Re: [Ontbirds] Sandhill crane‘s over Sunnybrook park right now

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From Tim at High Park 110 Sandhills and lots more too so far

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 12, 2019, at 11:14 AM, Craig Mclauchlan via ONTBIRDS 
>  wrote:
> 
> I am watching at lest 15 Sandhills cranes flying over the park right now 
> moving south 
> Craig Mclauchlan 
> 
> Sent from me have a nice day 
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch Sept. 8, 2019

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Seen Sunday between 9:30 am and 4 pm
1Turkey Vulture
2 Osprey
2 Bald Eagles
73   Sharpshins
5 Coopers Hawks
152  Broadwings
27Red Tails
7  Am. Kestrels
1  Merlin
1  Peregrine

Broadwings are obviously on the move but due to expected wind change this may 
have been our peak day.
Merlins are nesting near high Park this year.
This report can be seen every day on HMANA website,   
http://hawkcount.org/index.php

Hawk Hill is located right beside the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot to the 
north.
Thanks to all who participated in the Watch today.
BestBirds,
Tim Mccarthy


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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

The season you've all been waiting for is finally here. The High Park 
Raptorwatch begins at Hawk Hill in high Park this Sunday, just 3 days from 
today, and goes every day weather permitting until the end of November. All are 
welcome any time morning or afternoon. Watch the HMANA page for daily raptor 
totals, its http://hawkcount.org/index.php. You can report any Raptors you see 
to the Toronto Ornithological Club Facebook page or to me via email.
Good Birds,
Tim
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[Ontbirds] High Park Hawk Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Calling all birders! And non-birders too.
Sept. 1 is the first day of the High Park Hawk Watch. Its free, its fun and if 
you come to Hawk hill sometime between Sept. 1 and the end of November you will 
most likely see some pretty cool birds. The watch starts around 9.30 am and 
runs until late afternoon. Unless its raining there will always be a Raptor 
expert on the Hill. Located right next to the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot, 
if you're driving you may park there or just get off the subway at High Park 
station and walk south. Bring your binocs, a folding chair perhaps, and a lunch 
if you plan to stay. The restaurant has good food and a washroom.
See you there,
Tim
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[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Park Whimbrel Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hi
Its 8:30, we’ve seen 72 Whimbrel so far with 850 having been reported from 
Machipongo. Lots of other shorebirds at last, mostly Dunlin but Semipal 
Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, Least Sandpipers and maybe a Red Knot. There are 
so many passing right now I’ve missed 300 or so just fumbling through this 
note. Nice weather, too bad its not yesterday.
BestBirds,
Tim
Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] Whimbrel Watch, Sam Smith Park

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

>From Tim Mccarthy, Whimbrel Point, Col. Sam Smith Park, 8:30 am Saturday
Its so wet out at Whimbrel Point right now even the midges are drowning. We saw 
40 Whimbrel earlier and will let you know if there are more after the rain 
stops. Yesterday's total came to over 5500.
It looks like the Sam Smith Bird Festival will have some participants ready to 
brave the rain.
BestBirds,
Tim

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[Ontbirds] Whimbrels

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Whimbrels at Sam Smith Park today almost 1500 so far (11:30)

Sent from my iPhone

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[Ontbirds] Hello Hawkers

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

We are seeing at this moment Notthern Harriers, Red Shoulders and tons of 
Sharpies. There has also been a Goshawk. If the. rain holds off its going to be 
one of our best days. We’ll try and hold the Eagles until you get here.
BestBirds,
Tim

The High Park Raptorwatch is held each day right next to the Grenadier 
Restaurant in High Park

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hello Raptorwatchers.
Can you believe it? The Raptor season is almost half over. We haven't had much 
of a season at Hawk Hill so when the weather looks good for Migrants, we plan 
to be there on the Hill. Actually we are there everyday but you should come 
tomorrow or Saturday. Reports will flow to the HMANA website, 
http://hawkcount.org/index.php. In fact, if you don't know where to go, the 
HMANA Website will tell you that too.
[http://hawkcount.org/logofb-1200.png]

HawkCount
Welcome to HawkCount: Count data and site profiles for over 300 North American 
Hawkwatch sites Find hawkwatch sites by site name or location; view hawkwatch 
profiles, maps, data and more.
hawkcount.org

