On Saturday, 28 Sept, a group of Naturalists gathered at the base of the Leslie Spit (aka Tommy Thompson Park) for a morning of birding. The goal was to work our way out to the Bird Research Station for a demonstration of banding practices by Denise Potter, who is a volunteer at the station. Present were Joe and Berte Agg, Gene and Charlene Denzel, Winnie Kwan, Barbara Jackson, Rod Potter and Theo Hoffmann. We first scouted out the woods at the base of the spit, but things were very quiet except for some Goldfinches, a Blue Jay, and some Chickadees. More may have been lurking in the shrubbery, but were too shy for us. As we worked out way out we picked up a variety of ducks, with close views of some handsome Gadwalls. Nothing but Ring-billed Gulls were seen. We spotted a large bird perched in a tree at the edge of the water, and made our way closer, thinking it was a large raptor, but its head was tucked in and we had only an obscured back view (see picture). Finally, the bird woke up and flushed, revealing that it was in fact a Black-Crowned Night Heron.

We continued on to the constructed wetland, where a viewing blind has been built. There was a Great Egret nearby, and some more waterfowl, but no shorebirds except some distant peeps. Most of the group continued on to the banding station, which was just winding down for the day. We toured the nets, and watched as a Red-breasted Sapsucker was banded, and then released (see picture). It was also interesting to study the array of skins of different species which are on display there.