That's a better one

Having complained yesterday about the relative subtlety in the kumlieni at Ashbridge's, I had a stroll down the Toronto waterfront for a couple of hours just before I left. The aim was to photograph the Ring-billed Gulls and Long-tailed Ducks in the lovely light, but I managed more than that by chancing upon another Kumlien's Gull - again an adult, but this time rather less subtle (with nice mirrors on P6-P10) and a really good bird to see.

And here's another Long-tailed Duck...

Snowy on the Spit

Right then, I'll keep it real short as today was action packed full of Nearctic waterfowl and really enjoyable northern birding. Karen was once again brilliant on these 'non-birding' holidays and, while I got my fill of yankage, she filled her boots in a shoe museum amongst other things.

Today was the Toronto CBC (Christmas Bird Count) and it was good to meet Jean Iron, who has continually been most helpful in providing me with info prior to and during this visit, amongst others while I was out and about on 'the spit' at Tommy Thompson State Park. Pride of place went to a totally majestic, immense 1st-winter female Snowy Owl, part of the latest movement of this species due to food shortages further north.

I also saw 1000s of waterfowl - well up on usual numbers due to the mild winter over here - and this included a real array of Nearctic beauties including Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, 2 species of Scaup, 3 species of Merganser, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Black Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Trumpeter Swan, Mute Swan and Canada Goose.  More on these some other time.

Aythya action Canadian style

Other decent stuff of course included a load of gulls, as well as an American Coot, a Great Northern Diver, a Great Horned Owl, Black-capped Chickadees, American Tree Sparrows and a single Song Sparrow.

ATS - Corvo next?

Canadian Intro

I've had a really enjoyable, leisurely stroll along the Toronto waterfront today, having arrived late last night following a smooth flight. The place is packed full of a nice selection of birds literally within a stone's throw from downtown (the city centre in plain English speak). Highlight for me was the masses - literally 1000s - of Long-tailed Ducks close in all along the harbour wall. I've probably seen more of these beauties today in the crisp winter sun, than I have in my life before.

The ringos were pretty confiding too, and it was possible to stroke a couple of the first-winters that evidently hadn't become accustomed to the human race yet. Lovely stuff, and even though these boys are as common as you like on this side of the pond there's still something about any Nearctic gull, wherever they are, that makes me transfixed. Look at the intricacies and variability of the 1st-winters in these shots.

And given that this trip is one of those 'non-birding' ones, we did the tourist thing and shot up the CN Tower late afternoon.