the same bird that I had on the Islands around this time last year.
It was with a small group of Greater Scaup in the open water at the start of the channel just to the right (when you get off the ferry) of the ferry dock on Ward's Island. The bird primarily stands out from the Greater Scaups it was with by its short tuft and darker back (still vermiculated, but much darker than a Scaup). Toronto Islands can be reached by ferry from the ferry terminal at the foot of Bay St (Bay St & Queen's Quay) in Toronto. The ferries are currently only running to Ward's Island, operating on the "revised" winter schedule <http://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/Parks%20Forestry%20&%20Recreation/02Parks%20and%20Trails/Toronto%20Islands%20and%20Ferries/Files/pdf/Ferry_Reduced_Service_Winter_2015.pdf> . Gavin Platt Toronto _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
