Leslie Street Spit Saturday April 19

[jjmb]

A beautiful day for a walk! Got there around 6:30 and enjoyed a lovely sunrise, serenaded by hundreds and hundreds of robins and RWBB. Not a lot to report for this morning, except for the 4 Egret nests I saw in amongst the cormorants. Some of the BCNH are back too, but not the full contingent yet. 4 Canvasbacks were on Triangle Pond, and another 8 were on the main pond. Saw a beautiful loon, 20 or so Hermit thrushes, Ruby and Golden Crowned kinglets, and tree swallows on every nest box!

Flickers were out, and saw a red tail hawk sitting on a lamp post. Saw the usual ducks, including an A Wigeon. And the terns and gulls were very noisy. (oops - got slightly distracted as a hawk just flew by my window). Also white throated sparrows, and juncos. And of course, the ever present kestrels.

Also noted many turtles, muskrat, raccoons and rabbits.

[jjmb]

Forgot to mention the beautifully bright goldfinch and the yellow rumped warblers.

And of course the usual neighbourhood birds.

[ichiro17]

Unfortunately missed the red-tail - heard rumours of a Virginia Rail but never actually saw one.  Also heard rumours of a merlin.

Also saw:

Hoary woodpecker
American Kestrel
Numerous painted turtles

[adonbirder]

Rumor of a merlin must be the one i saw at the base of the spit in the wet woods
Never saw the Virginia rail but looked all through by where they band the birds. Also can add Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Red-bellied woodpecker banded in the net and Brown thrasher.
Next Sunday the 27th there will be a TOC sponsored walk at the Leslie Spit meeting at 8am ,always alot of fun and many birds seen.
Andrew