Leslie Street Spit

[AlvanBuckley]

Hi everyone,

I went in search of the Western Grebe today after work but came up empty handed.
As a consolation I did see a Short-eared Owl (!!) flying/hunting and I heard at least 2 American Woodcocks peenting. The Woodcocks were in the baselands close to the entrance to the park. The owl was near where the King Eiders have been seen (I didn't see the Eiders though).
A couple of Red-winged Blackbirds and White-winged Scoters were there as well.

good birding,
Alvan

[dbellilo]

Hi Alvan
I too was there, and didn't see any of the folks (i.e. birds) you mentioned, but did pay a visit to my favorite n. saw whet owl, considered stealing him from his tree branch but thought the better of it, and otherwise came up birdless. Still, I've yet to have a bad time at the L. Spit...
David

[mr.sharp-photo]

just wondering out loud about the etiquette re: the area to the west of the parking lot. is that area considered closed during the week? or only the area beyond the gate?

[adonbirder]

i have been to the west on weekdays, never have had a prob, the wet woods are good for american woodcock, rusty blackbird and warblers in next couple months

[DaveD]

Wow, I've been hoping to spot a short eared but I have not!

Was it out in the open?

[AlvanBuckley]

I was biking down the road along Pipit Point when I the mud became to thick for my tires. So I put down my bike and just as I was doing that the owl flew past me within 5 meters. It continued flying out towards the point and at one point it seemed as though it had found something and hovered for a while.

So, yes, it was out in the open! I doubt it will be easy to find the bird while it is roosting so I felt that there wouldn't be any harm in sharing this sighting.

Good luck if you go for it (and the Grebe)!

[mr.sharp-photo]

i have been to the west on weekdays, never have had a prob, the wet woods are good for american woodcock, rusty blackbird and warblers in next couple months

that's why i want to go

[AlvanBuckley]

Woodcocks and Rusty's can be fun too! Rusty Blackbirds are getting more and more uncommon over the years so you should enjoy them while you can
We'll have to wait until early April for the first Warblers to start moving through Who isn't excited!!!

[AlvanBuckley]

Many more birders at the spit today than usual, which is good.
There wasn't too much excitement besides the Kind Eiders (although I didn't see the adult male) but never a dull day when you're out birding!

I did see 22 species of waterfowl. Here's my eBird list from the day:

Canada Goose     12
Mute Swan     20
Wood Duck     2
Gadwall     75
American Wigeon     18
American Black Duck     20
Mallard     40
Northern Pintail     1
Green-winged Teal (American)     2
Canvasback     2
Redhead     10
Ring-necked Duck     1
Greater Scaup     70
Lesser Scaup     4
King Eider 2
White-winged Scoter     8
Long-tailed Duck     250
Bufflehead     60
Common Goldeneye     30
Hooded Merganser     20
Common Merganser     40
Red-breasted Merganser     40

Horned Grebe     6
Red-necked Grebe     12

Double-crested Cormorant     30

American Kestrel     1

Killdeer     11

Ring-billed Gull     2000
Herring Gull     50

Downy Woodpecker     2
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     1

Northern Shrike     1

Black-capped Chickadee     5

American Robin     80

European Starling     40

American Tree Sparrow     9
Song Sparrow     20

Red-winged Blackbird     100
Brown-headed Cowbird     3

Common Redpoll     20

[dbellilo]

Good Lord!
Has anyone seen the adult king eider? Any pictures? What a rarity for these parts!
David

[AlvanBuckley]

I was talking to someone else as I was leaving the park. He said he saw it where it was originally found. So there's a good chance it will be there tomorrow!

[feathered]

Great waterfowl list! I've seen the two eiders that were around before but I'd love to see the breeding male, wow! I hope he's around tomorrow.

[dbellilo]

O boy o boy!

[AlvanBuckley]

To add to yesterdays list.
I saw 1 Trumpeter Swan and 6 American Coots. Meaning we had 23 species of waterfowl at the spit plus the coot and 3 Grebe species (someone else mentioned seeing a Pied-billed). That's just as many as were seen on the Presqu'ile Waterfowl weekend earlier this month.

The adult male King Eider was seen by many this afternoon. A few of us had to chase it as it flew from one side of the cell to the other, but it was worth it!

Good birding,
Alvan

[mr.sharp-photo]

i didn't see the eider tonight, but i likely would have needed binoculars to see it (water foul wasn't close to the shore).

did get surprised by the shrike. i biked by it twice, thinking it was a robin (it was in the sun)