Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Anonymous on August 16, 2008, 04:14:03 PM
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Hi There. :D
Today Ian Cannell, Ed O'Conner, Naish McHugh and I birded the Leslie Street Spit and even though we only came up with 51 species of birds we did find some early migrants and some other birds of interest and maybe 1 dozen species of Butterflies ( not my specialty ), a Mink. A. Toad, Cottentails, Map and Painted Turtles, many Dragonflies and Monarchs and a nice look at a Katydid. Not at all too interesting to some but we enjoyed the beautiful day down there.
Here are some of the birds we did find - 2 Common Loons, a Green Heron, 2 Blue-winged Teal, 17 Hooded Mergansers, 2 N. Harriers and 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks flying west, a dozen or so Caspian Terns, a Black-billed Cuckoo, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird streaking west, 6 Belted Kingfishers, an Olive-sided Flycatcher catching Dragonflies, 2 Willow Flycatchers, 11 Least Flycatchers, 72 Eastern Kingbirds, 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a Nashville and Yellow-rumped Warbler and 13 Yellow Warblers along with 20 Baltimore Orioles.
As well there were many A. Goldfich and A. Robins ( adults and fledglings ), Song Sparrows, Cedar Waxwings, Red-winged Blackbirds ( in Flocks ), and we did find some Warbling Vireos, 4 Spotted Sandpipers, House Finches, Chimney Swifts, Cliff, Barn and Bank Swallows.
By next weekend the Passerine and Raptor Migration will pick up as well as the early arrival of a few wintering Waterfowl. 8)
Direcions :-
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.
If before 9 am you can park either on Leslie St. or Unwin Ave., after 9 am the parking lot inside the gate is open, be sure to note the closing time as your car will be locked in at that time.