Saw-whets and Long Ears, Leslie Spit

[angieinto]

Didn't get any good ones?! They're gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

[danh]

Those are beautiful pictures!

The guy at the entrance to the Spit said this morning that he never lets anybody (I asked about birders in particular) through, and it's been that way for at least 9 years.  He said he was on duty yesterday and no birders came through.  Do some people have clearance of some kind?

Also, because obviously this is a sensitive issue, I want to clarify that I was looking for owls, however I have no need or urge to disturb them, and wasn't even carrying a camera (only binoculars with which I admire from a distance).  I am new to birding in Ontario, but I've been birding in other parts of the world, and have been involved in bird conservation through official groups as a university student and field assistant.  I have not, and will not, be involved in any activities that harm wildlife.

Dan

[DaveD]

Its open to the public on the weekends.

Tons of bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, etc...

http://www.friendsofthespit.ca/spit_about.htm

[DarylG]

The spit is closed to the public during the week as it may be busy with vehicles dropping off fill.  So can be dangerous to be roaming around the roads.  It is open on weekends and most holidays.

Daryl

[DaveD]

I forgot to mention that I also found a Shrike during my Spit visit.

That was my first visit to the Spit (that I bothered to look for birds).

4 owls and a Shrike in less than an hour.

Is it always that productive?

I may head back on Sat!

[Bluffs Birder]

Are the Baselands/Wet Woods accessible at all during the week or are they off limits too?  Can the woods be entered from the road to the Yacht Club...away from the dump truck traffic?

Walter

[Lev]

Not blaming anybody, but today I was on the Spit and it was crawling with groups of photographers. There were only two owls, one of which was a Saw-whet which I found in a "non-typical" spot, and the bird was clearly under severe stress - it was breathing very hard, twisting its head around and rocking back and forth, with the mouth open and wings drooping. It had almost certainly been flushed. Some people I observed were shaking the conifers and speaking very loudly.

Many I talked to referred to this site as their source of info. Perhaps something to think about.

That being said, the other bird was a Long-eared which was hidden in a tangle and many enjoyed it. It stayed fairly calm most of the time.

Lev.

[mr.sharp-photo]

I have edited the post, but if the idea of this site is to post your sightings so that others, with interest, can go and find the bird, why not give them the best possible odds of success?

These spots are also where they were, but are not likely where they are (more than 24hrs later). Plus, everyone knows the Spit has owls. I've never looked for them in the ten years I've lived within a few km of the Spit, despite having a 40 yr history of birding, and it took me less 30 minutes to find 4 of them. I've spent longer trying to find the milk at Loblaws!

Seriously, its never my intention to risk the birds in anyway; just trying to help folks have more success and enjoy birding more. I thought that posting that info on this site was appropriate. I've removed it.

i was at the Spit today.
i saw the guy who claims he saw 10 owls last week. he also did two amazing things today:

1. he scared off two LEOs that another photographer had patiently tracked and was shooting. this gentleman takes his bike through the side trails and makes a lot of noise.
2. he refuses to disclose any locations to anyone, but will follow around other birders to see what they're looking at.

the Spit's pretty simple: there are a finite # of areas where you'll see the NSWO and LEOs. if you get there late, like i did, you'll have a person or people who will end up scaring the LEOs into seclusion. and once one person sees a NSWO, everyone sees it.  so i kind of feel like there aren't any secrets at the Spit. if you have enough energy to make the walk (i was out for 4 hrs today) and can stand the cold or wind, then you'll likely see what everyone else saw.

today, i saw some redpolls. also saw the peregrine falcon chase away the GHO. that was pretty cool

[mr.sharp-photo]

Not blaming anybody, but today I was on the Spit and it was crawling with groups of photographers. There were only two owls, one of which was a Saw-whet which I found in a "non-typical" spot, and the bird was clearly under severe stress - it was breathing very hard, twisting its head around and rocking back and forth, with the mouth open and wings drooping. It had almost certainly been flushed. Some people I observed were shaking the conifers and speaking very loudly.

Many I talked to referred to this site as their source of info. Perhaps something to think about.

That being said, the other bird was a Long-eared which was hidden in a tangle and many enjoyed it. It stayed fairly calm most of the time.

Lev.

Lev, not sure if i saw you today, but i saw a few things:

1. a group of 20 young people. they looked like they were on some type of organized tour
2. some photographers. the ones i spoke to saw the LEOs, got their photos and left
3. two idiots walking around the wooded area, screaming to one another "hey Ray/Roy, you see anything yet?"
4. the gent on the bike that i mentioned in the previous post (a birder, not a photographer)
5. the people who were there to count the water foul. they told me about the apparently-stressed NSWO. i also showed them the NSWO that i saw and we all observed it from a respectable distance.

as a "photographer", which, in my opinion, is just another word for a birder with an expensive camera, i'm tired of seeing people acting in a disrespectful manner. that's why i am happy to disclose information to those on this site who i've met and trust.

since it appears as if this site is not moderated and there aren't any rules about what to post, what can we do? people will be stupid regardless of what's posted on here. this site also lets people like me go and see birds that I normally won't see, and i'm grateful for detailed posts. its a double-edged sword...

[Rob'in'To]

This subject unfortunately will never end.   :cry:

[angieinto]

I  think a lot of people need to read the code of birding ethics, because it seems to me that this isn't being followed a lot of the time, and that saddens me.

The post about the NSWO broke my heart and made me angry, it only takes a few selfish individuals to really mess things up.

I personally think that digital photography has been more of a hindrance to birders and the birds themselves. I wonder if the people running around the parks scaring the owls would bother going for a walk to see what they could see if they didn't have a camera.  Something to think about. I know this statement does not apply to everyone who takes pictures of the birds.

If I saw someone "shaking a tree" or "baiting a bird", I would say something. I'd rather ruin a person's perfect shot then risk the bird coming to harm because of stupidity.

If people are so hell bent on getting a good picture of an owl, then go to places to places like Mountsberg Conservation Area. They have different species of owls there, and for a fee you can have a private photo shoot with owls that you know you aren't putting in harms way, because they already had to deal with human stupidity and that's why most of them are there in the first place! GRRRR......this topic makes my blood boil.      

The never ending saga of the owls continue.

[DaveD]

Not blaming anybody, but today I was on the Spit and it was crawling with groups of photographers........... Some people I observed were shaking the conifers and speaking very loudly.

Lev.

Shaking the trees and all you did was observe them? Did you not say anything?

I was also at the spit today (late aft) and found 2 owls somewhere between where I parked my car and the water. I guess I was there after the mayhem, because I was alone and saw only two other people with cameras or binoculars. The SW was quite cozy and comfortable. I suspect that many found this beautiful female as she was in an easy location. I also spotted a flying LEO and found him up in a birch shortly after. He was skittish and I could not, but did not really try, to get close. Long after I moved on I saw him in the air again; I guess he wanted to fly around some more. He wasnt flushed.