Sunday May 23. 10.45 Despite unremitting rain and low cloud, the CBC advised of showers this morning. I wondered what such weather might do with migrant shorebirds, so went to the Tollgate ponds in Hamilton.
Paradoxically, one of Ontario's ugliest pieces of shoreline - the cell now being filled with tires, construction debris and other garbage - is one of the best easily accesible shorebirds habitats around. On arrival I found 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES, countless DUNLIN and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, one or two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and a SHORT BILLED DOWITCHER (seen briefly,) Also a LESSER YELLOWLEGS a couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and a pair of GADWALL. If you go& if conditions continue, you can sit in your car and get some great shorebird watching. The dunlin and semip' sandpipers were as close to the road as you could wish for, a good opportuinty to observe them closely. Getting there: Exit QEW adjacent to the Skyway Bridge. Look for signs for Eastport Drive. Get onto Eastport Drive and it will wind its way around and (over the Burlington Lift Bridge if coming from Toronto). Continue to follow Eastport Drive past the first Tollgate Pond (large square pond on right). Semi-filled pond is next to it. Peter Thoem Burlington [EMAIL PROTECTED]
