Hello Ontbirds, For first time since 2002 when I started to watch birds on Eglinton Flats ( and take exact notes) on Thursday May 10, I have seen Hooded Merganser female with 11 chicks. On Friday May 11 only 6 survived, and on Saturday May 12 still we have 6. Today ( May 12) mother sitting on the log keeping all of 6 under her wings. In Topham Pond there are: Northern pike and Snapping turtles! Great Blue Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron did not come yet. My notes of Hooded merganser presence on Eglinton Flats 2012: March 11 ( two pairs), March 15 (female), March 27 ( male and female), April 10 (male), April 14 (female), April 19 (female).
Good birding, Jacek Pawlikowski PS Today I have visited ( for first time) at 7 AM Rattray Marsh. Eastern Screech - Owl was looking at me from big birdhouse. Four males Wood ducks, two Greater Yellowlegs, Magnolia Warbler, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (...). Too noisy and too many people! Colonel Samuel Smith Park: Orchard Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Waterthrush, Praire Warbler ( ...). 8 photographers were taking pictures of nesting Red-Necked Grebe. Eglinton Flats: Solitary Sandpiper ( ...). Pictures taken: Hooded Merganser and chicks, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern-Screech Owl, Solitary Sandpiper, Am. Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, Red-Necked grebe ( ...). _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/

