Swan Update - July 4, 2009
Sometime last week I noticed that the original seven cygnets were down to five, but they were elusive enough that I got no picture.
Today I did manage to catch the family, with now three remaining cygnets.
This is sad, but not so out of line with historical survival rates of the cygnets. Last year also featured three from an original seven.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, swans
Sleeping Beauties
My morning walk occurred early enough today to find both swans asleep in or by the nest; fortunately, a Canada goose was willing to stand guard (click to enlarge).
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, swans
Ashbridge's Bay, April 25 - Castorian Update
Indirect evidence that there is still beaver activity (why did the Parks people not put wire mesh on this tree, not 100 yards from the beaver lodge?).
More direct evidence.
What is unknown to me at the moment is whether the widow beaver has found a new man.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, beaver
Ashbridge's Bay, April 25, 2009 - Avian Update
While a few buffleheads and oldsquaws are hanging around (might they stay all summer?), the complement of usual suspect summer species has filled out quite nicely. While one swallow does not a summer make, a whole bunch of them starts making one think about the warmer days coming. Even the kingfishers are back. The audio landscape is now in its usual state, dominated by redwings and cardinals, then gulls, song sparrows, the chatter of mallards, squawks of Canada geese, and the occasional croak of a kingfisher, or cry of a killdeer plover. Other regulars at the park report the return of the herons, but I have yet to see one.
And the highlight, as regular readers know - the swans are on the nest!
They are on the same spot used the last few years, with mixed success.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, birds
Sunrise at the Beach
I should be the guy in the picture, not the guy taking it!
Ashbridge's Bay, November 6, 2008
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay
Away with those Leaves!
I do miss the leaves in the winter, but their absence does permit several interesting sightings that would otherwise not have happened. The only time I have seen porcupines in nature is a result of the absence of leaves. And my morning walks are a lot more entertaining when creatures cannot hide in leaves. Here were two little creatures unexpectedly the object of a lot of human (and some canine) interest shortly after dawn a couple of days ago.
(Ashbridge`s Bay, November 6, 2008)
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, raccoon
Drydock Season
Every fall down by Ashbridge's Bay the local marina moves sailboats to drydock - quite a scene with cranes, and many many people, a bit of a party atmosphere. I missed the event this year, but you can see the effect - bare not-ruined docks, where late the sweet boats launched.
The picture was taken on an unusually warm November morning, which allowed this interesting visual effect from the nearby water treatment facility. (Note also the boats NOT in the water for the winter.)
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, drydock, marina
Swan Update
Best proof that we still have five swans at Ashbridge's Bay. (Shot week of Oct. 13, 2008)
They are so cute when feeding!
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, swans
An Eerie Silence
After somewhat of an absence, SillyWife and I went for a walk at Ashbridge's Bay last weekend.
What stood out for me was the silence. The red-winged blackbirds have left. So I am waiting now for the oldsquaws.
The swans were in place - still 3 kids at this point, and as large as mom and dad now.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, oldsquaws
Baby Birds
One of the great pleasures of morning walks at this time of year is the number of baby birds out and visible. This morning I saw at least three (sometimes it is not obvious).
This little robin was not sure what to make of me (I was not attacked by its parents as I would have been had it been a red-wing blackbird but I hope they were nearby).
Meanwhile this gull was clearly being neglected by nearby gulls and was probably wondering what happened with those nice gulls that used to bring it food.
A baby starling with much more confidence than the two birds above flew away as I removed the lens cap on my camera.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, baby birds, gull, robin
The Three Persist
I mentioned in
an earlier post that the three were still around. I did not get a picture on the Day of the Great Egret. I did yesterday.
There
are five swans in that picture - don't be fooled by the Mallard and the Canada Goose. You may have to click to enlarge.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, Ashbridge's Bay bufflehead swans
Big White Birds
I spend many mornings looking for
big white birds down on morning walks. Yesterday I did see those big white birds, and there are still three cygnets.
But I had a real shock when there loomed in front of me a Great Egret - I have never seen one of those around here, so it was a pleasant surprise. The morning hunting seemed to be bearing fruit - well, maybe fish and frogs.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, Great Egret, swans
Morning Beach
From a walk a couple of weeks ago.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, dawn
A Wet Summer Indeed
This year's July was apparently Toronto's wettest July in recorded weather history, and I believe it.
One symptom is recorded here on what is normally sandy beach:
In a normal year there would be no grass on the sand and these geese would not have this treat.
And in fact, only a few days after this picture, a few dry days had killed off this grass (maybe helped by the
Ontario Beach Volleyball Championships)
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, Canada Geese, Woodbine Baech
Who Knew?
I love the great diversity of my city, though I have never believed the sort of drivel promulgated by many, including the Miller-babbler, that the UN has recognized Toronto as the most ethnically diverse city in the world. (FWIW, I have never found anyone able to supply the smallest evidence for this claim - and of course, that the UN says something officially is far from making it true or interesting.) In the end, I have spent time in Manhattan and London (England), and have seen real diversity.
But I had no idea my city had this community!
I confess I was thrilled to contemplate the idea of a Gypsy celebration down at Ashbridge's Bay. And then I got worried - maybe this is just a bunch of emigrants from Rome (Roma in their language).
But all is cool. It is really the
Roma I hoped.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, Roma
Monarch Butterflies
It has been a scary summer - until about a week and a half ago I had seen only one, flitting through the backyard, ignoring my sumptuous milkweed plants.
But in the last ten days, I have now started seeing them, in Toronto, both down at the Beach and up in my neighbourhood, in London, Ontario, and last weekend in port Stanley. I am still disappointed that I have yet to see an egg, either in my backyard, or down at Ashbridge's Bay, where the milkweed population is amazing.
For a variety of reasons I will miss the migration this year - last year produced
such a thrill. Oh well.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, Monarch butterflies
The Week After the Day Before
Remember the tree with
not enough root depth?
Well, Parks and Rec have done some work but I am not sure where they intend to go with this.
At the moment it is sort of back standing - left alone I am sure it will try to grow again - plants are amazing.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, trees
Another Great Morning Sky
In Ashbridge's Bay, July 23
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, dawn
The Day After the Day Before
A week ago Saturday we noticed a thunderstorm happening. We closed the windows when they started rattling so we missed the real force of it.
On the next morning, wandering at the waterfront, it began to hit us that this was a pretty good thunderstorm after all.
We hit this tree:
It clearly did not run roots deep enough.
As we progressed, we found two further completely collapsed trees at the waterfront:
What amazed us the most was that this tree, a great friend to the beavers, was still standing:
(click to enlarge and look closely at the trunk at its lower level).
Later we hit another tree that had lost its head!
Quite a day and we did not really notice it at the time.
Worse, we looked into the backyard after the storm and were mystified that our milkweed looked like this:
Normally they stand up. :-) We simply did not get what had happened until the next day.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, thunderstorm
And Then There Were Three?
My sleuthing abilities have not produced
the swans for quite some time, but today, as a last-minute gesture, I hobbled out onto a boat launch area, and found them rather far away. Sadly I had taken the camera with slightly shorter reach but the picture below shows there are still at least three cygnets! (Two white, one grey.)
Even at three out of seven this is way better than their performances over the last couple of years.
Labels: Ashbridge's Bay, swans
