Naylon Parkette

Naylon Parkette

Vaughan, ON

    Today I discovered this charming little piece of woodland in an area developed principally for housing. It was a perfect winter's day, minus eight degrees C with little wind and fresh snow. I think I could have walked forever.

    Numerous common birds were present, and I had a fleeting glimpse of what I think was a Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor, a rarity for the area. I will have to try to get back there as soon as I can to try again to see if I can locate this bird.

    Unfortunately, I was unable to get photographs of the species I did see, mostly because they were deep in the trees, and the camera always wanted to focus on intervening branches. The following pictures do show, nevertheless, the delightful nature of this minute segment of nature allowed to remain in the midst of suburban sprawl.

Langstaff Park

Langstaff Park

Vaughan, ON

30 October 2013

    I was a little early for an appointment close to Langstaff Park today and took the opportunity to do a little birding. 

    The prize bird of the visit was this Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos.

Although not as rare in this area as it was twenty years ago, it is still not common and each sighting is special. I actually had neglected to take the camera with me when I first set out on my walk and the bird was perched for several minutes in a small tree. I would have had a great photographic opportunity had I taken my equipment. I returned to the car to get the camera and waited for a while in the hope that the bird would return to the same tree. It did, but only for a few seconds before moving on. The result is one less than satisfactory picture.

    A little better is a stunning male American kestrel Falco sparverius; this bird was a little more co-operative.

    And how could I resist one more shot of a magnificent maple tree clad in splendid fall regalia?

Melville Pond Gulls and Geese

Melville Pond

Vaughan, ON

17 October 2013

    Melville Pond is the rather grand name given to a storm water management pond in a shopping plaza at the intersection of Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive in Vaughan, ON. There is often a good variety of birds there, with Canada Geese Branta canadensis and Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis generally being the most common and the most numerous. Today was no exception.

A parade of geese

    Even though there are signs entreating people not to feed the birds, it is widely done. I think there is some inner primal need for people to connect with wild creatures and for most urbanites this is the only way they will ever do it. People show up with bags of grain and I have even seen people go to the bakery in the plaza and purchase day-old bread for the specific purpose of feeding the birds.

1st Cycle Ring-billed Gull

1st and 2nd Cycle Ring-billed Gulls

Killdeer Aplenty

Killdeer Aplenty

Edgeley Boulevard

Vaughan, ON

17 October 2013

    There is a small (certainly less than half a hectare) site which has remained undeveloped for several years, surrounded by a sea of developed land, with both retail plazas, and office and commercial units. Perhaps there were problems with financing, or obtaining permits, but whatever the reason the site remained untouched.

    I have monitored this location at least three days per week for about three years and it has become a bit of a magnet for birds. It is quite remarkable the range of species that have put in an appearance, including such diverse species as Merlin Falco columbarius, Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris and a whole suite of shorebirds. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus have bred there every year.

    Sadly, it is all coming to an end. recently a perimeter fence has been erected around part of the site, and heavy equipment has been brought in to start work on construction.

    Yesterday, by actual count there were fifteen Killdeer present and today there were twelve. Soon they will be migrating south and by the time they return next spring nothing will remain of their former habitat. I will miss them!