Let the winter list begin...

The first day of December traditionally heralds the start of the "winter list". Growing up, as I did, in UK this was a totally new concept for me when when I moved over here. The listing period runs 'til the end of February. Still, it's not a bad idea and at least gets you out there looking for birds when one would normally be huddled at home...or better still in the pub! I did it once, seriously, and got to about 118 species in the GTA. A pretty good total by anyone's standards. However, after spending hours looking for, and ultimately dipping on, a Chipping Sparrow it suddenly hit home that it was a horrendous waste of time! Having said that I still start out with good intentions on the first of the month...but by Christmas I've sort of run out of steam and I give up. Still, it's all good fun isn't it?

Anyway, this particular first of December I decided to bird on Toronto Islands - my favorite place to bird in the city. After swimming, which wasn't particulary successful due to my badly sprained wrist, and ticking off my faithful pair of Mockingbirds at me back yard berries I made my way down to the terminal, having to run the final bit due to thinking I was late! I wasn't! It turned out to be rather quiet on the islands overall but there were one or two highlights.

Hanlans Point was almost devoid of birds though I did flush up a nice flock of 11 American Pipits from the edge of the airstrip. Offshore there were Long-tailed Ducks everywhere, and everywhere you could hear them calling away...quite atmospheric in the flat calm and overcast conditions. I was feeling a bit jaded by the time I got to Gibraltar Point but my mood swiftly changed when I spotted a lovely Lincoln's Sparrow lurking by the washrooms...Let's get it straight, was the sparrow that was lurking, NOT me...OK. Whatever, this is a good winter bird and a new one for my list.


After basking in some glory for a while, whilst waiting for the non-existant Gannet to suddenly drift by I spotted a moth fluttering around. Was a Fall Cankerwom Moth (above), probably the only moth one could reasonably expect on this late date. I've actually seen them a few times on the first over the years.


Otherwise I saw a lone Horned Grebe offshore from the pier on Centre Island, a couple of White-throated and one Song Sparrow in the sancuary and a pair of furtive Carolina Wrens skulking in the Japanese Cane on the edge of the boardwalk en route to Wards. There were thousands of Long-tailed Ducks (above) along the boardwalk affording excellent views. I must have seen about 50 Hooded Mergansers too. All in all a most enjoyable outing to this great place...and no people.