Leslie Street Spit Owls Toronto
February 24th, 2008 by Rob McKay
Ann & I met at 1:30 today to finally hike the Leslie Spit and photograph some owls! it was a gorgeous day, not a cloud in the sky and unlike other outings we both came back with sun tans instead of wind burn.
About 100 yards into our Spit walk we found a very cooperative and well lit American Kestrel, a sign of good things to come.
After talking to other friendly birders & photographers on owl locations we found our first bird (thanks people!), a Saw-whet Owl sitting low in a evergreen tree about 6′ off the ground. Unfazed by our appearance this little owl calmly snoozed the afternoon away while we snapped photos. The owl was back lit by the sun so it was a tough shoot, we didn’t stay long and left the bird to sleep the afternoon away. What an amazing little owl, these Saw-whet owls are even more stunning up close and in person.
Saw-whet Owl up close
We hiked another two kilometers or so and found the Barred Owl, but unlike the Saw-whet Owl, this Barred owl was well lit by the afternoon sun.
Barred Owl
A few more photos of the Barred Owl
On the way back we found another Saw-whet Owl, but he was about 50′ up a birch tree so we moved on. We hiked about 12 kilometers or more in total, but the trip was well worth it.
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6 Responses to “Leslie Street Spit Owls Toronto”
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How sweet! I only snapped a few shots of sparrows and starlings.
These are awesome! I love the close-ups. Btw thanks Ann for the directions to Thickson’s Woods, I did manage to get there on Sunday, and saw a few raptors in the meadow, but was too far for my reach. Despite all that, it was a great place to hike. Again these are great pics! I gotta get out there once conditions are right, I’m only 5 mins away, litterally.
Rob: It was a great outing. I am still feeling the aches and pains of the 12 km hike. Well worth it. I still cannot believe how friendly and helpful everyone was on the spit and how they helped us find the owls. It was fantastic. Your shots are amazing. Thanks again for suggesting we go. Ann
Incredible as per usual… the Saw-whet photos in particular are absolutely remarkable.
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I’ll second that; btw Rob, how close were you to the saw-whet? As for friendly and helpful people I must say that this is my first year of serious(?) birding and I couldn’t agree more! I’m still thankful to the photographer on the bike who stopped to direct my son and I to the barred owl just as we were about to give up and return empty handed on that bitter cold day back in January.
Thanks everyone!
Howie, the little saw-whet was bout 5′ up in a small pine tree, he was back lit (too bad!). I used the Nikon 300mm f/4 and it focuses as close as 5′, I had to step back because we where too close.
Thanks again!
Rob