Hello Birders,
I was able to bird the Leslie Street Spit on a "non-weekend" today, but if any of you get out on the weekend, there are some great winter birds for you Winter Listers. The best of these was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW on the third peninsula (from the entrance) on the west side of the park. It was with a flock of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS which also contained SWAMP SPARROWS and a SONG SPARROW. The birds were feeding on Alder seeds. Right at the base of the spit were two AMERICAN PIPITS. Near the first peninsula on the west was a very "cold-shocked" NORTHERN FLICKER. It looked like it was going through a bit of stress, so please do not disturb it if you do look for it. Among the more common ducks near the footbridge were several RUDDY DUCKS and a pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS. There were three RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS near the lighthouse. COMMON REDPOLLS were out and about in singles or pairs. Not much large numbers yet. Hopefully these goodies will stick around 'till the weekend! Directions: To get to "The Spit" from Queen & Yonge Sts. Take the Queen Street Car #501 east to Leslie St. and walk south (about 2 km) or as far as you can go on Leslie St. at Unwin Ave. and you will see the gate and signage. You may also catch the Jones Bus #83 at the Donlands Subway Station or transfer to it at Queen St. and Jones Ave. and take it to Leslie St. And Commissioner St. (on Saturday only). By automobile you may drive to Lakeshore Blvd and Leslie St. then south to The Spit. You can park either on Leslie St. or Unwin Ave. You may also park in the parking lot inside the main gate after 9 am. Be sure to observe the parking lot closing time as if you are not out by then your auto will be locked in until the following day. — THE PARKING LOT AND ALL GATES WILL BE LOCKED AT 4:30PM Good Birding! Lev Frid _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
