Happy Valley!

On cooler days I’ve walked from Beach Road and Eastport Drive to Spencer Smith Park. On one such walk the cries of juvenile raptors caught my attention. I was curious as the Lift Bridge’s Peregrine Falcons did not have young this year. I soon found a trio of American Kestrels. The sun was harsh. Fortunately, this kestrel found a perch on the underside of the Burlington Skyway Bridge.

American Kestrel perched under Burlington Skyway Bridge begging to be fed

Along the route to Spencer Smith Park, I heard/saw Warbling Vireos, Baltimore Orioles, Northern Mockingbirds, two Great Black-Backed Gulls, etc.

Great Black-backed Gull tugging carcass on the beach

This Semipalmated Plover has pluck. I have visited the bird about three or four times. Each time the bird has successfully managed to dodge the throng on the beach.

Semipalmated Plover finds a spot to forage among the throng of beachgoers

Semipalmated Plover on the beach

Semipalmated Plover resting on the beach

Semipalmated Plover keeping an eye out for predators

Been having loads of fun lately hanging out at Hendrie Valley and Valley Inn. I’ve enjoyed spending some time with the group I nicknamed the Boys of Summer as I only see most of them in the summer.  We’ve had many good laughs. I shall miss them when they move on.

These last two-three weeks photographers from as far as Ajax and the Niagara area have migrated to the area to photograph the Osprey.

Photographing Osprey at Valley Inn

Osprey on the hunt

Some days the Osprey spend much of their time roosting in nearby trees.

Osprey resting on a branch

Osprey

Fortunately, rather cooperative Great Egrets, Green Herons, juvenile Black-crowned Night-Herons and Great Blue Herons are nearby.

Green Heron on the hunt

Sometimes I telepathically ask a bird to do something other than standing still.  Sometimes it works!

Green Heron contorts body mid-preening

Yawning

Wing stretch

Green Heron stretching while Midland Painted Turtle observes all

Green Heron hunting

“Wild looking” juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron

Black-crowned Night-heron (juvenile)

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron looking for something to eat

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron standing on one leg

Stoop to poop

Great Blue Heron scratching an itch

Great Blue Heron and raccoon in the fog

So, do you remember the #Melanistic Great Blue Heron?  Well, after the rains and much pruning, guess who is now confirmed to be oiled?

You’d look crazed too if you’d spent weeks preening your feathers!

More recently a small number of quite confiding Lesser Yellowlegs have posed for the photographers.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

I often stray to see what I what other birds are around.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Northern Flicker a-preening

Common Yellowthroat

Turkey Vulture warming in the sun

While we still miss our beloved guinea pig, Caramel, for a bit of fun and to help raise the profile of guinea pigs, we attended a pignic last Saturday at Greenwood Park, Toronto.  The guinea pigs were beyond adorable!

Guinea pig posing on the red carpet

Common Ringed Plover & Piping Plovers

Much to the delight of birders, two great species appeared last weekend. Two juvenile Piping Plovers travelled from Darlington Provincial Park to enjoy a few days on Burlington Beach.

Juvenile Piping Plover

Juvenile Piping Plovers on Burlington Beach

Also on the beach:

Things are looking up! (Spotted Sandpiper)

Juvenile Mute Swan

The bigger draw, however, was a Common Ringed Plover at Tommy Thompson Park. This is the first record of the species in Ontario. I tried for it on Sunday (#species 214), enduring the 2.5 to 3 km walk from the park entrance to Cell 2 where the bird was located.  I was just thankful it was not hot, hazy or humid.

Common Ringed Plover at Tommy Thompson Park (Toronto)

Birders of all ages travelled great distances to see the bird.

Birders viewing the Common Ringed Plover

This video of the plover, recorded by Jean Iron, is a treat.

Only one book in my library mentioned this species.  If it interests you, this site provides a wealth of information:

Having a bit more energy in the tank I walked to the protected colony where cormorants, herons and egrets breed.

Juvenile Black-crowned Black Heron at Tommy Thompson Park

Adult Black-crowned Night-Heron

One last photograph prior to leaving the park!

Image of Toronto Skyline taken at Tommy Thompson Park using minature feature of camera

The putative juvenile Great Blue Heron at Hendrie Valley Park has been the topic of discussion. Is it oiled or melanistic? Only two habits I note are a bit off – the bird preens more than the average great blue and I’ve witnessed it gag a few times. All will be revealed in due course. In the meantime, it’s a rather interesting bird.

