[Ontbirds]Leslie Street Spit in Toronto Today - Grebes. etc.

[Norman Murr]

Good evening

 This morning I joined Margaret Liubavicius for a stroll on the Leslie Street Spit and stroll we did as it was a beautiful morning to be out there.

 Highlights birds were:-

Horned grebes - 6
Red-necked Grebes - 26
Both Scaup
White-winged Scoters - 47
All 3 Mergansers including 2 Hooded Mergansers 
Cooper's Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 4
Peregrine Falcon - we saw 1 but  2 were present
Horned Larks - 19 overhead
Snow Buntings
Red-winged Blackbirds - 11
Common Grackle - 4

Note:- All the Grebes and Scoters were on the lake as the bays are still frozen over thus a low Waterfowl count.

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 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 4:30 pm and there is no Van in the winter.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE:- The official hours for The Spit are 9 am to 4:30 pm (weekends and holidays only of course) but the unofficial hours are sunup to sundown. To date no one has questioned any birder, jogger, cyclist, etc. about the use of The Spit from sunup to sundown.

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. The Spit is only open on the weekends and holidays because they are still building it.

Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON

"Sils mordent, mords les"