Further to Andrew's post, Whimbrels started migrating through Toronto today, Thursday, 23 May, at Colonel Sam Smith Park in Toronto. From 6:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. we saw over 300 Whimbrels in flocks ranging in size from 2 to 150. They were trilling as they came in close along Lake Ontario and circled many times in front of us, flying into a northwest wind.
We also saw 8 species of shorebirds from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. 4 Black-bellied Plovers 3 Short-billed Dowitchers 20 White-rumped Sandpipers (one flock) 21 Sanderlings (one flock) 99 Semipalmated Sandpipers (several flocks) 153 Dunlins (several flocks) 2 Killdeer Several resident Spotted Sandpipers More Whimbrels are expected this afternoon and over the next few days. Don Barnett is the Toronto Ornithological Club Whimbrel Watch counter and Wayne Renaud recorded other shorebirds until he left at 9 a.m. We hope Wayne will post an update this evening. Directions: In Toronto, Colonel Sam Smith Park is where Kipling Avenue ends at Lake Ontario, south of Lake Shore Blvd. Walk a short distance from south parking lot to the point of land jutting into Lake Ontario. Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway Toronto, Ontario _______________________________________________ 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/
