Today I joined Ed O’Conner for a stroll on The Spit and though it was very quiet we did find a few nice birds. It was almost oven like down there :>)).
The Red-throated Loon along with 6 Horned Grebes were on the lake off Pipit Point and as Ed and I stopped to talk on our way off The Spit (along The Causeway) we observed a loon coming along (from east to west) over the lake about 150 yards out and just above eye level and we brought our binoculars up and had great looks as it passed. I had a good look at the nice chin strap on this nice wintered plumaged adult bird. I did jokingly mention that there was no problem finding these uncommon loons but we couldn’t come up with a Common Loon. We did have another nice surprise thanks to Ed. As we stood on the road (very icy and very treacherous) onto Peninsula D talking to Margaret Liubavicius Ed drew our attention to an Opossum crossing the road. A first on The Spit for all 3 of us. As I said, it’s very quiet down there. Only 1 passerine all day, a lonely Chickadee. A note to those that record these things – The Ring-billed Gulls that are usually present in very large numbers on the nesting areas after mid February have not made an appearance yet and also the only large amount of open water is the lake. DIRECTIONS - LESLIE STREET SPIT (TOMMY THOMPSON PARK) IN TORONTO To get to "The Spit" from Queen and Yonge Streets. 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 and take it to Leslie St. and Eastern Ave. ( Saturday and Sunday as well as week days ). By automobile you may drive to Lakeshore Blvd and Leslie St. then south to The Spit. Note:- Due to massive construction on Leslie Street south of Eastern Avenue the Jones bus is not able to drive down to Commissioner St. But is short turned for the next couple of years. If before 9 a.m. you can park either on Leslie St. or Unwin Ave., after 9 a.m. the parking lot inside the gate is open, be sure to note the closing time as your car will be locked in at that time. – 6 p.m. at present. If you have access to PDF then I can send a Spit map if you contact me in private. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pipit Point is the extreme left hand (southwest) point. When walking out towards the lighthouse you will come to a road going off to the left (at the Quonset hut or tin shed). Follow this road along the outer arm as far as it goes and at the T junction where the paved road goes off to the right continue straight onto the dirt road and you will end up on Pipit Point. NOTE:- This is a dead end road and also you are not allowed onto it during nesting season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE:- The official hours for The Spit are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (weekends and holidays only of course) but the unofficial hours are sunup to sundown on Saturday, Sunday or a holiday. To date no one has questioned any birder, jogger, cyclist, etc. about the use of The Spit from sunup to sundown on a Saturday, a Sunday or a holiday. The spit is only open on the weekends and on holidays, at other times you will not be able to access the area. This area is extensive, 7 km to the tip, but be prepared to walk more than that. There is a van available after 9 a.m. from Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving Day weekend that will take you out or back. The Spit is only open on the weekends and holidays because they are still building it. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
