From: Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds Whimbrel Point, Col. Sam Smith Park. 6am until 3:30 pm
Where all these Whimbrels are coming from is a mystery to me. The species certainly hasn't doubled in size since last season although it would be nice. If there is someone perhaps on the South shore of Lake Ontario who counts Whimbrels, reads this letter and find themselves short around 4000 birds since last spring please let me know and feel relieved that you haven't really lost them.Today, on our side, there were even more. Here's what I mean: Today's Whimbrel total of which all flew over between 7 am and 1.30 pm was 402, in 7 flocks. That makes the season's grand total a staggering 8,525. The early flocks all passed through East to West fairly high up and were not seen again; its good to know that some at least appear to have the stamina for the whole trip. The rest doubled back a few times down low but none appeared to land on the rocks today.I wonder if the weekend crowds had anything to do with that. It was cooler than yesterday with practically no wind, even out on the Point. This made for some wonderful weather for the Spring Birding Festival and for the myriads of Chironomid Midges which swarmed around us all day. Don't stay home on account of them, however as they don't bite. When there's no wind holding up an umbrella really helps. When I get on the TOC facebook we will talk about midges and their remedies and also, and most importantly, about why so many Whimbrels are beginning to land on the rocks. We always get a day in every late May where all the Common Loons seem to come through at once and today was it. I lost count at around 100 but Eric Baldo was braver than I and went on. He's probably still counting them. Its not easy to turn that guy off. 3 or 4 Red Throateds too. 30 Dunlin 55 Ruddy Turnstone 14 Least Sandpipers 3 Spottys 2 Kildeer 26 Semipal SP 1 White Rumped SP 20 Whitewinged Scoters (more about them on the facebook too, coming up. Looks like we're still going so see you tomorrow. BestBirds, Tim _______________________________________________ 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
