Not a Good Mourning

Oh the irony of Birding.  While searching the woods at Colonel Sam Smith Park for a Mourning warbler, this morning, I stumbled upon a Canada Warbler more than a few times.  I spent all of Spring Migration hoping to find just one, and when I finally did, Canada Warblers started popping up again and again.  Oh well.  They are a nice bird to look at, even if I couldn't get a photo.

Sunday was an OFO trip to the Toronto Islands and it was quiet there, as far as birds are concerned, though quite busy on the tourist front.  Thankfully we arrived at 8am, as the line ups to get to the island in the afternoon stretched out to the street.  We were led by Luke Fazio who has a great ear and kept us entertained and moving the whole morning.  The birds that were there to be found, Luke heard and made sure we all had good looks at.  Highlights of the Island trip were the Summer Canvasback, a land based Gadwall and a fledgling Robin.  

Later in the afternoon I went to Colonel Sam, as I seem to do nearly every day of late, and enjoyed looks at a solitary Horned Grebe and a lovely close up look at an Eastern Kingbird.

Today started with a quick flyby of Whimbrels early this morning and the day concluded with the sounds of an American Woodcock emanating from the cemetery behind my house.  That gave me 48 species, seen or heard today, in about 8 hours, not including driving to and from Colonel Sam to the Currie Tract in Campbellville.    I spend about 3 hours birding the tract, again looking for the Mourning Warbler and hopefully the Golden-winged Warbler.  I got neither, as birds are quite mobile and not always where I want them to be.  However I did see a Ruby-throated Hummingbird way up on a dead tree and the Chestnut-sided Warbler put on a great show, and was in fine voice all afternoon, as were the Yellow Warbler and Common Yellow-throat.  At Colonel Sam, late in the day, the  highlight was seeing a family of baby Starlings, out with mom for dinner.

So, true, no Mourning Warblers, but in fact, not only was it a good morning, it was a great day.