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Smew at Whitby Harbour near Toronto |
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Adult winter male Smew at
Whitby Harbour on 28 December 2011. Found by Jim Robinson on 26
December 2011. At first we aged this Smew as in first winter
plumage. However, in December 2017, Sebastien Reeber, author of
Waterfowl of North America, Europe and Asia aged it as
an adult molting into winter plumage. He says it is in active
prebasic molt and is distinguished from a first winter by the adult
tertials and tertial coverts, alternate lower scapulars (broad,
rounded and dark grey) and black mantle. |
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Two previous records of Smew have been
accepted by the Ontario Bird Records Committee: one was a female on
the Niagara River between Fort Erie and Chippawa from 21 February to
30 March 1960, and the other also a female was at Normandale near
Long Point on 9 and 10 December 1973. (2000 OBRC Report by Kayo Roy
in August 2001 issue of Ontario Birds). Subsequent to the
Whitby Smew, an adult Smew was at Long Point (Inner Bay) from 8 to
11 March 2012. (2013 OBRC Report by Brandon Holden in Ontario
Birds, August 2014) |
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The Smew put on a great show, at times
coming very close. 27 December 2011. |
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This photo shows white feathers molting in on crown of the Smew's
head. 27 December 2011. |
Photo shows white feathers on Smew's
head on 28 December 2011. |
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Group of Smew watchers. On the right end
is Jim Richards whose friend Jim Robinson found the Smew. The
tallest in the back row just right of centre is Glenn Coady who
first posted about the Smew on Ontbirds and baked shortbread cookies
for everyone - plate on ground. I'm third person in from left.
Glenn's wife Paula took the photo. 27 December 2011. |
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On 30 December, John Vanderpoel (right in
green jacket, with Ron Pittaway) flew to
Toronto hoping to add the Whitby Smew to his Big Year list. He was
very close to equalling the record of 745 set by Sandy Komito in
1998. Ron Pittaway and I picked him up at the airport and took him
to Whitby. Unfortunately the Smew left two days before. Even so,
John's total of 743 species (plus 1 provisional) for 2011 is a
remarkable achievement. Photo by Jean Iron. |
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Link to
John Vanderpoel Big Year |
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