Join us alongside birdwatching guide Pedro Hernandez from Outdoor Commute for an Introduction to Birdwatching Workshop at Toronto’s unique urban wilderness, Tommy Thompson Park (The Leslie Spit).

This slow-paced walk is designed for beginners and anyone curious about the birds that share our city. Together, we’ll learn how to identify both local and migratory species, practice using binoculars, and explore field guides and apps, all while deepening our appreciation for the natural world around us.

What we might see:

October is peak fall migration season, and Tommy Thompson Park is one of the best birding spots right in the city. Depending on conditions, we might encounter warblers, sparrows, thrushes, and waterfowl such as northern shovelers and gadwalls, along with year-round residents like red-tailed hawks, black-capped chickadees, and northern cardinals.

We'll meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion to find Pedro, get binoculars and get birding.

08:20 - 09:00: Meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion for welcome and introductions

09:00 - 12:00: Hike and find birds

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It's looking like it could be wet on Sunday so make sure you're dressed for the rain!

Packing list

• Layered clothing (wicking base layer, warm mid layer, down jacket, wind/waterproof shell, other layers according to cold). Check out this explainer
• Ticks are in the area - long sleeves and pants will give you additional protection
• Hiking boots or trail shoes
• Rain jacket
• 1 litre of water
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Spare socks
• A bag to pack out garbage

‍

A pair of Nocs binoculars, loaned for the day.

The park is effectively built on landfill so you should be very cautious around the shore where there's glass, rebar and jagged rocks. Stay on marked paths and off the rocks. Trainers are not suitable for this hike - a hiking boot with a proper sole will keep you safe.

We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. You can use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas.

Toronto has a particularly long and varied indigenous history, groups who maintain connections to the land include:

1. The Anishinaabe: This includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Algonquin peoples. They have lived in the region for centuries and continue to have a presence in the area.
2. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy: This includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations. They have historical connections to the land around Toronto.
3. The Huron-Wendat: They were once the primary inhabitants of the Toronto area before being displaced by European colonization and other Indigenous groups. The Huron-Wendat nation now resides in Wendake, Quebec, but maintains a historical connection to Toronto.
4. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: This is a Mississauga Ojibwe First Nation located near Brantford, Ontario. They have treaty rights and historical connections to the land that is now the city of Toronto.
5. The Métis: The Métis people, who are of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, also have connections to the region.

Join us alongside birdwatching guide Pedro Hernandez from Outdoor Commute for an Introduction to Birdwatching Workshop at Toronto’s unique urban wilderness, Tommy Thompson Park (The Leslie Spit).

This slow-paced walk is designed for beginners and anyone curious about the birds that share our city. Together, we’ll learn how to identify both local and migratory species, practice using binoculars, and explore field guides and apps, all while deepening our appreciation for the natural world around us.

What we might see:

October is peak fall migration season, and Tommy Thompson Park is one of the best birding spots right in the city. Depending on conditions, we might encounter warblers, sparrows, thrushes, and waterfowl such as northern shovelers and gadwalls, along with year-round residents like red-tailed hawks, black-capped chickadees, and northern cardinals.

We'll meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion to find Pedro, get binoculars and get birding.

08:20 - 09:00: Meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion for welcome and introductions

09:00 - 12:00: Hike and find birds

‍

It's looking like it could be wet on Sunday so make sure you're dressed for the rain!

Packing list

• Layered clothing (wicking base layer, warm mid layer, down jacket, wind/waterproof shell, other layers according to cold). Check out this explainer
• Ticks are in the area - long sleeves and pants will give you additional protection
• Hiking boots or trail shoes
• Rain jacket
• 1 litre of water
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Spare socks
• A bag to pack out garbage

‍

A pair of Nocs binoculars, loaned for the day.

The park is effectively built on landfill so you should be very cautious around the shore where there's glass, rebar and jagged rocks. Stay on marked paths and off the rocks. Trainers are not suitable for this hike - a hiking boot with a proper sole will keep you safe.

We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. You can use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas.

Toronto has a particularly long and varied indigenous history, groups who maintain connections to the land include:

1. The Anishinaabe: This includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Algonquin peoples. They have lived in the region for centuries and continue to have a presence in the area.
2. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy: This includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations. They have historical connections to the land around Toronto.
3. The Huron-Wendat: They were once the primary inhabitants of the Toronto area before being displaced by European colonization and other Indigenous groups. The Huron-Wendat nation now resides in Wendake, Quebec, but maintains a historical connection to Toronto.
4. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: This is a Mississauga Ojibwe First Nation located near Brantford, Ontario. They have treaty rights and historical connections to the land that is now the city of Toronto.
5. The Métis: The Métis people, who are of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, also have connections to the region.