From Tim Mccarthy <[email protected]>
Hello fellow Whimbrel chasers. Not only did the weather stay nasty and
windy but the only Whimbrels that showed up was a flock of 36 stragglers
from yesterday (my opinion if I'm ever allowed to have another one). If
you'll recall. May 24th is the historical peak date in the Whimbrel
migration over Sam Smith Park. The folks down in Machipongo, Virginia
where they monitor the Whimbrels during their staging warned us last
night that due to the major storm they've been having no birds left the
Delmarva marshes last night. The good news? There are still thousands of
them fattening up ready to move.
If our weather forecast holds true for more than a few hours at a time,
we're supposed to get rain for the next 2 days and if its heavy enough
the Whimbrels will stay put. How do they know?
Saturday is supposed to be the only clear day before another 3 days of
rain. These little guys can't wait forever or they'll miss the chance to
breed so Saturday the 27th is the big day we're banking on. It is also
the day of the CSSP Birding Festival so isn't that handy? Of course if
the Whimbrels still haven't flown we will be there at dawn each day
until they do.
Today we had the flock of 36 Whimbrels who trolled around for a while
looking for stragglers, i guess. 4 other Whimbrels got rounded up by the
little flock and a Black Crowned Night Heron, 6 Common Loons and 2 Brant
were the other highlights.
Good Birding,
Tim
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Mark Cranford
Toronto, ON
[email protected]
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