Good afternoon birders Today I joined Ian Cannell, Jay Peterson and Ed O'Conner for a walk on the Leslie Street Spit and even if the weather man couldn't get it right, we did.
It was a cold, damp walk but no complaints seeing as we did well today. Following are the high lights of the 49 species seen including 22 Waterfowl species (4 Grebe Species). Western type Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe - changing to breeding plumage Red--necked Grebe - 53 on the lake in various plumages as they change to breeding plumage Double-crested Cormorant - 5 overhead with many, many more to come Tundra Swan - a flock of 18 flew in from the lake Northern Shoveler - 4 overhead Ring-necked Duck - 4 near bridge White-winged Scoter - 100 plus through out Hooded Merganser - 12 with a 3 to 1 majority being females Common Merganser - 35 through out Great Blue Heron - 2 flying west American Coot - only 1 found Killdeer - 16 with more heard than seen Glaucous Gull - 2 - 1 adult and 1 juvenile Iceland Gull - 2 adults Red-throated Loon - 6 on the lake off of The Flats - good looks Common Loon - 1 on the lake off of The Flats Northern Flicker - 1 calling Eastern Bluebird - 1 - a surprise - female Tree Swallow - 1 - another surprise spotted by Ed O'Conner Song Sparrow - 28 through out We also found a Woolly Bear beside the road as well as 3 Racoons and a Leopard Frog in full song :-) And to top it all off as Ian Cannell and I were driving up Hwy 404 we saw 2 flocks of Tundra Swans (38 birds) overhead at Lawrence Ave. Directions:- LESLIE STREET SPIT (TOMMY THOMPSON PARK) IN TORONTO To get to "The Spit" from Queen & Yonge Sts. Take the Queen Street Car #501 east to Leslie St. and walk south (about 2 km) or as far as you can go on Leslie St. at Unwin Ave. and you will see the gate and signage. You may also catch the Jones Bus #83 at the Donlands Subway Station or transfer to it at Queen St. and Jones Ave. and take it to Leslie St. And Commissioner St. (on Saturday only). By automobile you may drive to Lakeshore Blvd and Leslie St. then south to The Spit. You can park either on Leslie St. or Unwin Ave. You may also park in the parking lot inside the main gate after 9 am. Be sure to observe the parking lot closing time as if you are not out by then your auto will be locked in until the following day. — THE PARKING LOT AND ALL GATES WILL BE LOCKED AT 4:30PM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE:- The official hours for The Spit are 9 am to 4:30 pm (weekends and holidays only of course) but the unofficial hours are sunup to sundown. To date no one has questioned any birder, jogger, cyclist, etc. about the use of The Spit from sunup to sundown. The spit is only open on the weekends and on holidays, at other times you will not be able to access the area. This area is extensive, 7 km to the tip, but be prepared to walk more than that. The Spit is only open on the weekends and holidays because they are still building it. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON S'ils te mordent, mords les --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eliminate annoying spam! My mailbox is protected by iHateSpam, the #1-rated spam buster." http://www.ihatespam.net
