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PostPosted: Mon May 05, 2014 5:12 pm 
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I was wondering if anyone knows of any good spots that are easily accessible from the Toronto area for birding? I just recently purchased a new telephoto lens (Sigma 150-500mm) and want to get out and use it but also wanted to explore some new spots. I know of the more popular places such as Tommy Thompson & High Park but was wondering if there are any other ones that are as easily accessible.


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PostPosted: Mon May 05, 2014 7:05 pm 
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Here are some links to birding sites which have a lot of local information.

http://www.torontobirding.ca/index.php

http://outdoorontario.net/birds/phpBB/

That should keep you busy for a while :)

Also you can try looking at your area in Google Earth and find some interesting little green spaces that might have some birds.

Tim


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PostPosted: Mon May 05, 2014 8:39 pm 
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You didn't define accessible. Easy travel distance or TTC/transit accessible?

Colonel Smith Park at the foot of Kipling Ave is often good for birds. Warblers lurk in the underbrush near the old power plant and waterfowl swim in the marina and off shore. Humber Bay East and West are also good for waterfowl. Right now High Park is the best place in Ontario for Wood Ducks.

To the East at the edge of TO is Rouge Beach park where the Rouge River empties into Lake Ontario. The marsh holds waterfowl and at time Egrets and Herons. The above can all be accessed via TTC.

To the west into Mississauga is Rattray Marsh which can hold any number of small birds and can be good for waders.

Further east into Whitby is Lynde Shores Conservation Area and a small patch of trees called Thicksons Woods that has an amazing reputation for warblers, owls and others.

AND if you really want to capture the birds of spring sign up for Tim's outing to Presqu'ile and the warbler weekend on the May long weekend.

DG


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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2014 10:00 am 
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I was at Colonel Smith Park 2 weeks ago around 7am and it was COLD, so make sure you got enough layers, but it's an ideal spot to shoot birds and ducks. Now it's the best time because there are no leaves yet and the birds are hungry/horny after a long hard winter. I even got some decent shots in my backyard in the past couple of weeks. good luck!

http://www.rhong.net/specials/backyard.html
http://www.rhong.net/wcanada/parks.html


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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2014 12:52 pm 
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Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions & links, it is exactly what I was looking for. I should have clarified "accessible" but you all pretty much nailed it. To me, accessible means easy travel distance, a place that won't take a couple of hours to get to.

I'm unable to attend the Presqu'ille outing as we already have plans for that weekend. Presqu'ille is very nice though, we went there a couple of years ago and loved it.


hongr wrote:
I was at Colonel Smith Park 2 weeks ago around 7am and it was COLD, so make sure you got enough layers, but it's an ideal spot to shoot birds and ducks. Now it's the best time because there are no leaves yet and the birds are hungry/horny after a long hard winter. I even got some decent shots in my backyard in the past couple of weeks. good luck!

http://www.rhong.net/specials/backyard.html
http://www.rhong.net/wcanada/parks.html


Thanks for the tips. I was actually thinking of going to Colonel Smith Park as soon as I get some free time. Nice pics btw, thanks for sharing!


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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2014 1:06 pm 
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Presqu'ille is great for a day trip. If anyone wants to do a weekend trip, then I would definitely recommend Pelee.


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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2014 1:37 pm 
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hongr wrote:
Presqu'ille is great for a day trip. If anyone wants to do a weekend trip, then I would definitely recommend Pelee.


I love going to Pelee. We are considering going back there this year.


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PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2014 12:06 am 
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I just bought the Tamzooka 150-600 and would like to practice getting to know it on a few birds. I am even yearning for the February weather when it was -20 degrees and there were a few snowy owls down at the Islands and Spit.


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PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2014 8:54 pm 
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A variety of warblers are being reported at Colonel Sam's and there are lots of Swallows at the RC Harris filtration plant.

Oh, and the Cherry Blossoms are out at High Park although probably won't be in peak until mid to end of the week.

DG


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