Hello,

Yesterday (May 21st) at approximately 6:30 PM, my girlfriend and I were jogging in ET Seton Park (near Don Mills & the DVP) when a beautiful little bird caught our attention.

My first thought was "Indigo Bunting", which we had seen in the same area last year at this time, but I know that male Indigos are blue all over whereas this bird had a very definite orange on the chest, a light stomach and white bars on darker wings.

The bird was only about 8 feet away from us in a small shrubby tree, shining in the sun. Not having my Peterson field guide with me, my girlfriend and I both made note of the exact colouration.

I have been birding for about 8 years now and far from being an expert, I am at least familiar with the usual spring suspects. This bird was similar in colour to an Eastern Bluebird yet it was definitely smaller and my girlfriend and I both clearly saw the white wing bars.

I didn't know right away that it was a "Lazuli Bunting" but as soon as we got home I checked the field guide. Upon seeing the Lazuli Bunting in the guide I was sure that it was the same bird. I then showed my girlfriend (who is just a beginning birder) the different blue coloured birds in the field guide and asked her which one it was. Without hesitation she also pointed to the Lazuli Bunting.

I now know that the Lazuli Bunting would be a definite rarity for the Toronto area so I thought that I would post my sighting to the list and maybe others might be interested in taking a look in the area. I guess the chances of it still being there are slim, but you never know?

The bird was right beside the road that runs down into ET Seton park which begins on Thorncliffe Park Drive (off Overlea near Don Mills rd). From Thorncliffe park, follow the road down and around for about 1 km. The bird was just to the right of the road, across from the Don river in a small shrubby tree. This is just before the road ends in a big circular parking lot.

Not having a camera for absolute proof of the sighting, I would love it if someone else could verify it.

Thanks, S. Clarke Toronto
SClarke@inco.com

Location: Highland Creek between Old Kingston Road and Morningside Road

Time: 5:45 am to 7:00 am

Sightings:

Common Loons - 50 migrating north over the park over 1 hour period
Song Sparrows - several
American Robins - plentiful
Barn Swallows - around a half dozen
Common Flicker - 3
Starling - 20 +
Northern Cardinal - a few heard but not seen
American Crow - 8
Red Winged Blackbird - a few
Brown-headed Cowbird - about a half dozen
Mallard - one in pond east of Morningside - possible 4 others flying
Catbird - one just east of Morningside on top of thickets (1st of the year for me)
Red-tailed Hawk - one flying over Morningside Park
Broad-winged Hawk - one flying over park (1st of the year for me)
Belted Kingfisher - a couple heard often - seen at Old Kingston Rd.
White-throated Sparrow - several heard but not seen
Black-capped Chickadee - a few heard but not seen
Pileated Woodpecker - first heard, then found hammering on large tree
  on north side of stream just west of Old Kingston Road (1st of the year for me)
Blue-headed Vireo - one at entrance of trail near Old Kingston Rd.

These were all seen while walking my dog (Baldrick) and staying on the main paved path. The first bridge west of Old Kingston Road is off limits, so you need to walk through the path towards the tennis courts. There grass was wet with dew and it was a little cool, but it was sunny and a great morning to be out birding!

Gord Gallant
gord@web-nat.com

29th,April. '03

Hi, Gord,

Lots of bird activities at the Lakeside Park bushes and woods this morning. Couple of these birds are undoubtedly new arrivals.

A Palm Warblers in his nuptial plumage moved to a bush stem close to where I was standing and this beautiful rusty capped sang couple of times before disappearing. I could hear the same songs farther away but not the producer in view.

Not too far from this spot was a Hermit Thrush among the fallen brown floor leaves. Only a keen birder's eyes would detect its presence in a similar background.

There were many Yellow-rumped warblers, Yellow-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Sparrows. In close quarters the Ruby-crown's music was very enjoyable.

Good Birding,

Ram Nambiar
Mississaga.Ont
905 828-4997
birder@eol.ca

23rd April '03

Hi Gord,

This spring's first warbler, yes -the beautiful Yellow-rump, on the trees along the Waterfront trails of Marie curtis Park in Etobicoke. After the first sighting, I revisted the park 2 more days in a row. I saw another one which looked very much like a Prairie female, streaking on the sides of under parts. Didn't give me enough chance to pinpoint the identity.

On Monday these trees didn't have any leaves at all. Hence, these rumps' flittings and searching for food could be noticead easily. Several of them were making their trilling songs. Much excited about the warbler migration towards us I serched for then in the woods of Richard Memorial and also at Jack Darling Parks all these three days. But none were seen in the last two.

Despite the cold high winds of this moring I thought I should visit High Park first. I saw Chpping Sparrows and brown creepers, but no warblers. By the time I got to Marie Curtis, it was bright sun and relatively comfortable. White-throats, both males and females, were seen and emanating from the woods was their 'Pea-body' music.

Too many Swallows at Marie, -the Tree and the Barn, in a mix, twisting and circling low above the meadow feasting on flying insects. The latter's twitterings were heard.

Good Birding

Ram Nambiar
Mississauga.Ont
905 828-4997

Hi Gord

Good to see the website back up and new birding reports being added. Anyway my report has to do with a pair of nesting Canada geese in a large willow tree in Edward's Gardens in Toronto. I work for the City of Toronto at Edward's Gardens and these geese have been nesting in the same tree for several years and offers a rather unique perspective of the nest. I have always wanted to see the young get out of this tree as the nest is about 8-10 ft.up in the crotch of the tree but have never seen them fall out over the years. My guess is they get out at night when nobody is around. Anyway if anyone to come look Edward's Gardens is located at Lawrence Ave. East and Leslie Street in North York. There are lots of large willows in hte park so if you want to see the nest go to ornamental fountain and look at the large willow directly across from the fountain( not the one directly beside the fountain) Its a great photo opportunity for those who are interested.

