Hi Ontbirders:
I was at the Jack Pine Trail early this morning. About a
dozen (mostly, if not all) Green-Winged Teal were at the main pond along the
inner loop. The Green-Winged Teals have been there for at least a couple of
weeks now. There are a number of males in the group. Previous to thwe
Green-Winged Teals there were a fair number of Blue-Winged Teals at the same
pond which I think have mostly moved on. They were there for a long time.
Teals can also be found in the other ponds at the Jack Pine Trail.
While observing the teals at the pond along the boardwalk,
Tony Beck and his group came along. Just in time I might add. Someone in
Tony's group pointed out a hawk flying across the pond from left to right. It
was a large hawk. Tony was able to identify it as an immature (first year)
Northern Goshawk. It flew across the pond and over the tree tops giving a good
view. The Northern Goshawk is the largest accipiter (I think) in North
America. The many mallards and Teals did not appear to be disturbed by this
flyover. However, about an hour or so later the Northern Goshawk again flew
across the pond, this time much lower down. It was flying in from the same
direction but instead of flying over the tree tops it perched on a low dead
tree overlooking reeds and bullrushes in the pond. Just to the right of the
muskrat lodge near the boardwalk. It didn't stay there for long.
Teals at the pond mostly tend to stay well back from the
boardwalk. One good thing about the Goshawk perching right over the reeds and
bullrushes of the pond was that it drove many of the teals out into the open
(after the Goshawk had flown off) giving great views of them. Thanks.
One of the male Green-Winged Teals photographed at the Jack Pine Trail.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/104394364/original
W. Hum
www.pbase.com/golfpic
DIRECTIONS: Courtesy of Neilyworld ( Independent Directions to this Site: From
Highway 416 take exit 72 (West Hunt Club Road). If southbound, a 0.4 km offramp
dumps onto West Hunt Club Road, where you will turn right or southwest. If
northbound, the 0.2 km offramp brings you to Cedarview Road, where you will
turn right or SSE onto it and in 0.2 km come to West Hunt Club Road. Turn right
or southwest onto it and in 0.4 km join the southbound traffic. Both groups
will now follow West Hunt Club southwest for an additional 2.1 km to reach
Moodie Drive. Turn left or SSE onto it and drive 1.4 km to reach a parking area
on the left for the Jack Pine Trail.)
How to (one option) get to the inner loop main pond at Jack Pine Trail.
Park at P9 parking lot along Moodie Drive. Take the trail on the left side
(where the outdoor washrooms are located). Follow that trail until you start
seeing some opening/daylight which means you are near the boardwalk of the
inner loop. The teals can be found at that boardwalk ound and where the
Goshawk was seen twice today).
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