Feb 9, 2014

Glen Eagles Vista (Rouge Park)

Well I didn't spot any eagles to photograph at the Glen Eagles Vista but was able to rouse some pretty common robins...but wait, it isn't spring?

Actually I was surprised to see them at all in the dead of winter. Some of them were actually quite hearty!!

One was as fat as any robin I'd ever seen.  They were roosting in groups on branches of ornamental crabapple trees eating to their hearts content.

Here's the male I was telling you about
The Glen Eagles Vista is a short .5 km trail with beautiful views in the Rouge Valley all year round, although obviously more so in the summer and fall.  When there isn't snow to step through, you'll find a bedrock of gravel stones underneath making it an easy path to view some river valleys and geologic features just off Twyn Rivers Drive in Toronto.

As for my flocking feathery friends, it turns out robins form flocks.  They can and do live in sheltered areas in and around Toronto's ravines.  They like fruit trees so forget about feeding them the little black oil seeds that their chickadee cousins prefer because they won't come anywhere near it.   You'll also find them close to rowan or mountain ash trees from which to feed. 


As for the rotund robin, turns out he's a valiant male who will stay on territory all winter long.  He will sit alone in his ornamental crab tree and live off the fruit and will try and drive away any flocks who try and eat from his tree (although he won't bother with any of the fallen fruit).


All in all, the Glen Eagles Vista is a small but pretty addition to many trails explored in the Rouge Valley.