{"id":8903,"date":"2022-01-27T14:51:34","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T19:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=8903"},"modified":"2022-01-27T11:45:29","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T16:45:29","slug":"humber-bay-east-toronto-winter-birds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/humber-bay-east-toronto-winter-birds\/","title":{"rendered":"A Winter Walk at Humber Bay East in Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"

January 2022 has been a weird weather month for the Toronto Ontario area. We’ve had days above freezing and days with wind chill frostbite warnings. I took advantage of a grey but warm winter afternoon to walk the paths and floating bridge at Humber Bay East. Good thing I did because days later everything was buried under 65 cm of snow!<\/p>\n

Do Double-crested Cormorants Over Winter in Ontario?<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nSignalling for a turn? Or hailing a water taxi? <\/em><\/p>\n

Most of the common Double-crested Cormorants in Ontario leave for the winter<\/strong><\/a>. A few, though, stick around. At Humber Bay East, two juvenile cormorants have been seen often this January.<\/p>\n

One Trumpeter Swan Flaunts Its Yellow Wing Tag<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nI would have trouble identifying Trumpeter Swans if someone had not conveniently put those big yellow tags on their wings<\/strong><\/a>! There was only one Trumpeter when I visited but there were several orange-billed Mute Swans.<\/p>\n

Six Little Ducks Floating on the Water<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

There was quite a group of Bufflehead resting quietly on the water. The grey sky made some interesting colours swirl around them.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

More American Tree Sparrows Not In Trees<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

People have thrown corn and seeds along the shore for the ducks and swans. Three American Tree Sparrows were happy to eat some of the offerings. I never seem to see these sparrows in trees!<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nNote the two-coloured bill which is normal for American Tree Sparrows.<\/em><\/p>\n

Some Splashes of Colour<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nSeveral pairs of Northern Cardinals were feeding from the same scattered seeds. Soon, they may start to defend territories but not quite yet.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThis American Goldfinch may not be as bright in the winter as in the summer but the yellow bib still looked cheerful on a grey day. It had been poking at a cone either for seeds or for insects.<\/p>\n

A Mixed Up Mallard<\/h2>\n

There were dozens of Mallards. Most were swimming rapidly towards any one they thought might have handouts.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

This one caught my eye. Judging by the colouring, this Mallard cross may have American Black Duck in its genes. (A regular male Mallard is behind the cross.)<\/p>\n

I enjoyed the ramble although it was a bit shorter than I expected. Most of the park is fenced off as they re-work the shore line facing Lake Ontario. It will be interesting to see what the park looks like when they finish.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n