The persistent rain and fog today made periods of observation
intermittent for Don Barnett, Mark Cranford and I. Brian Tannahill
helped us through most the morning.
A single Whimbrel and group of 37 was found this morning between 7:00
and 8:00 pm. In the break in weather, after a short period of rain
while I was returning from downtown Toronto at 2:45 pm a flight of 5
flocks (140, 180, 45, 250 and 6) were seen heading over Grand Harbour,
opposite Humber Bay Park/West and further west down lakeshore another
flight of four flocks (110, 35, 60 and 16) were flying north over
Lakeshore just north of Col. Samuel Smith. One flock of was seen
flying far offshore heading south of the long peninsula at the park at
3:00 pm shortly before another band rain began to fall. This brings
the total for day as of 3:00 p.m. to 880 Whimbrel (including those from
Grand Harbour).
For the record there was a similar-sized count of Whimbrel at the park
on 28 May 2005 when 825 were counted. As per Mark Cranford's e.mail
earlier in the day, the watch will continue through weekend and we very
much appreciate details of any records from those visiting the park,
together with exact or approx. numbers, exact time of sighting and
direction of flight which should be e.mail directly to Mark Cranford.
Besides the Whimbrel several species of shorebird were also found
today, all in small numbers: Killdeer, Black-bellied Plover,
Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated
Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper. The Western was
studied by both Don and for extended period at time with 40-50. A
Forster's Tern as also seen and heard feeding in the lake adjacent to
long peninsula around 10:30 am.
So who say's birding in the rain and fog is boring?
Directions:
the park in located south of Humber College Campus south of the
intersection of Kipling and Lakeshore.
Wayne Renaud
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