Hi All, Although the Western Grebe has been reported in earlier posts today, I'm not sure that anyone has specifically mentioned that the Pacific Loon was NOT seen today (that I am aware of).
I was at Fifty Point CA at dawn and had a Purple Sandpiper (with 3 Dunlin) on the rocks at the SE tip of the spit of land that juts out into the lake, the bird was present from 7am to about 7:20am when it took off with the Dunlin. I had a further 12 Dunlin fly-by as well as over 50 Bonaparte's Gulls, numbers of Snow Buntings on the move too (generally in small flocks of under 10). Also, a fly-by of 15 Tundra Swans around 10am. As I was leaving at 11:30, Terry Osborne pointed out a distant jaeger, we both agreed that this was a Pomarine Jaeger, based on slower wingbeat, larger size and broad wings at the base, this was a dark individual and was well out on the lake, moving east, I watched it until it dove on a gull, at which point I lost the bird. I then travelled to Cranberry Marsh and had the oft-mentioned first year Golden-crowned Sparrow. What a day, two life birds!! Cheers & good birding, Frank Pinilla Toronto, ON DIRECTIONS: Fifty Point Conservation Area, from the QEW in Stoney Creek exit at Fifty Road and head north to the North Service Road, turn right/east and shortly after turn left/north on Baseline Road (there are signs to the C.A.), to avoid paying the $5, you can go beyond the C.A. and turn north on Kelson Rd to the end, and walk down to the lake and up on the spit of land. Cranberry Marsh - exit Hwy 401 at Salem Rd in Whitby (if coming from the west), head south and turn left/east on Bayly/Victoria St, follow to beyond Lakeridge Rd and you will see Halls Road on the right, turn south here and follow to the second pathway on the left, where they host the hawkwatch. ************* Frank Pinilla Toronto, ON e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
