This afternoon, 15 October 2016, Ron Pittaway and I birded the Barrie Waterfront. Here are our highlights:
Minet's Point, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Eight Little Gulls flying and resting on water in large flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls. Also hundreds of Common Loons and 5 Red-necked Grebes. Kempenfelt Park, 2:45 to 4:30 2 adult winter Little Gulls flying very close to shore. 1000 plus Common Loons - it's a spectacle of nature to see so many in every plumage: adult breeding, molting adults, winter adults and juveniles. Confederation Park, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. 5 Little Gulls, 4 flying directly in front of us back and forth with the Bonaparte's Gulls, 1 flying in front of boat launch near Tiffin. 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 3 juveniles and one third winter. These were photographed up close on the beach with hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls. Better later in the day when fewer people walking on beach. There were more gulls and more feeding activity later in the day. Scope recommended. Directions >From Hwy 400 take Essa Road exit to Lakeshore Drive. Make a right and follow to left turn at Minet's Point Road. Follow Lakeshore Drive back to Centennial Park. Note: pay parking enforced at all lots along waterfront. By-Law officer making rounds. Follow Lakeshore Drive along north side of bay to Simcoe and Dunlop and exit right onto Kempenfelt Drive. Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway Toronto _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
