There was a very confiding Purple Sandpiper at Hamilton's Van Wagerns Beach today (Nov. 12). It was pointed out to me and a number of others by another birder (thanks M.J.!) at around 12:30 p.m. on the beach on the right side of a small rock groyne about 100 m east of the Lakeland Community Centre. Apparently the bird was first found about 45 minutes earlier on another rock groyne in front of Hutch's Restaurant a bit to the east by a few others.
At around 11:00 a.m. we had an adult Little Gull fly past the beach towards the west. Also seen during the moring were two very distant jaegers, about 7 Red-throated Loons, a flock of 28 Snow Buntings and thousands of the usual waterfowl, mostly Long-tailed Ducks. Directions : To reach Van Wagners Beach, take the Centennial Parkway exit from the QEW in east Hamilton and proceed north to the North Service Rd., turn left and continue west as it turns into Van Wagners Road. The Lakeland Centre Tower is one to two hundred metres west of Hutch's Restaurant. Rob Dobos [EMAIL PROTECTED]
