Toronto Wildlife

[67Cup]

I think that is a Great Egret in the foreground of this photo. I have seen one in previous years but this is the first sighting of this season. I have never seen a pair of these, however. On the other hand, my favourite winter visitors, buffleheads, have obviously flown north.

 

[Northern Light]

I think that is a Great Egret in the foreground of this photo. I have seen one in previous years but this is the first sighting of this season. I have never seen a pair of these, however. On the other hand, my favourite winter visitors, buffleheads, have obviously flown north.

View attachment 315382

Looks like a Black Bill on the bird.

Not really consistent w/Great Egret.

Perhaps a Snowy Egret?

Difficult to know w/o seeing leg colour and feet colour.

 

[67Cup]

Looks like a Black Bill on the bird.

Not really consistent w/Great Egret.

Perhaps a Snowy Egret?

Difficult to know w/o seeing leg colour and feet colour.

You can’t see it from this angle but the bill was actually yellow. I have the Audubon Society app on my cell and because of that specifically checked the bill. I also think the neck was too long for a snowy egret. I am no expert by any means so I may we’ll be mistaken.

 

[vic]

This red fox that ran right past me this morning on Pelham Ave. I love how the crows kicked up a fuss as it went by.

 

[67Cup]

There is a considerable ”bevy” of swans wintering in Humber Bay Park. I’ve seen as many as 21 at a time. Most of them appear to me to be Mute Swans which are a flourishing import from Europe. I am no expert birder, but I understand they are easy to recognize by the prominent black knob on the bill below the eyes.

The swans in the closer shot appear to me to be Trumpeter Swans which are native to North America. They appear to me more elegant, not having the knob on the bill. Another North American species that lacks the knob is the Tundra Swan but it frequently has a yellow spot below the eye, which these ones all lack.

Note: These two shots were on different days.

 

[DarkSideDenizen]

Whitetail deer in Morningside Park this week:

 

[67Cup]

”Mute“ swans, I believe, though that is not really an accurate description. These are a successful import from Europe

 

[Northern Light]

”Mute“ swans, I believe, though that is not really an accurate description. These are a successful import from Europe

View attachment 383205

Those are indeed Mute Swans. (orange bill is the giveaway)

However, 'successful' is a matter of perspective, as they are considered 'invasive' and are taking over habitat at the expense of native swans.

Invasive species: mute swan - Canada.ca

Information on Environment and Climate Change Canada's bird conservation programs

www.canada.ca

 

[67Cup]

Those are indeed Mute Swans. (orange bill is the giveaway)

However, 'successful' is a matter of perspective, as they are considered 'invasive' and are taking over habitat at the expense of native swans.

Invasive species: mute swan - Canada.ca

Information on Environment and Climate Change Canada's bird conservation programs

www.canada.ca

Good point, though Iwas using the word “successful” from the swans’ point of view, as it were. They have multiplied and flourished, though likely to the detriment of native species, just as you say. My own completely non-expert observation is that they considerably outnumber the native Trumpeter swans in the little niche of wetlands I see.

 

[67Cup]

Not a shot of wildlife directly but this looks like beaver activity to me. The shots are from the walkway along the cove with the marinas, west of Mimico Creek. I talked with a jogger who runs the route daily and he believes the activity is very recent, as seems to be confirmed by the fresh appearance of the cuts and toothmarks. I don’t know where the beaver lodge is located but will keep my eyes open for one.

 

[DarkSideDenizen]

Backyard visitor:

 

[DarkSideDenizen]

Busted!

 

[Northern Light]

From a wetland in Taylor Creek Park; taken March 31st, 2022:

 

[67Cup]

I think this is a mink, beside a pond in Humber Bay Shores Park East. I certainly stand to be corrected, however.

In another walk past the same pond (no photos, sorry) I saw a small group of Red Breasted Mergansers fishing. In a brief span, three of them were successful and nabbed small, wiggling tidbits. Then a large salmonid, with brightly coloured speckles near the dorsal fin, perhaps 60-70 cm long, swam by. A Steelhead, perhaps? Perhaps all this says something moderately encouraging about the local ecosystem in the park.

 

[SubHuman]

A construction worker on the job at a pond in Humber Bay Shores Park

I went to High Park this morning with visiting relatives and saw one casually swimming past on the pond with a stick in its mouth. Maybe they're a little more common and less nocturnal than I had thought.

Those are indeed Mute Swans. (orange bill is the giveaway)

However, 'successful' is a matter of perspective, as they are considered 'invasive' and are taking over habitat at the expense of native swans.

Invasive species: mute swan - Canada.ca

Information on Environment and Climate Change Canada's bird conservation programs

www.canada.ca

One was on the edge of the pond, not overly concerned with all the people walking on the nearby path.

Relating to other invasive/introduced birds, and the barn swallow structures mentioned in the Ontario Place thread, unsurprisingly there were only House Sparrows on the birdhouse in High Park, not the intended Purple Martins.

Other than maybe constantly removing the sparrow nests, I'm not sure what could be done to keep them away. Apparently it's somewhat common in the U.S. for people to trap and "dispatch" () them, though I've not heard of that being encouraged in Canada, and I don't know if it would even be legal here.
Also important to note that not all sparrows are House Sparrows. Just on the way out of the park I saw some of these smaller and different-looking ones, I think Chipping Sparrows.