This afternoon on a tip from David Hallett that 150 Whimbrels had been seen on the rocks and circling over the south end of Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Etobicoke between 2:30 & 3:30 pm, I drove down and parked near the south end of 23rd St. I found about 200 Whimbrel in loose scattered flock feeding the large are of lawn just east of the Filtration Plant ... an hour search of the peninsulas revealed no other Whimbrels. On leave at 4:45 the Whimbrels I seen earlier had apparently left ... but I saw three more flocks totally maybe another 350 flying rapidly nnw about half a mile north of the park, apparently following the north edge of passing storm front. Another flock of 75 was also seen, also flying northwest, about 500 meters off the headland of Lake Front Promende Park, se Mississauga at 5:30 pm.
Directions: Colonel Samuel Park is located along the shore of Lake Ontario in sw Toronto ... and is located at the end of the road which is a continuation of Kipling Avenue (mid-way between Brown's Line and Islington) ... of these, only Islington can be accessed off the QEW. After crossing Lakeshore proceed south jogging slightly west then south around the old power plant; park at the parking lot at the end of the road and take the path that runs directly south off the cul-de-sac. Lakefront Promenade Park is located at the end of the street called 'Lakefront Promende', and is locate south off Lakeshore between Cawthra and Dixie Road (the former the only access south of the QEW); drive to end and park, the headland trail directly south of the parking lot. Wayne Renaud From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat May 28 18:29:00 2005 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: [email protected] Received: from post.queensu.ca (post.QueensU.CA [130.15.126.6]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1361164697 for <[email protected]>; Sat, 28 May 2005 18:29:00 -0400 (EDT) Received: from oemcomputer.post.queensu.ca (toll22-ppp74.tele.QueensU.CA [130.15.245.74]) by post.queensu.ca (8.13.1/8.13.1) with ESMTP id j4SMkWbZ018732; Sat, 28 May 2005 18:46:38 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 6.2.1.2 Date: Sat, 28 May 2005 18:46:05 -0400 To: [email protected] From: Paul Mackenzie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Subject: [Ontbirds]OFO Field trip May 28 Opinicon Rd and Amherst Island X-BeenThere: [email protected] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 28 May 2005 22:29:00 -0000 Hi ontbirders, from Bud Rowe and Paul Mackenzie, trip leaders This Kingston area trip really exceeded our expectations. The weather forcast was wrong and the day was glorious. The 21 participants pooled into 8 cars. Thanks to those who shared scopes, food, and birding tales. The Opinicon Road specialties started with a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO calling from an open branch for all to see. Then a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO did the same. We also had good looks at CERULEAN WARBLER before even leaving the road. On the Pangman trail we had YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and Hummingbird added colour. Some Map turtles were sunning on logs. From the Queens University biologists we learned that a Louisiana Waterthrush was not on site this year, and that we missed a Black-backed Woodpecker by 30 minutes or so. A Red-shouldered Hawk was circling high in the blue. At the Amherstview Sewage Lagoons, the EURASIAN WIGEON was still present, and the cells with low water produced an assortment of shorebirds, including a White-rumped, and a late Greater Yellowlegs. The ducks included Shoveller, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Wood Duck and Scaup. Ten each of Caspian and Black terns were there. At the Amherst ferry docks 2 flocks of BRANT flew over, and another flock was seen on the island for a total of over 350. To Amherst Island we shared the ferry with a hearse and funeral party. One Black-bellied Plover was found on a field, and some saw Upland sandpipers. But it was no funeral at the KFN property where WILSON'S PHALAROPE were plentiful and tame. Osprey, Bald Eagle, Kestrel and Harrier were seen by some, and an immature LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew off. Those who walked to the tip added Short-billed Dowitcher. We then entered the "Owl Woods" and were surprised that there was activity in mid-afternoon including a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, Swainson's Thrushes, Blue-headed Vireo, Canada, Magnolia, Palm and Chestnut-sided Warblers. The species total was about 118, and everyone seemed delighted with the day. Paul Mackenzie, Kingston, Canada. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
