I, along with two ladies who, though not serious birders, were avid bird photographers, searched in along the chilly and damp west end of the park, finding a great number of warblers, including a Wilson's Warbler, and I enjoyed pointing out and identifying the birds for them as we searched. After a while they came over to me with their camera so Donna could show me the bird they she had just photographed, for identification. Wouldn't you know it, they found the Chat. Along with two other birders, including my birding buddy David, we went looking for and found this Toronto rarity and got great looks along with photos.
The next morning I was witness to a veritalble swarm of warblers in Col. Sam Smith Park. It only lasted about 15 minutes, but myself and another birder were treated to quite a show, as at least a hundred birds flew from tree to tree above our heads. It was a task to identify any of them, but I did get a look at nearly a dozen warblers, including both a Golden-winged and Worm-eating Warbler. And once again, neither of the birds hung around for photos.
In about 2 hours at Col. Sam I saw the following list:
2 Canada Goose
12 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Osprey
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 Eastern Kingbird
1 Philadelphia Vireo
2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
6 European Starling
1 Golden-winged Warbler -- Well seen in bare tree in the "bowl". Gray wings with distinctive yellow "golden " wings
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Northern Parula
6 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
6 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Black-throated Green Warbler
1 Blackburnian Warbler
1 Palm Warbler
2 Bay-breasted Warbler
3 Black-and-white Warbler
2 American Redstart
1 Worm-eating Warbler -- Seen during a brief flurry of dozens of warblers moving through the "bowl". Distinctive black stripes on brownish head. Pale underparts
2 Canada Warbler
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Grasshopper Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 White-crowned Sparrow
1 Scarlet Tanager
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Indigo Bunting
12 Red-winged Blackbird
6 Common Grackle
4 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Baltimore Oriole
1 House Sparrow
12 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Osprey
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 Eastern Kingbird
1 Philadelphia Vireo
2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
6 European Starling
1 Golden-winged Warbler -- Well seen in bare tree in the "bowl". Gray wings with distinctive yellow "golden " wings
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Northern Parula
6 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
6 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Black-throated Green Warbler
1 Blackburnian Warbler
1 Palm Warbler
2 Bay-breasted Warbler
3 Black-and-white Warbler
2 American Redstart
1 Worm-eating Warbler -- Seen during a brief flurry of dozens of warblers moving through the "bowl". Distinctive black stripes on brownish head. Pale underparts
2 Canada Warbler
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Grasshopper Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 White-crowned Sparrow
1 Scarlet Tanager
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Indigo Bunting
12 Red-winged Blackbird
6 Common Grackle
4 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Baltimore Oriole
1 House Sparrow
Over the past two weeks I have added a few birds to my Ontario Life List and over 20 to my Col. Sam list, which now stands at 139 in just over 28 months.
This morning on the way to work I tried for a Cerulian Warbler, but it began raining before I could locate it, even though at times I was sure it was calling.
Next stop Michigan and a return to Grayling and the Kirtland's Warbler, some horseback riding and visits to Point Pelee National Park and Rondeau Provinical Park as spring migration winds down.
Yellow-breasted Chat:
A Beautiful Male Canada Warbler:
Magnolia Warblers have been in great abundance this year at Col. Sam Smith Park
A Marsh Wren no where near a marsh:
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