Hello birders: After finishing the OFO Young Birders Birdathon, Bill Gilmour and I visited Owen Point a second time to experience today's massive shorebird phenomenon.
The number of visible Dunlin had substantially increased from early in the morning. There were easily anywhere from 10 to 15 000 Dunlin scattered from the north end of the beach (including outside the park boundary and onto the rocky shoreline) up to Owen Point, on all shoals between Owen Point and Gull Island, on Gull Island itself and distantly on High Bluff Island. The birds were generally less active than in the morning, but this changed when a Peregrine Falcon arrived and made several unsuccessful attacks. The birds slowly worked their way back to Owen Point, but congregated more on Gull Island post-Peregrine. Other shorebirds present were the following: -17 Whimbrels (roosting on the tip of Owen Point) -2 Sanderlings (full breeding and partial breeding plumage) -200+ Semi. Sandpipers -25-30 Semi. Plovers -1 Least Sandpiper -1 Black-bellied Plover -2 Spotted Sandpipers -2 Killdeers It was an event to remember at the ocean-like wild and windy tip of Owen Point. Presqu'ile is well-signed south off Highway 401 exit 509. The quickest way to Owen Point is the "back way", which is accessed by parking at the Park Store and walking the roadway south to the beach before picking up part of the Owen Point Trail. Ian Shanahan and Bill Gilmour _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