BestBirds,
Tim
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hi folks
Our first ideal day on the Hill. Lots of everything. Help!
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptor Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hi
In the last 10 minutes we’ve seen bigbird - 3 Bald Eagles 1 Golden Eagle and 2 
Ospreys
BestBirds
Tim
Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hi
>From Hawk Hill a good day for a change 31 Broaddies among others.
Kettles are starting to bring birds.
BestBirds,
Tim mccarthy

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hi Folks
Interesting day coming up?
Already 2 Bald Eagles. Better put your golf clubs back in the garage.
BestBirds,
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptor Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hello Raptorfans, especially Broad Wing chasers. It looks like the weather may 
be about to change into just the kind of thing our good old Broadwings like. I 
mean the kind that makes them fly in great big balls over High Park. Can't say 
for sure but if they do and you're not there, you're gonna be plenty hawked off 
 until I give you the next heads'-up. Stay tuned for further (hopefully 
exciting ) news starting on 
www.facebook.com/TOCbirds/

Toronto Ornithological Club - Home | Facebook
www.facebook.com
Toronto Ornithological Club. 123 likes · 6 talking about this. The TOC is a 
birding club promoting the monitoring, enjoyment, and conservation of birds...

TOMORROW!
GoodBirds,
Tim
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hello Hawkers

Believe it or not its that time again.The Don Barnett Memorial Raptorwatch 
starts this Saturday, Sept.1 on Hawk Hill, right beside the Grenadier 
Restaurant in High Park. You can follow our day-to-day sightings on the HMANA 
website

www.hawkcount.org  or read the occasional outpouring 
of Raptorial wit and wisdom on the TOC facebook 
page,www.facebook.com/TOCbirds/. Don't miss 
a mid-September day with Northwest winds as you are likely to see  hundreds, or 
maybe even thousands of Broad Winged Hawks passing over the Park riding the 
thermal air currents. If you happen to see Broadwings (a cloud full of 
crow-sized soaring birds) during the Month of September wherever you are please 
report your sightings to me or this website as the Broaddies have been rather 
evasive these past few years.

See you on the Hill,

Tim

Toronto Ornithological Club - Home | Facebook
www.facebook.com
Toronto Ornithological Club. 118 likes · 2 talking about this. The TOC is a 
birding club promoting the monitoring, enjoyment, and conservation of birds...


[http://hawkcount.org/logofb-1200.png]

HawkCount
www.hawkcount.org



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[Ontbirds] Last Day of the 10th Annual Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch Wed., May 30, 2018

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

The 5 Whimbrels we saw off and on yesterday were around today, along with a Red 
Knot. We expect you may see more shorebirds yet to come but the Whimbrel Watch 
is officially over. First of all sincere thanks to all who came out, especially 
to Wayne Renaud who did more than me in every way and John Barker who filled in 
the later parts of crazy days. This spell of Whimbrel Watching was unique in 
different ways. When I settle on a venue to publish my findings I will let you 
know here on Ontbirds to where you can follow on Facebook or whatever. Stay 
tuned please

See you all at the High Park HawkWatch.

GoodBirds,

Tim Mccarthy
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[Ontbirds] Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch, Sam Smith Park, May 29, 2018

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

>From : Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds


Nothing much to add from this afternoon's post other than an obviously 
declining number of Whimbrels to be seen, the majority now happily engaged in 
nesting up north. Now is the time to see a few stragglers perhaps, but 
especially a possibility of a Red Knot or 2 in mid to late afternoon. Wayne and 
I could use your company.


GoodBirds,

Tim
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[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Whimbrels

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Just a quick update in case you were debating lunch vs. Whimbrels. Since 6am 
there has only been a group of 5 birds who have been hanging around all day.
I’m going to have lunch.
Bestbirds,
Tim

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch round-up May 27, 2018

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From: Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds, Col. Sam smith Park


Do I hear 9000? I know the Whimbrel Count has no real goals other than 
assisting in the conservation of these great birds but we can't help a little 
competitive enthusiasm seeping through.

The total for this year at Whimbrel Point, after today's 215 new migrants  now 
stands at 8,740. 4 days to go, get your money down.

