I ventured to the Ajax lakefront on this dull Nov.18 day, and at 1215 I peered down from a small clifftop to see 4 shorebirds on the rocks below. Three of them were very wary of my presence, thereby took off--they appeared to be Yellowlegs. The other was a nondescript dark-headed bird with a light eyering and long bill that was very slightly decurved, and through my Spacemaster scope I was able to note the base of the otherwise dark bill was yellowish. The head, nape and breast were very dark (overcast sky prevented me from telling any specific colour); the belly was white with streaked flanking. I was unable to detect leg colour due to my position from above. It literally frolicked with the large bounding waves as they hit the rocky shoreline. Conclusion-PURPLE SANDPIPER. I watched it from 1215 to 1230.
Direction-- south down Westney Rd. below Bayly to the Lakedrive which splits off to the right, continuing on past the drive into Rotary Park, to the next parking lot --park car and walk south down to the lakefront cliff. Doug Lockrey, Whitby,ON "Doug Lockrey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