Great Blue Heron preening

Trying to keep cool

Putative melanistic Great Blue Heron

Putative melanistic Great Blue Heron standing in the rain

Also seen at Hendrie Valley Park.

Great Blue Heron trying to keep cool

Great Blue Heron on rail at the boardwalk

American Goldfinch (male) feasting on thistle

Warbling Vireo

molting Blue Jay

Midland Painted Turtle

Juvenile House Wren

Green Heron at Hendrie Valley

A check at Confederation Park netted more herons (Great Blue, Green, Black-Crowned), terns and a few song birds.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Great Blue and Black-crowned Night-Herons sharing a tree

juvenile Common Tern begging incessantly

juvenile Cedar Waxwing

Passersby had a chuckle at this novel way to explore the trail with grandma.

New way to tour with mother-in-law while riding a hoverboard

We worked up quite an appetite after birding last Saturday.

Lunch for four at Southern Smoke Barbeque (pulled pork fried chicken, mac and cheese, ribs, hush puppies, cornbread, wings)! Yum! We took a doggy back home.

Then it was off to Bronte Marina. Only one of the two Red-Necked Grebes nests at Bronte Marina was successful this year. The two youngsters are gorgeous. One is more self-sufficient than the other. Kudos to the parents for their tenacity.

Two juvenile Red-necked Grebes at Bronte Marina

Juvenile Red-necked Grebe swimming in the cool of the evening

Great Egrets (High Park) and a melanistic Great Blue Heron (Hendrie Valley)

Eh?

Decisions, decisions!  I opted to start at Grenadier Pond.

A view of Grenadier Pond

Reflection

Nestboxes

Black-crowned Night-Heron resting on a log

Black-crowned Night-Heron’s profile

Then stopped briefly at the zoo.

Two American Black Duck opportunists taking full advantage of never-ending supply of food at the High Park Zoo

Then off to the duck ponds near the children’s playground.

Multilingual Signage at duck ponds

This is a fab spot to photograph Wood Ducks, Great Egrets, Green Herons and Kingfishers.

Juvenile Wood Duck (male)

Juvenile Wood Duck

Belted Kingfisher

Green Heron

Green Heron on a branch

Green Heron hunting

There’s a little story about these catfish.  Six of us were taking our pictures when a chatterbox joined in.  After some time, the listener’s ear was beyond fatigued.  Said photographer (not me) asked chatterbox (not me – I photographed them earlier) directed the individual to the catfish. Ah, silence reigned for 20 minutes.

Catfish galore

On day one there was one egret present.  The photographers said three egrets were foraging prior to my arrival.  On day two I arrived a bit earlier and saw three.  Of course, he who arrived shortly after sunrise viewed seven in the pond. One Great Egret foraged within 20 feet of us.  A good time was had by all.

Reflection shot of two Great Egrets

Great Egret searching for prey

Another reflection photograph of a Great Egret

A preening Great Egret

Another look at a Great Egret

Great Egret preening on a tree limb

Great Egret resting on a tree limb

Shaking after preening

Hendrie Valley

The water levels are low.  The water lilies are spreading and clogging the ponds.

Shrinking pond

As the Great Blue Herons and others have less room to forage, they are appearing below, just beyond and above the boardwalk.

Great Blue Heron’s eye

Last Sunday a photographer in full camo gear sporting two cameras said he photographed a black heron.  I scratched my head.  I asked to see a photo but he was so over the moon happy that he didn’t heard me.  Yesterday, August 6th, a couple reported observing a brown heron.  I asked to see a photo but it was buried in the hundreds of photographs they took during the day.  I remained puzzled.  Today, I ran into a photographer I met several weeks ago. He spoke of a melanistic Great Blue Heron.  Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?????  As I had helped him out previously he told me exactly where to find it.  What a brilliant sight. I will be returning soon to try for better shots.

Another look at the melanistic Great Blue Heron

Melanistic Great Blue Heron

You never know what you’ll find at Hendrie!

White-tailed Deer

Muskrat

Lesser Yellowlegs

Groundhog enjoying supper

Lad proudly displays a toad he found

A little of this and a little of that

I headed to Col. Sam after finally accepting the Bronte Harbour grebes may not successfully breed this year. There were four Grebe families at Col. Sam’s marina. This family had the youngest chicks.

