Up and Around the Rouge

As I mentioned in my September 4 blog, Rouge Park is on the easternmost edge of Toronto. It is an urban park and you can take public transportation to get there. But, the park is sprawling and driving there is a better option.

Bobolink

When my birding buddy and I figure it is quiet at our other favourite spots, we get my obliging husband to drive us up and around the Rouge. Farmland has been grandfathered into the park, so we check out the fields in all seasons. In the spring and summer, there are Bobolink, sparrows, and Eastern Bluebird. There might be a Northern Harrier, hunting the fields. In the fall and winter, there are Horned Lark and Snow Bunting. Sometimes, there is a Northern Shrike, perched on a telephone wire. In the fall, large flocks of American Crow and Canada Geese feed on the leftover corn in the farm fields. We use our scopes to check the flocks of geese for Cackling Goose, Snow Goose, or even a rare Greater White-Fronted Goose. Sometimes, we will see migrating raptors. One time, we had a family of four Golden Eagles fly by us. In all seasons, we look for Wild Turkey, although the coyotes in the park keep their numbers down.

Wild Turkey

One spot we love to visit in the park is Lower Reesor Pond. You can stand on the embankments and scope the pond. A wide variety of birds nest there. We see Eastern Kingbird, Swamp Sparrow, and American Goldfinch. Hiding in the reeds are Green Heron, American Bittern, Sora, and Virginia Rail. On the water, there are usually a pair of Tundra Swan, Mallard, and Canada Geese. Also found with them are Pied-billed Grebe, with their colourful young (see photo at top of blog). The pond’s nursery is rounded out with the ducklings of Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser. Overhead, Barn, Tree, and Northern Rough-Winged Swallows hawk for insects. Occasionally, a Red-tailed Hawk or an Osprey will cruise overhead. One time, we heard a Barred Owl, which was being mobbed by crows. When the pond waters are not too high, we can see shorebirds on the mudflats. We get Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Recently, we found a family of Common Gallinule which is a Toronto rarity.

Green Heron

There are many spots to park and then go hiking in the woods. If you are driving the roads and stop, watch for local drivers. They are not so patient with slower traffic or cars stopped on the roads’ edges. If you park at Reesor Pond, watch out for the local police. They sometimes will ticket cars left there.

Rouge Park is somewhere to spend the whole day, enjoying everything it has to offer. The roadways are scenic, as you cross bridges over the Rouge River or drive down country roads. In the spring, there is all the new greenery and bird song. In the fall, there are the beautiful, coloured leaves on the trees and migrating birds. In the winter, bundle up because there is snow on the ground and cold winds blowing over the fields. It is still worth visiting the park then, because there is still always something interesting to see.

Note: All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, an online source of copyright-free photos.