All, As Barb Charlton commented, yesterday will go down as one of the best “sea watch” days ever if not the best at VWB.
Black-legged Kittiwake (88): beats the old record; on 5 November 1983 during an easterly gale several birders including Ian Jones, Ron Ridout and Don Sutherland counted at least 57 and possibly as many as 83. Lesser Black-backed Gull (5): Old record at least up to the time of publishing of Birds of Hamilton was 3. Pomarine Jaeger: There have been several instances of higher numbers but for me personally the two full adults in the surf line just beyond .the beach, one with exceptionally long, twisted central rectrices was my best ever sighting of this species in Ontario. Wilson’s Storm-Petrel: Our only previous record was of one seen 22 September 2003 by Dan Salisbury and Alan Wormington three days after Hurricane Isabel. This individual or another was found dead on the beach on 27 September. Leach’s Storm-Petrel: A new bird for the Hamilton Study Area and one of very few records for Ontario. What a day! Bob Curry _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
