On 8/19, Bill Watson and I were able to relocate an unusual shorebird first found at Rock Point Provincial Park during the BOS Shorebird count on 8/17, which was initially identified as a juvenile plumaged Dunlin although lacking the dark belly patch. After receiving outside comments from several shorebird experts via ID-Frontiers (_http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/FRID.html_ (http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/FRID.html) ), it appears that the bird is an adult or SY individual, and most likely a hybrid Dunlin x ????, with the most probable candidate being White-rumped Sandpiper.
Photos of the bird can be found at: _http://picasaweb.google.com/jmpawli88/UnknownCalidrisRockPointProvincialParkO ntario81908_ (http://picasaweb.google.com/jmpawli88/UnknownCalidrisRockPointProvincialParkOntario81908) Other shorebirds seen at Rock Point included 5+ ad. and juv. Killdeers, 5 ad. Semipalmated Plovers, 6+ ad. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 2 juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 12+ juv. and ad. Semipalmated Sandpipers, 5+ juv. Least Sandpipers, 1 ad. Ruddy Turnstone, 1 juv. Lesser Yellowlegs, 8 ad. Sanderlings, and 1 ad. and 3 juv. Spotted Sandpipers. Songbird migration was in full swing with numerous (30+) Yellow Warblers, and several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Warbling Vireos, Baltimore Orioles, and RB Grosbeaks being found in the woodlands along the shoreline. Highlight songbirds from Rock Point included PHILADELPHIA VIREO, Blk-thr. Blue Warbler, N. Waterthrush, 2 Blackburnian Warblers, Tennessee Warbler, and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. At Morgan's Point in Wainfleet just east of Rock Point, additional songbird highlights included 2 CAPE MAY WARBLERS, 1st-generation "BREWSTER'S" WARBLER, Blackburnian Warbler, and Tennessee Warbler. The only shorebirds here at the point were a juv. Greater Yellowlegs, and an unknown Peep. Also here was a female COMMON NIGHTHAWK taking in the sun on a powerline crossing over the road just before reaching the point. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY Rock Point Provincial Park is located on the Lake Erie shore just southwest of Dunnville. Morgan's Point can be found by taking Lakeshore Rd. about 15 km to the west and turning south towards the lake onto Morgan's Point Rd. **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
