The good birds keep pouring in (arctic birds and tropicals).
While looking for Western Grebes off the east peninsula with my 30x
scope I had a group of 6 winter-plumage Red Phalaropes were seen about
400 off-shore heading east about 40 feet above the surface. I
estimated they were about 200 meters from my observation point. They
all had plain grey backs with black outer coverts and on the longer
three primaries; the underwings very pale except for gray edging on
the primaries and secondaries. I do not know when the brown juvenile
plumage changes to the gray plumage of adults (Sibley shows the
brownish juvenile plumage only to October). The time for phalaropes
was 1:46 am. The Cave Swallows flew by also heading east but closer
in to shore, about 100 m., making it easy to see the pale throats
eliminating Cliff Swallow; their time: 2:20 pm. They were weaving
around a bit in the air but continued east until out of site, heading
towards the Toronto Islands where they are likely to find more flying
insects.
Directions:
Located at the end of Colonel Samuel Smith Drive which is the
extension of Kipling below Lakeshore. The parking lot at the south
end is free but often full from students from the Catholic school; but
spots are usually available in the afternoons.
Wayne Renaud (289-828-0043)
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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/
