Hello Ontbirds subscribers, This morning I was birding at Toronto Islands with my Royal Ontario Museum group. It was a pretty average day for passerine migration (we encountered 14 warbler species), but the beaches at Hanlan's Point would yield a few surprises (well, besides the naked men on the clothing optional section of the beach, anyway). Although we didn't find any hoped-for Whimbrel or Brant, we did manage to find an American Avocet foraging in the little slough just back from the lake edge near the airport perimeter fence. Also found in this immediate area was an adult Thayer's Gull and an adult California Gull. When the California Gull flew off, it headed down past the south end of the island - perhaps it might be a good idea to search the Leslie St. Spit Ring-billed Gull colonies thoroughly again!. Both the Thayer's Gull and American Avocet were still present when we left at about 1:45 p.m. Other shorebirds on the beach included 10 Ruddy Turnstone, 22 Dunlin, 2 Least Sandpiper, 1 Short-billed Dowitcher (nominate ssp. griseus), 12 Spotted Sandpiper, 4 Killdeer, 2 Semipalmated Plover and a Sanderling. A male Northern Pintail was feeding in the little slough as well. Glenn Coady Toronto Toronto Island can be reached from the ferry docks at the foot of Bay St. at Queen's Quay. Take the ferry to Hanlan's Point and follow the airport perimeter fence around to the site. _________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________ 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