Red-necked Grebe chicks resting with parent

It certainly was an interesting morning. This Great Blue Heron was hunting just beyond the break wall along the pedestrian path. I sat still so as not to flush the bird. The heron had rather odd way of hunting, vis, running into the water in pursuit of fish. I eventually got a clear photograph but this shot was more interesting to me.

This Great Blue Heron ran into the water, missed the fish then returned to shore to resume the hunt for sustenance.

While following a Song Sparrow feeding a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird, I heard juvenile Yellow Warblers calling for their parents in a nearby tree.

Yellow Warbler fledgling waiting to be fed

I chaperoned this Snapping Turtle, alerting cyclists, joggers, pedestrians, as it crossed the path.

Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtle marching towards pond on opposite side of pedestrian and cyclist path.

These young rabbits were romping, running through the covered picnic bench area, down the path, over to the woodlot and back. Ah, the joys of youth.

Two juvenile rabbits romping at Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

The flicker nest cavity I found back in April or May (can’t remember) is now home to two youngsters.   I hung out for a bit waiting for the adult to return but I got hungry and left.

The tree cavity I found in April or May is now home to two juvenile Northern Flickers.

If you wish to get up close and personal with Wood Ducks, the Grenadier Pond at High Park is the place to be. There were multiple families along the stretch. If you stop anywhere along the length of the pond the ducklings and at times the adults climb the embankment seeking handouts.

female Wood Duck

Juvenile Wood Duck at High Park

Juvenile male Wood Duck having a bit of a rest

This Black-crowned Night-Heron, on the other hand, had no interest in supplementing his diet.

Black-crowned Night-Heron hunting

After lunching at the Grenadier Restaurant, we walked through the zoo, primarily to eyeball the recaptured capybaras. From time to time they would stand by the fence, likely missing their short-lived freedom.

The two famous Capybaras at High Park

As we admired the reindeer, a loud booming voice behind us commanded, “Hey, Tundra, come over. These people want to take a picture of you”.   ‘Twas the voice of a chuckling volunteer, who answered all our questions and allowed us to feed Tundra a carrot.

Tundra – a male reindeer at High Park

Unbearable heat and humidity have caused me to abruptly abandon trips at Hendrie Valley. Fortunately, the mosquito population is non-existent although I heard a chap complaining about the horse flies. Now that I think of it, the same guy complained about the worms and caterpillars hanging from the trees weeks earlier.

Searching for Green Herons I chanced upon a relatively accessible Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers’ nest.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher brings an insect to feed two hungry nestlings

Close-up photograph of the nestlings taken on June 30, 2016.

Days later I re-attended to check on the chicks. A fellow photographer I met on the boardwalk was keen to join in on the action. As we photographed the nest, this nestling, driven by hunger, fledged from the nest for a few minutes! What a treat.

Hungry Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nestling

One of the nestlings popped out of the nest briefly on July 3, 2016.

Rechecking days later, as expected the family had moved on. There are several Gnatcatcher nests in the park. Keep an ear out and you may find singles or a family foraging together.

Juvenile Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

A photographer and I had opportunity to photograph this Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron climbing a tree trunk

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Suddenly, just west of the heron, there was the sound of fussing Red-winged Blackbirds. The cause of their protestation – a female Red-Tailed Hawk. The birds chased the hawk to the opposite side of the stream. Soon they were joined by American Crows. What a commotion! Together they mobbed the hawk away from their territory.

American Crows and Red-winged Blackbirds mobbing Red-tailed Hawk at Hendrie Valley.

This summer I’ve witnessed Red-winged Blackbirds chasing a pair of Belted Kingfishers. This male was able rest for a while, free of harassment, although a male Red-winged Blackbird did make an appearance but didn’t bother to rally the troops.

Belted Kingfisher

Here is a photograph of Eastern Kingbirds chasing an Osprey from their territory.

Eastern Kingbirds chasing Osprey from their territory

These birds were also spotted at the park:

This gorgeous male Indigo Bunting was photographed at Hendrie Valley. The female was rather skittish.

The juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker was foraging on his own.

Somebody has bad breath (juvenile and adult Common Grackles)

Here a female Baltimore Oriole feeds her young berries plucked from a nearby tree.

