We were delighted to spend a day birding with a friend from California who was in Toronto for only one day. It was sunny and mild, the perfect fall weather for walking the trails at Colonel Samual Smith and Humber Bay East.
A Red-tailed Hawk greeted us at Colonel Sam, landing high in a tree to show off its tail.
Although birds are not plentiful at this time of year, we identified 16 species in the pond, the lake, the marina, and in the trees.
At the pond, a Midland Painted Turtle and a huge Red-eared Slider sunned on the rocks. The many Mallards included one very odd domestic Mallard. A Belted Kingfisher darted over the pond, but didn’t stop for photos. A Pied-billed Grebe dove repeatedly at the marina. There was also a lone female Goldeneye there in addition to many Double-crested Cormorants.
We often heard Northern Cardinals making their sharp contact calls and finally spotted a juvenile cardinal feeding on berries in the bushes. Cabbage White butterflies were still procreating.
The vibrant colours of autumn were on view throughout the park
We stopped at Birds and Beans for lunch and strolled the path along the waterfront. This pigeon seemed unconcerned by the nearness of people. Maybe they were all focussed on whatever was in the water below…
Humber Bay Park East is being reconstructed. Access to the paths was somewhat treacherous, but worth the effort in order to get to the end of the spit with outlooks onto Lake Ontario and Humber Bay.
The holding ponds provide a sheltered spot for many birds throughout the year. That day, we encountered a Great Blue Heron, a couple of cormorants, and some Hooded Mergansers. In the channel outside the holding ponds, we had seen a male Hooded Merganser in transition to breeding plumage. At first we didn’t recognize it without its distinctive hood! Two Red-breasted Grebes, an adult and a juvenile, were diving in the channel for food. Nearby, a Gadwall foraged for aquatic vegetation.
Migrating Red-winged Blackbirds stayed in the bushes where they could drop down to the water’s edge.
Dragonflies, probably Blue Dashers, were hovering over the ponds. Some males were in tandem with females, remaining attached while the females laid eggs in the pond.
The trails to the spit were inviting for walkers and a few butterflies – Monarch and Black Swallowtail.
Double-crested Cormorants are migrating in great numbers at this time of year. We found a small flock with many juveniles on a tree overlooking the bay. Note the pale neck and breast of the juveniles.
View of the Toronto skyline, slightly hazy across the water.
Changing weather and changing leaves on the home front:
Beatles Overload
Terrific 23 minutes of fun.