While the birding was very slow this morning at the Riverdale Farm and the nearby Necropolis, there were two nice birds. In the Riverdale Farm, near the pond at the very bottom of the Farm, there was a very elusive male Connecticut Warbler low in the bushes. I had one good look before it was chased away by a grackle and afterward I could hear its call for about 20 minutes but it did not emerge for another look. There were few other birds today but there is a Belted Kingfisher that has been around for days and may stay.
Across the street in the Toronto Necropolis there were a few more warblers with a vibrant male Cape May Warbler in the North West corner of the cemetery (the section on the left as you enter the main driveway). There were also two Field Sparrows at the top of the hill above the "Scattering Grounds" for the ashes. There were also several Nashville, Yellow-Rumped and Palm Warblers about in both sections but little else. The best spots for warblers in the Farm are around the lower ponds and in the bushes along the middle path, just past the archway for the buildings. In the Necropolis, the birds are usually evenly spread but more pronounced along the fence lines on the upper level and in the very far NE back corner. The Riverdale Farm and Toronto Necropolis can have a surprising variety of warblers on any good warbler day. Both are small areas that can be easily birded before or after work. The Riverdale Farm opens at 9 a.m. seven days a week and closes at 5. The Necropolis is open from 8 to 8 and can have good late day birding. Directions, The Riverdale Farm and Toronto Necropolis are across the street from each other just east of the downtown Toronto area. Take Parliament Street to Winchester Street and drive east along Winchester to the very end, east of Sumach and you can park for free on the north side of the street. Theresa Dobko [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
