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We had ideal weather for our June 24th bird walk at Colonel Samuel Smith Park: calm winds, warm, but not hot. As expected, here were no migrants around at this time in Toronto, but we had great looks at most of the 38 species we found. Young birds being attended by adults included Killdeer, Tree Swallow, and Mourning Doves. The Killdeer parents were minding three young on the Amusement Green south of the former hospital buildings. The young look much like miniature adults with only one black band across their chests. Some Tree Swallows were feeding young in nest boxes, while others with fledged young were feeding them from the roofs of nest boxes. There were lots of young Robins and Starlings, and there was a Mourning Dove on a nest right beside the main path into the park.
Highlights of the walk included a Great Egret - only the second time we have found one of our walks. It was fishing in the pond until it got harassed by a pair of Eastern Kingbirds. It finally flew, circling the pond, and settled in a different spot away from the Kingbirds. A Coopers Hawk put in a very brief appearance, and we found both Common and Caspian Terns at the lake. Our only warbler was Yellow, which breed in the bushes near the lake.
Here are some photos from the walk:
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