Dear Ontbirders:
More than 40 participants joined together to tally 71 species during
the OFO walk today (May 29) at Toronto's Leslie Street Spit.
Highlights included 12 species of warbler, most notable a male mourning
warbler, all seen in the "wet" woods at the Baselands; a red knot in
basic plumage seen at the Cell One shorebird habitat (the habitat was
otherwise quite unproductive); and male and female canvasback at the
triangle pond (female was on a nest). Willow flycatchers were on
territory throughout the park, and an early american goldfinch nesting
was observed in the "wet" woods.
Note that the current Lake Ontario Park planning exercise puts the
Baselands, including the "wet" woods, in great jeopardy, as development
and a Parks Canada "discovery centre" are being seriously considered
(to the extent that soil studies have been conducted!).
The Spit is Metro Toronto's best birding spot, and is located at the
foot of Leslie Street where it meets Unwin Avenue. The Baselands border
Unwin Avenue; the Cell One habitat is South on the Spit peninsula, and
the triangle pond is further south again, south of the bailey bridge.
The Spit is currently open on weekends only, with no admission charge.
Good birding,
John Carley, hike leader, and
co-chair, Friends of the Spit
