Leslie St. Spit, April 21

[Dr. John]

We took a short walk out on to the Spit, partly with the intention of doing some garbage clean-up for Community Clean-Up Day. We didn't search hard, but saw lots of nice stuff in the late morning:

red-winged blackbirds
cowbirds
brown creepers
ruby crowned kinglets
common grackles
fox sparrows
song sparrows
tree swallows
barn swallows
double-crested cormorants
common terns
Caspian terns
mallards
long-tailed ducks
buffleheads
gadwalls
common mergansers
mute swans
Canada geese
American woodcock
American kestrel
mourning doves
slate coloured juncos
American robins

Also a mourning cloak and a muskrat.

-John

[jjmb]

I was there the same day, so I'll add a few to Dr. John's list:
Golden crowned kinglets (lots)
A wren, but it moved so quick I couldn't see what it was
Flickers (lots)
1 yellow rumped warbler
1 Kingfisher
American wigeons
1 American coot
Black scoters (lots)
Hermit thrushes (lots)
Scaups
Canvasbacks
Killdeer
Red necked grebes
Black crowned night herons
Redhead
Hooded Merganser
Eastern Phoebe

I probably forgot a couple too! What a beautiful day. And wildlife that made an appearance: lots of rabbits, a coyote, a raccoon, snakes, lots of turtles sunning themselves. Not bad for 3 1/2 hours!

[focusgroupimages]

What time of the day is recommended for the best viewing on the Spit?
Thanks.

[Kin Lau]

Considering that the Spit is only open on weekends & holidays and it's about 7KM to the tip, "as early as possible" is a good answer.

At this time of the year, a bicycle helps you get around much quicker. I believe the shuttle bus will start up again with the May long weekend.

[Andrew Don]

There is a TOC sponsored walk at 8am this Saturday the 28th at the spit ,we meet at the base, the leader Hugh is a very knowledgable birder

[focusgroupimages]

Thanks for the tips and info.  Can't make it this time, but hopefully another day.

[Walter Sobchak]

What is TOC? and how long does the walk take?

[Andrew Don]

TOC=Toronto ornithological club and the walk can take as long as you like but is usually finished by early afternoon but people just leave when they want, we usually start with lot more than finish the walk
You can find the club under birding links at the top of this webpage