Ashbridge's Bay - the search for an Iceland Gull.

Today I went to Ashbridge's bay to look for an Iceland Gull - which would be a lifer! There had been reports of up to 8 in the past two weeks, but the last report was three days ago, so I had my fingers crossed! As we left, the thermometer read -13 Celsius, and with the wind chill it would be -27 Celsius. By the lake, the wind off the lake was freezing! If you stared into the wind, tears would run down your face within 30 seconds, and your fingers would freeze. I only had an hour to find the Iceland Gull, so I set off.

Here's what I saw:

15 Greater Scaup
20 Common Goldeneye
5 Common Merganser
15 Red-breasted Merganser
20 Bufflehead
30 Long-tailed Duck
1 White-winged Scoter
1 Northern Cardinal
15 Black-capped Chickadee
100 Ring-billed Gull
20 Herring Gull
1 Iceland Gull!

Here are some shots:

Common Goldeneye and Long-tailed Duck

This Common Goldeneye enjoys the little bit of open water under the dock

Lake Ontario

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Ice, Sun, Sky

Northern Cardinal 

Long-tailed Duck

Lake Ontario - I love this shot.

Yearbird #32 - White-winged Scoter with a Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser 

Red-breasted Merganser

We finally came to the large group of gulls - it was going to be hard to find an Iceland in there!

But, one emerged and took flight - the white primaries and body were apparent even from a long way away!

Iceland Gull - Lifer #178!

This Mallard flew in and slid on 10 feet on the ice!

Mallard

Comments appreciated!

Happy birding!

-Owen

Another Snowy Owl, as well as other great birds from Tommy Thompson Park!

Today I went to Tommy Thompson Park in hopes of seeing more Snowy Owls, and getting more yearbirds. The weather was nice - sunny, only -6 Celsius, and minimal wind. We had a great day, and I can't wait until my next trip to Tommy Thompson next month!

Here's what we saw:

7 Trumpeter Swan

10 American Black Duck

10 Mallard

40 Greater Scaup

80 Long-tailed Duck

2 Bufflehead

20 Common Goldeneye

1 Common Merganser

10 Red-breasted Merganser

4 Red-tailed Hawk

X Ring-billed Gull

X Herring Gull

1 Snowy Owl!

4 Downy Woodpecker

15 Black-capped Chickadee 

1 Northern Mockingbird

50 American Tree Sparrow

1 Northern Cardinal

I got 14 yearbirds as well bringing my Ontario list to 31. My goal is 200 species in Ontario for 2014.

Here are some shots:

American Tree Sparrows were the first birds to greet us!

Red-breasted Merganser

Snowy Owl on the ice allowing for great photo oppertunities!

Long-tailed Ducks

Barren wasteland

Black-capped Chickadee - still hyper in sub-zero temperatures!

Downy Woodpecker pose

Downy Woodpecker 

Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Ducks with a Common Goldeneye

Greater Scaup

Common Goldeneye

Greater Scaup group 20 feet away from me!

Greater Scaup

Red-tailed Hawk in flight

Long-tailed Duck with the Snowy Owl in the background!

Trumpeter Swans

Lake Ontario

Rocks and ice

Toronto skyline

Comments appreciated!

Happy birding!

-Owen