A large group of shorebird enthusiasts came to Hillman Marsh on Monday, 8 May 2017, from 3 to 5 p.m. for the OFO Shorebird Celebration in cooperation with Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). Many stayed well after 5 p.m. Flocks of shorebirds came and went, flushed several times by Bald Eagles, a Turkey Vulture and a Peregrine Falcon. Overall numbers of shorebirds are increasing and will continue to increase. Highlights included:
300 plus Black-bellied Plovers 3 American Golden-Plovers interestingly they were first summer birds 300 Dunlin 5 Ruddy Turnstones 8 Greater and 20 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Least Sandpipers 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 White-rumped Sandpiper Several Killdeer 1 hendersoni Short-billed Dowitcher was well seen by many earlier. 1 Long-billed Dowitcher seen after about 5:45 p.m. is now confirmed as a Long-billed Dowitcher after discussion and examining photos. In addition there were Northern Shoveler, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Mallards, 1 Great Egret, 5 species of swallows, and more. Many thanks to the OFO volunteers, Pelee Wings and Kowa Sports Optics who showed people the shorebirds. Volunteers will be at Hillman Marsh again on Wednesday, 10 May 2017, 3-5 p.m. For more information about shorebirding at Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee, please see: http://www.ofo.ca/ofodocs/OFOHillman2017.pdf and http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebirds/2017/workshops.htm Happy Shorebirding, Jean Iron, Dave Milsom and all the OFO Volunteers from my iPhone _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
