Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Andreas Jonsson on April 24, 2010, 09:59:37 PM

Title: Leslie Street Spit Saturday 24 April
Post by: Andreas Jonsson on April 24, 2010, 09:59:37 PM

I spent the better part of the day on the Spit today. Starting at sunrise at the lighthouse, then moving on to the bird banding station and finishing off at the Baselands near the parking lot.

Before sunrise I heard five Am. Woodcocks along the way out to the lighthouse (two individuals just at he parking lot).

I had hoped for some influx of migrating songbirds at the lighthouse and possible some ducks migrating east, but was disappointed on these accounts. While there were plenty of Common loons flying by, and some Red-breasted mergansers on their way east, that was pretty much it (except for the local Long-tailed ducks and Cormorants flying all over the place).

For songbirds, I actually noted more birds leaving than arriving, e.g. an early Barn swallow and a flock of Am. goldfinches took height and headed south. A Blue jay and a mixed flock of Brown-headed cowbirds and Red-winged blackbirds made several attempts to take off south, but changed their minds and the last moment every time. I'm thinking that Pipit point may be a better spot for east-west migrating ducks?

Also see seen at the lighthouse in the early morning hours: Four kinds of swallows (Tree, Rough-winged, Barn, Bank), Red-necked grebe, Gadwall, Lesser scaup, and a White-winged scooter and an adult Iceland gull heading east.

At the banding station, the friendly bander and volunteers let many visitors have close-up looks at a Field sparrow, a Brown thrasher and several Hermit thrushes.

In the wetland across form the birding station there were: a couple of Canvasbacks, two Greater yellowlegs, Common terns, and a Brown thrasher.

At the Baselands, there were plenty of Hermit thrushes, White-throated sparrows, Dark-eyed juncos and Yellow-rumped warblers. Also a single Palm warbler, a N. mockingbird and three Swamp sparrows.

Also reported seen by other birders during the day: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Fox sparrow, Caspian terns.

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Post by: Rob'in'To on April 25, 2010, 10:12:14 AM

Holy!  What a day for you!