I last visited this lovely park in the Finch / Dufferin area in July. Here are two species from that day:
On this sunny January day, I headed there once again as I had heard reports of a visiting Eurasian Teal. I wasn’t the only photographer present:
I was told that this is the first appearance of this species ever in Ontario.
The Green-winged Teal is North America’s smallest “puddle duck” and, at least in the Toronto region, it is often found slithering around on exposed mud flats.
Note that the male Green-winged Teal has a vertical white band on its side.
The Eurasian Teal has a horizontal white band on its side:
One Eurasian Teal (faint horizontal band) was feeding with three Green-winged Teals (vertical band):
If this had been a female Eurasian Teal, no-one would have known as they are indistinguishable from female Green-winged Teal:
Park images:
Other birds:
I received these photos of a Snowy Owl by the lake in Bronte:
NATURE POETRY
But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flow’r, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white—then melts forever. – Robert Burns (1759–96)
Miles Hearn
How exciting. Beautiful photos.
Thank you for sharing. I am living in Waterloo now. Miss the walks and the lovely people. Happy New Year. Regards Cathy
I love this park, though I always have trouble remembering the name! Fascinating information about the different varieties of Teal (beautiful ducks!) First ever (hoped for) appearance of a Eurasian Teal? Wow.
Thank you, Miles! And thank you to whoever sent those beautiful pictures of a Snowy Owl, mouth (beak? bill? No–bill would be for water birds, I suppose) open, no less!
More beautiful ducks! The group seems to blend so well with each other. I the waterway part of the Humber River watershed. One of my friends grew up in the 1950’s near Dufferin and 401. She said she and her sister used to play in a small creek during the summer but with rapid development of the area in the 1960’s the stream disappeared or was diverted underground. Thanks for the photo of the Snowy Owl.