Shorebirding at Rock Point Provincial Park was better than expected on Thursday afternoon. Highlight was a gorgeous WHIMBREL off the northwest end of the park swimming beach. I could see it in the scope from 1 km away at the "rock point" and could tell from size and long slim shape it was a Whimbrel. Several hours later I got to that end of the park and found it northwest of the last day use area. Other highlights included a LONG-TAILED DUCK relaxing on the rocks at the point, and two breeding-plumaged STILT SANDPIPER farther east. One was missing its right-side stilt, but was hopping about just fine. Also: KILLDEER many SPOTTED SANDPIPER many LESSER YELLOWLEGS ~20-30 SANDERLING 2-4 LEAST SANDPIPER ~30-40 S-P SANDPIPER ~10 S-B DOWITCHER 1 A calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo and 6 flyby Bonaparte's Gull were other highlights. Lots of activity everywhere! Just north of the park at the Mosaic ponds visible from Rymer Rd were more Lesser Yellowlegs, the first two GREATER YELLOWLEGS of the day, and two more S-B DOWITCHER. Plenty of algae is washed up everywhere. Fort Erie shoreline rocks look good but I didn't spend a lot of time there as it was late in the day. Dave W. Buffalo, NY _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
