Hi WhimbrelFans Knowing that many people would be kicking off the long weekend a day early, and being somewhat envious of that, Wayne Renaud and I decided to stake out Whimbrel Point. And what do you know, Wayne picked a flock of 21 Whimbrels out of the gale wind around 7 this morning. This means, of course, we will have to start the watch early every year from now on. We would like to welcome an old hawkwatching hand to the Whimbrel circus. John Barker kept us company all day today and we hope he will become a permanent addition to the watch.
We also recorded at least a dozen Red Breasted Mergansers, innumerable Long Tailed Ducks, 4 Common Loons, 1 Red Throated Loon, 2 Dunlin, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, a Meadowlark and, if not a first, certainly a rare visitor, a Black Tern. Thanks Marcia Steep for helping make our day worthwhile. There was a blaster of an east wind all day which unfortunately portends rain tomorrow but if it lets up we will be there and we hope you will be too. Got home and looked in the mirror. My face was totally red. What a case of windburn. Somehow my nose, however, had turned purple. It was then I realized that I look exactly like my Grandfather. GoodBirds, Tim You will find Sam Smith Park at the very foot of Kipling Avenue, and Whimbrel Point is the Park's southernmost tip. Dress for cold and slather on the sunscreen. We're gonna have some Whimbrel fun. _______________________________________________ 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