Time spent at the Lift Bridge Canal and downtown Burlington have also been productive.

The parents of this recently fledged Barn Swallow enjoy the comforts this Jeep affords.

Male House Sparrow and his young at a parking lot

A female Mallard and her three sleeping ducklings – Lift Bridge, Burlington

I’m falling for the Common Terns.  They hunt for fish at the tip of the pier at the Lift Bridge Canal, completely oblivious to the presence of humans.

Common Tern searching water for prey

Common Tern hovering over potential prey

Don’t let the weather deter you too much.  There’s still lots around. If the birding is slow as it often does at the height of the day, some photographers switch to insects, (butterflies, moths, dragonflies), flowers, etc.  I’m enjoying the ships at the Lift Bridge and the trains at Hendrie.

 

 

 

A few common birds

On Friday it was a joy to join the Whimbrel Watch at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. During the four hours I spent at the park, we observed one Whimbrel, a good number of Common Loons in flight, two Great Egrets, etc.  No other Whimbrels were observed during the balance of the watch led by Tim and Wayne.  They were wonderful.

I did a brief walkabout noting the nesting Red-necked Grebes, a few thrushes in the underbrush, Eastern Kingbirds, American Robins, Brown-head Cowbirds, a female Redstart and a male Common Yellowthroat.

male Brown-headed Cowbird

Common Yellowthroat

male Common Yellowthroat

Eastern Kingbird

American Robin on nest

You can’t miss the call or the flashy plumage of the Baltimore Orioles along the Beach Strip in Burlington.

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

There are at least four nesting pairs here.

• “The female builds the nest alone…A skilled weaver, she uses hundreds or even thousands of plant fibres to construct the pouchlike structure over a period of 4 – 8 days…This seemingly fragile structure, which can vary depending on the nature of the local climate, will withstand high winds and inclement weather.”  [Source:  The Breeding Birds of Quebec]

nest-building Baltimore Oriole

female Baltimore Oriole emerges from nest

A male Red-breasted Grosbeak visited the area last week.

male Red-breasted Grosbeak consuming midges

Residents of the strip include Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Cardinals, Gray Catbirds, Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos, House Sparrows, Carolina Wrens and American Robins.

fledgling House Sparrows

Northern Cardinal and fledgling

female Red-winged Blackbird

Cedar Waxwing

Of course, I cannot forget the Northern Mockingbirds.  I’ve watched them tirelessly chase other birds from their territory and indeed, I’ve been accosted twice.  On Saturday I spotted their two fledglings.

Northern Mockingbird nestling

Windermere Basin

Noting the uncooperative shorebirds and that I had no scope, this Tree Sparrow had pity on me.

Tree Sparrow

Hendrie Valley

Last week three of us focused on European Starlings.

hungry European Starling nestling biting parent’s chest

European Starling nestlings waiting to be fed

Sometime during our stay an adult Bald Eagle flew over.

Bald Eagle in flight

This Saturday’s temperature caused us forego a trip to the Leslie Spit.  We figured a brief trip to Hendrie Valley would suffice.   We heard an Indigo Bunting and a Wood Thrush then from the boardwalk we observed two white-tailed deer making their way east.  We observed two then ultimately a total of five Great-Blue Herons in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight

We later found this heron trying to keep cool.

Great Blue Heron trying to keep cool

As we walked along we heard the soft calls of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo but were unable to secure a photograph.  We heard a second Cuckoo at the east end of the park.  Also heard the calls of Eastern Phoebes, House Wrens, a Great-crested Flycatcher, Baltimore Orioles, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Kingbirds, Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and all the usual suspects.

Eastern Phoebe

The female Wood Ducks were milling about with eight ducklings.  This little one left a pond, crossed the pedestrian path, and headed into the opposite pond.

Wood Duck duckling running from one pond to another

The self-sufficient little devil had not a care in the world.

Wood Duck duckling consuming dragonfly

Many people tried to beat the heat at Spencer Smith Park yesterday.  Common Terns were fishing, Cliff Swallows were nest building under the pier while a lone Double-crested Cormorant was making best efforts to avoid the boats  and other watercraft on the water.

Double-crested Cormorant

A family of six geese were foraging on the grass.  Once fed the parents led the goslings across the promenade.

Four goslings