King eiders, snowy owl at Leslie Street Spit, Saturday 9 Jan

[Andreas Jonsson]

This afternoon I went on a bike ride out to the lighthouse on Leslie street Spit. It was cold and windy, and I saw only a single passerine, a Chickadee. However I was rewarded by beautiful views of a Rough-legged hawk and a soaring Snowy owl. At the very peak of the peninsula there were three King eiders fishing for mussels, two female and and one male. There were also plenty of the usual waterfowl, including many White-winged scooters.

I spoke to a fellow birder who reported seeing two goshawks and a great horned owl as well.

Below are a few photos of the eiders. No photo of the male unfortunately, cause by the time I found it, the front lens was covered by ice.

[josullivan]

I am interested to read that you biked out the Spit last weekend.
I am wondering what are the roads like for biking---are they slippery, snow-covered or well-maintained.?  I have a mountain bike and have been missing the birding out there recently because of the cold and snow. I usually bike out to near the lighthouse and then park somewhere and start birding on foot.

Regards
Brendan O'Sullivan

[Andreas Jonsson]

At the time, the roads were mostly clear. Snow covered in part, but definitely "bikeable". However, now I am not sure, there came a lot of snow last weekend (after my excursion). Generally they keep the roads open, it is an actively used dump ground for old building material after all.