This afternoon, Josh Vandermulen and I had 3 Juv. Sabine's Gulls and 1 Juv. Long-tailed Jaeger from my Zodiac off Van Wagner's Beach in Hamilton. All birds would have been visible from the Lakeland Centre with a scope.
------------- Thick-billed Kingbird: Ken Burrell, Mike Burrell, Josh and I arrived at Presqu'ile at 615am, and were lucky to get the bird when it first announced its presence (via a loud call) at 625am. For Ken Burrell's photos, along with some back-story on the bird, see his blog here: http://kenburrell.blogspot.ca/2012/08/thick-billed-kingbird.html For Mike Burrell's photos, along with our full ebird checklist from the location, see here: http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/view/checklist?subID=S11465036 For my personal photos, see my blog here: http://www.blog.peregrineprints.com/2012/08/thick-billed-kingbird.html For Josh Vandermulen's photos, along with updates about his attempt to set a new Ontario Big Year record, see his blog here: http://joshvandermeulen.blogspot.ca/2012/08/crazy-day-with-two-year-birds.html Many thanks to Bill Gilmour for an incredible bird! And thanks to Doug McRae and Mark Ansell for helping get word to the birding population quickly. Brandon Holden Directions: 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. Directions: The T-b Kingbird was seen in the trees near the first cottage east of the Calf Pasture bridge (Where Atkins Land goes under Bayshore Rd.). It would be best if people would park at the Calf Pasture Parking area rather than on Bayshore Rd. which can be busy and has few options for parking. To access Calf Pasture, enter the park and stay on the park road. It will become a one-way loop - follow that past the lighthouse and in about 3 km you come to Atkins Lane, a right only turn. Follow Atkins till the end where you can park. The bird is about 100m east of the bridge, hanging around the trees near the first cottage east of the bridge. Park maps are inside the free newspaper they give out at the gate. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
