Birding in Canada, Toronto - Day 4
Bird watching Toronto:
- Centennial Park
- High Park
- Lambton Park
Will have to see if there is time to visit other spots.
But High Park is TOP PRIORITY
Saturday 29 th
of April 2023
and it was almost 10 o'clock before I left my room. Looking out the window did not make me happy, gloom and grey for long as I could see. And it was also raining so I was in no hurry to get out.
But I did not want to spend the day in the room so I decided to take the chance and I went out to look for birds in the Toronto area.
Coming out to the parking
Gloom and grey for long as I can see
I really didn't feel like going bird watching
I decided to go check out the High Park and it willhopefully be better weather by the time I get to the park. The Centennial Park is located just next to the hotel.
I entered the drive way to check out the area and I never checked out the park as you need to walk. And as it is raining, I had no plans to get out of the car. The first bird I see is a Killdeer on the lawn. There are a couple of American Robins as well.
As no surprise I discover Red-winged Blackbirds sitting on the poles around the parking area and I try to make a video of the bird while calling.
A far away Killdeer in the rain
Red-winged Blackbird trying to attract females
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird trying to attract females
Female Red-winged Blackbird
American Robin
I was quite surprised and happy that I had seen way more bird than expected in the Centennial Park. Common Starlings and Common Grackles was also seen. And the Killdeer, I have seen the bird in USA but it is the first one I see in Canada.
I really wanted the video of the Red-winged Blackbird but the video turned out to be nothing but garbage. Out of focus just as the video I made in Colorado.
I left Centennial Park and High Park was set in the GPS and it will take about 30 minutes to get there. The weather was not improving while I was driving in to Toronto and I was hoping that at least the rain would stop for a while when reaching the High Park so I could get out of the car.
It is Saturday and I had expected light traffic but I was soon running in to “bumper to bumper” traffic on the Expressway. I could hardly see the houses in Toronto because the annoying NON-STOP drizzle. And the top of the houses was covered in fog.
I discover that the High Park is closed for traffic
I came off the Expressway and I turned left to get under the Expressway and I come to an intersection. Straight ahead is the entrance to the High Park was closed for traffic. And it seems like the park is closed for traffic during weekends.
I had no option but to turn right and to look for a place to stop to consult the GPS. There is another entrance and I programmed the GPS and I took off. 6 minutes later and I could see from a great distance that this entrance was closed as well.
I discover that the High Park is closed for traffic
I discover that the High Park is closed for traffic
I stop and I look for a shopping mall on the GPS and there is one 10 minutes away and I drive there. Reaching the mall and I stop at the parking. I decided to go to the beach front Tommy Thompson Park and it is quite famous. I left the mall and I was soon back on the Expressway.
Plenty cars on the elevated Expressway but the traffic was flowing quite good.
On the Gardiner Expressway driving towards Tommy Thompson Park
On the Gardiner Expressway driving towards Tommy Thompson Park
On the Gardiner Expressway driving towards Tommy Thompson Park
On the Gardiner Expressway driving towards Tommy Thompson Park
On the Gardiner Expressway driving towards Tommy Thompson Park
On the Gardiner Expressway driving towards Tommy Thompson Park
On the Gardiner Expressway driving towards Tommy Thompson Park
I leave the Expressway and I end up in a “ROAD WORK” area and we are moving very slowly. Andwhy are the cars on the roads on a Saturday? I manage to negotiate my way through the “ROAD WORK” area.
The last couple of kilometres before the Tommy Thompson Park was almost empty from traffic. And if it was some areas where I had expected heavy traffic on a Saturday it would be to and from the parks.
I stop at the Tommy Thompson Park parking but I never get out of the car. It really didn't lookto be a nice day for bird watching. Rain and strong wind and I drove to the marina next to the park to check it out.
There were quite a few birds when I turned upon the entrance road. Two red-winged Blackbirds looked to be fighting with each other. I found a parking and I got dressed and I went out to have a look for exciting birds in the area.
I was in a hurry to get back to my car
I was in a hurry to get back to my car
I was in a hurry to get back to my car
I was in a hurry to get back to my car
It was for sure not any pleasure to get out of the car and I was back in the car after 10 minutes with the heating running. This is a day that will go down the history books as a day without any bird watching and I was not very happy
And if it does not get better by tomorrow, I will lose two valuable days in Canada.
I leave to get back to my hotel and going back and the “ROAD WORK” area is almost at a full stand still. I take quite some time to get to the ramp to the elevated Expressway. And the lane to the Expressway seems to be the problem.
I discover that the lane going up on the Expressway is moving very slow and I suspect that the Expressway is at a full stop as the two lanes on my left side moves along quite well.
I am under the elevated Expressway on the way to the ramp
I am under the elevated Expressway on the way to the ramp
On the ramp going up to the Expressway
On the elevated Expressway
Coming up on the ramp and the traffic is “bumper to bumper” and the traffic are moving very slow and I don't mind. I have good music and refreshment and I kind of like it when we move along slowly and I can enjoy the scenery.
I was more worried about the weather tomorrow. Today have already turned in to a total waste of time. So, I will spend the rest of the day in my room drinking tea, and I still have photos from Florida to sort out. I have not really have had any time for my pictures.
So, it can be nice with a day of relaxing a bit, the first since I landed in USA back in March.
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Traffic almost at a full stop
Well, if the weather is nice tomorrow, I will go back to Tommy Thompson Park as I really want to visit this park. High Park, well, no traffic allowed so I cannot go. Where should I park the car? Drive it out to the Ontario Lake?
If it is bad weather, well, I will have to find something else to do. You will find out how tomorrow turns out by clicking HERE
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eBird Trip Report
Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.
And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!
Today's Trip Report: Bird watching in Canada - Day 4 | Click HERE
Download | PDF
Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports
Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life
Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life
Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their life
Exotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.
Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).
Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.
When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.
Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have
bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.