Kevin Knight
krknight@rogers.com

• Yellow-rumps, White-throats, Ruby-crowns,
  B. Swallows at Marie Curtis Park - April 23, 2003

23rd April '03

Hi Gord,

This spring's first warbler, yes -the beautiful Yellow-rump, on the trees along the Waterfront trails of Marie curtis Park in Etobicoke. After the first sighting, I revisted the park 2 more days in a row. I saw another one which looked very much like a Prairie female, streaking on the sides of under parts. Didn't give me enough chance to pinpoint the identity.

On Monday these trees didn't have any leaves at all. Hence, these rumps' flittings and searching for food could be noticead easily. Several of them were making their trilling songs. Much excited about the warbler migration towards us I serched for then in the woods of Richard Memorial and also at Jack Darling Parks all these three days. But none were seen in the last two.

Despite the cold high winds of this moring I thought I should visit High Park first. I saw Chpping Sparrows and brown creepers, but no warblers. By the time I got to Marie Curtis, it was bright sun and relatively comfortable. White-throats, both males and females, were seen and emanating from the woods was their 'Pea-body' music.

Too many Swallows at Marie, -the Tree and the Barn, in a mix, twisting and circling low above the meadow feasting on flying insects. The latter's twitterings were heard.

Good Birding

Ram Nambiar
Mississauga.Ont
905 828-4997

Tuesday,15th April, '03

Mid-April and New Arrivals

Hi Gord

I saw the following(at least the first two species newly arrived)at Mimico Creek and Humber Bay West area, this morning.

Caspian Terns( in flight with kraa--aa vocalization) Tree Swallows(calling in flight above the creek and Humb River and some even sitting on nest boxes preening the breast)

A Ruddy drake with its mate
A pair of Pied-billed Grebe
A lone Green-winged teal drake in the company of a pair of Blue-winged.

One Robin had nesting material in its beak.
American Goldfinches singing. Crown not that black yet, but the sides of breast is getting more yellowish

Good Birding

Ram Nambiar
Mississauga.Ont
905 828-4997
birder@eol.ca

11th April,'03

Hi Gord,

Seen near Mimico creek estuary watersheds were 4 Trumpeter swans. Two separate pairs, not too close to each other.

Both pairs had yellow tags on the wings and leg bands. One pair with yellow 646 tags on either wings(only on male, male because of larger size)has been around for some time now. The new addition pair(both male and female) had separate yellow tags. Male had 607, female 522. Both these pairs had been calling loud. It appeared to me former(646pair) is planning to nest near the marsh.

Good Birding

Ram Nambiar
Mississauga.Ont
birder@eol.ca

30th, March '03

Hi Gord,

Along the west shore line of Mimico Creek was a pair of Trumpeters, a cob and its mate. The larger one, the cob I presume, had the yellow tag bearing the number 646, one on both wings, and a right leg metal band. The pen didn't have any of these. Seemed to get along with Mutes. I have been seeing them in that area for nearly a week now.

646. Who could be the owner of these tags and band?

Good Birding,

Ram Nambiar
3368 Hargrove Rd
Mississauga.Ont
905 828-4997

March 23 2003 – Humber Bay Park

A beautiful morning today! We enjoyed our first great spring day down at the Humber Bay Park. The highlight for us was a Horned Grebe fishing along the north east shore, as well as seeing all three types of male mergansers – common, red breasted, and hooded displaying!

We also saw:

American Coot – an adult, juvenile
Red Necked Grebe – only one (close to where we saw the horned grebe)
Trumpeter swan - only one, though saw a flock fly over yesterday
Long Tailed ducks (oldsquaw) – many
Lesser Scaup - many
Golden Eye – many, also displaying
Ruddy Ducks – a pair
American Wigeon
Buffleheads
Killdeer

And many of the usual such as the two white geese in the east bay, Canada geese, and mallards.

We also saw an Otter dragging some branches! What a day!

Humber Bay Park is at the southern end of Park Lawn Road, just off the lakeshore.

Lee Fairclough & Beno Tompa, Toronto

Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.

To day Bev convinced me that after spending 4 weeks ( going in to my 5 ) working with 2 days off that a birding walk out on to Tommy Thompson Park ( or the Leslie st spit just for you John , ha-ha) wood be a good Idea . And we came up with some good birds!

Getting out of the car at 7:30 am we wear treated to a calling N.Cardinal which is a rare bird out on the spit and a great way to start off, other good birds wear 2 Killdeers, 47 Red Wing black birds, 35 Tree sparrows, B.C. Chickadees 2 , 400+ Long Tiled ducks, 17 Wight winged scoter’s and 2 Black Scoter’s , their was 1 adult Lesser Black back Gull out on the ice with 2 G.B.B.Gulls .

their wear 8 migrating Crows and at 9:45 in till 9:55 we watched (me in amassment) 2 migrating C. Ravens, I have seen C. Raven out on the spit before but never 2 together, we watched them fly in from the west of the city once they saw the spit they started to fly in caracal’s and slowly head north west towards the DVP and out of sight even thought I had them in my scoop. Wow what fun that was, that’s what I love about birding always something new!

Tommy Thompson Park is found south of the Lake shore Blvd. hear in Toronto on Leslie st and is open only on the weekends and holidays

Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca