Good day This was one of those days that it was great to be out. Very little wind and mild compared to what it could have been.
Ian Cannell and I started out heading for Cobourg and we arrived at the end of the pier at 7:25 am and had to wait a long agonizing 5 minutes before we spied the Gannet flying towards us just before it made a quick stop and dove into the water. We observed this bird from 7:30 am to 8:00 am as it some times flew as close as a couple hundred yards away, dove and at times just sat on the water. For the first time I was able to observe one in calm water and after each dive it popped to the surface just like a cork, very amusing. We also spotted several Common Loons offshore as well as 4 Bonaparte's Gulls and thousands of Red-breasted Mergansers tooing and froing. The harbour itself had many Common Mergansers. We then headed back to Toronto and the Leslie Street Spit and another good move that was and following are a few of the high lights. Red-throated Loon, Common Loons and a close in your face Pacific Loon at 4:35 pm ( great end to a great day ) in the Yacht Club Bay, just past the second gate, Many Waterfowl including all 3 Mergansers ( 150+ Hooded Mergansers calling and displaying ), 18 Ring-necked Ducks, many Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Greater Scaup, Redheads plus A. Wigeons, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 2 N. Harriers and at the Lighthouse a mixed flock of Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs flew in from the lake. There were surprisingly few Passerines on The Spit today, at least we came up with few. Another good day to be out there and as always with good company. Directions: Cobourg Harbour per Clive Goodwin. Directions: Exit #401 at the eastern Cobourg exit [#474] and turn south off the exit ramp. This is Division Street. Continue south through town and Division ends in the main pier of the harbour, with excellent views of the area. LESLIE STREET SPIT (TOMMY THOMPSON PARK) IN TORONTO To get to "The Spit" from Queen and Yonge Streets. 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 4:30 pm and there is no Van in the winter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 "Sils mordent, mords les" _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
