Leslie Spit April 18

[mr.sharp-photo]

Really nice day out, yet...the Spit was incredibly quiet.
Did not see one kinglet.
If you like swallows, cormorants, gulls, Canada geese, robins and red-winged blackbirds, the Spit was perfect.
the only neat surprise was the abundance/high activity of the flickers. There were 2 to 4 flickers at the Spit. they were really loud and you could hear/see them within a 10 minute walk of the main gates.
Also saw a hermit thrush and some unknown bird of prey.
Even the creeper activity was quieter than previous weeks (i only saw one).
The area near the birding station was dead silent. Didn't even see the volunteers hard at work.
There were some long-tailed ducks not far from the shoreline swimming around the yacht club.

The other bright spot: a lone tern was heard and seen circling on the western nesting area.

The sad spot: zero nesting black-crowned night herons this year. I wonder what kind of impact that will have on the Toronto numbers.

[JenAbe]

I have been to the spit these past two weekends and have not seen a black crowned night Heron - though I saw a great blue in flight. I was wondering if maybe I was looking in the wrong place...are they usually around at this time of year on the spit?

I did see a Caspian Tern, and finally spotted a Killdeer (which I had previously only just heard)

I think the coyotes have been active, because I did find the fresh remains of a Swan (and a half eaten beaver, and rotting cat carcass) during my walk. Blech...

Still have not seen a kestrel or any bird of prey - beginning to think I am going at the wrong time of day. Heading to Col Sam on Saturday for the bird walk this Sat so maybe I will get lucky there.

[Bluffs Birder]

In the springtime, the birds are migrating northward and they do not stay in Toronto for very long.  They just stop long enough for a quick rest and a bite to eat as they're in a hurry to get to their nesting grounds up north.

What was seen at the Spit, nest there.  The others that weren't there have more than likely moved on already.  The remaining Long-tails will be gone soon too.  The Black-crowned Night-Herons have not arrived yet, except for one or two early birds.

Walter  

[mr.sharp-photo]

walter,
last year (and basing it on one year is not a good thing to do, but its all i got) the BCNH were nesting on March 31. Not sure if that's abnormally early.
this year, the cormorants are nesting where the BCNH were nesting last year. so i don't expect to see much of anything.

i wonder what will happen to the peninsula closer inland (where the birding station is) once the cormorants move south?

[Bluffs Birder]

Hi Richard (yogi),

Just wondering if you got your date from last year mixed up?  This report (with great photos) of yours is from last May.

Black crowned night heron-fest at Leslie Spit

Walter