Today I did a complete survey of Red-necked Grebes from Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Etobicoke via Marie Curtis Park, Lakefront Promenade Park, Saddington Park/Credit River mouth, Jack Darling Park/Rattray Marsh from 11:30 am to 7:45 pm. David Hallett was with me for most of the count. The total number was an impressive 3414: with numbers distributed as follows: COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK: 1856; MARIE CURTIS PARK: 1; LAKEFRONT PROMENADE PARK: 300; SADDINGTON PARK/CREDIT RIVER MOUTH: 1250; JACK DARLING PARK/RATTRAY MARSH CONSERVATION AREA: 7. There were also impressive numbers of Long-tailed Ducks off Saddington Park (2000). Descent numbers of Horned Grebes were found at Colonel Samuel Smith Park (26) and Saddington Park (9). Single Pied-billed Grebes were found in CSSP (inner harbour) and RM (in the marsh proper). All the Red-necked Grebes counts were off-shore except for about 20 which were inside the inner bay of CCSP, of which 4 pairs seem to have set up breeding territories.
Directions: CCSP is located at the south end of Colonel Samuel Smith Promenade which runs of the south end of Kipling at Lakeshore boulevard. Rattray Marsh Conservation Area is located se of Clarkson (Erin Mills Parkway and Lakeshore) which can be most easily accessed by parking at the south end Bexhill which runs off Lakeshore Boulevard between Mississauga Road and Erin Mills Parkway. All the other parks are locate in between these two locations and all are located south of Lakeshore Boulevard. Wayne Renaud (289-828-0043) _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
