Sorry for the late posting, my blackberry died late this afternoon when all the action started.
Today from about 2:00 p.m. onward and particularly after 4 p.m. (when my phone kicked out) there was significant action at the beach. Barry Cherriere and I totalled 18 jaegers, probably some of the same birds circling about going back and forth so difficult to accurately say numbers. Most were at a distance but we had one close juv Parasitic Jaeger, a group of three Parasitics harassing gulls and another group of 5 birds (presumed Parasitics) harrassing gulls out on the water giving chase. Other birds were too distant to identify. Around 4 p.m. as Brandon Holden was seeing 2 adult Sabine's Gulls from his apartment, we had 3 Juvenile Sabine's Gulls which were put up by a passing jaeger. Later on, Barry and I had a closer group of three and later joined by Rob Dobos a group of 4 distant individuals. About 5:45, Barry got on a shorebird not too far out which the consensus was a Red Phalarope. It was close enough to view in the scope bobbing around in the water offshore. Todays winds were North so keep an eye on the winds for north or east. These are favourable winds for the beach. Cheers, Cheryl Edgecombe Directions to Van Wagners Beach: Take the Centennial Parkway (Hwy.20) exit from the QEW in east Hamilton and proceed north to the North Service Rd., turn left and continue west as it turns into Van Wagners Beach Road. Continue to the parking lots at either Hutch's Restaurant or the Lakeland Centre viewing tower and view the lake anywhere near here. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
