This is a summary of the day's results with the principal observers: Wayne Renaud, Jean Iron and Garth Riley. Duration of watch: 5:38 am to 3:15 pm. The migration was very uneven: seven flocks of 65 to 150 from 5:48 to 7:26 am. Then a long lull until just after 1:00 pm when thunderstorms began to develop to the north. The rain was quite heavy for 50 minutes with some gusty winds. Between 1:03 and 2:52 two small flocks of 4 and 21 and three large flocks of 135, 150, 250 passed by (the later two just as storm was leaving the area). The grand total is *1427* except for some small flocks or singles (which were circling) all we moving fast and directionally from east to west or east to north-northwest. Along with post-storm Whimbrels were 18 Sanderlings, 350 Dunlin and 500 peeps. The only other shorebird recorded were 10 Dunlin, 3 Ruddy Turnstones and 5 Spotted Sandpipers. Only 17 Common Loons were recorded. The Whimbrel Watch continues until 31 May. It is quite obvious, given to days impressive number, that the common belief (which we are guilty of passing on) that peak Whimbrel migration occurs on 24 May with smaller peaks on adjacent dates (ie. 23 and 25) southern Ontario did not apply to this year. With that said, this spring migration well extend over the next few days ... so if you have not seen Whimbrel yet, do not pass up another visit to Whimbrel Point to join the core TOC counters: Jean Iron, Tim McCarthy, Garth Riley and Wayne Renaud to round completion of this season's survey on 31 May. The *Colonel Samuel Smith Park's Bird Festival* is only two days away and includes guided bird walks.
Directions: The park is located south of Humber College Campus just south of Lakeshore south of Kipling. The nearest parking lot is located at the end of Colonel Smith Park Drive which aligns with the south end of Kipling at Lakeshore. Wayne Renaud (waynerenau...@gmail.com) _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