Also add

21 Common Loons

286 Whitewinged Scoters

3 Black Crowned Night Herons

110 Dunlin

10 Ruddy Turnstones

3 Willets (seen at 5.30 am)

1 Kildeer,

and

9 million Chironomid Midges, down sharply from yesterday's 23 million (just 
kidding but it seemed like it


Wayne's going to lead the charge tomorrow while I try to get a little life so 
I'll see you Tuesday

Best Birds,

Tim
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[Ontbirds] Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch May 27

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From Tim Mccarthy

Hi Whimbrel Fans
They are beginning to taper off, it seems.
So far today we’ve seen 104 Whimbrel .
Keep you posted.
Tim
Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From: Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds

Whimbrel Point, Col. Sam Smith Park. 6am until 3:30 pm


Where all these Whimbrels are coming from is a mystery to me. The species 
certainly hasn't doubled in size since last season although it would be nice. 
If there is someone perhaps on the South shore of Lake Ontario who counts 
Whimbrels, reads this letter and find themselves short around 4000 birds since 
last spring please let me know and feel relieved that you haven't really lost 
them.Today, on our side, there were even more. Here's what I mean:


Today's Whimbrel total of which all flew over between 7 am and 1.30 pm was 402, 
in 7 flocks. That makes the season's grand total a staggering 8,525. The early 
flocks all passed through East to West fairly high up and were not seen again; 
its good to know that some at least appear to have the stamina for the whole 
trip. The rest doubled back a few times down low but none appeared to land on 
the rocks today.I wonder if the weekend crowds had anything to do with that.

It was cooler than yesterday with practically no wind, even out on the Point. 
This made for some wonderful weather for the Spring Birding Festival and for 
the myriads of Chironomid Midges which swarmed around us all day. Don't stay 
home on account of them, however as they don't bite. When there's no wind 
holding up an umbrella really helps. When I get on the TOC  facebook we will 
talk about midges and their remedies and also, and most importantly, about why 
so many Whimbrels are beginning to land on the rocks.

We always get a day in every late May where all the Common Loons seem to come 
through at once and today was it. I lost count at around 100 but Eric Baldo was 
braver than I and went on. He's probably still counting them. Its not easy to 
turn that guy off.

3 or 4 Red Throateds too.

30 Dunlin

55 Ruddy Turnstone

14 Least Sandpipers

3   Spottys

2  Kildeer

26 Semipal SP

  1 White Rumped SP

20 Whitewinged Scoters  (more about them on the facebook too, coming up.


Looks like we're still going so see you tomorrow.

BestBirds,

Tim



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[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Park Whimbrels

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Good morning
Its 8am and so far there have been 3 flocks totalling 140 Whimbrel.
More to come, we hope.
BestBirds,
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

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[Ontbirds] 10th annual Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

>From :

Tim  Mccarthy via Ontbirds

This from Col. Sam Smith Park between 6am and 5 pm today:

Total  of Whimbrels seen today -2,243

Total of Whimbrels since May 18-   8,124

guesstimate of those who landed today - between 500 and 1000

Previous record for the GTA (from the Eastern Gap) - 6000

What on Earth is going on?


Black-Bellied Plover250

Am. Golden   Plover   62

Sanderling   20

Semipal SP  90

Dunlin151

Ruddy TS2


The birds flew all day!


GoodBirds,

Tim Mccarthy

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[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Whimbrels

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Total so far 1219 Whimbrels of which maybe 300 have landed for a rest.
Also Blackbellies Dunlin and Semipal Sanpipers.
GoodBirds,
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

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[Ontbirds] Whimbrels at Sam Smith

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Its 7 am and so far there have been almost 300 Whimbrels flying East to West 
over Whimbrel Point. Details later.
Tim Mccarthy

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] Don Barnett Memorial Whimbrel Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

As of 3 pm we’ve had 12 Whimbrel also  33 Dunlin, 3 White Rumped Sandpiper, 60 
White Winged Scoter, 3 Common Loon and 1 Red Throated Loon all before 10 am
BestBirds,
Tim

Sam Smith Park is at the foot of Kipling Avenue in New Toronto

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch, Whimbrel Point, Sam Smith Park

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From: Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds

Not too exciting today if Whimbrels were all you were looking for, there were 
only 2 birds that kept disappearing somewhere and coming back. They were first 
seen (by Wayne Renaud) just before 8 am and last i know of, around 3 pm.

They were behaving as lone birds or small flocks often do, circling and calling 
as if to find their flock. We hope they got rested up somewhere. There was no 
report from Virginia today on last night's flight from the marshes so I guess 
it was a quiet day for Whimbrels but a beautiful day for Park visitors.. 
Yesterday afternoon around 4pm after the rain Jerry Dewchyshyn saw a flock of 6 
Whimbrels which suggests that somebody ought to stay out there all afternoon 
every day..

There was a group of pretty good birders on hand this morning and together we 
saw:

16 Common Loons, 7 Red Throated Loons all in breeding plumage, 9 Brant, 14 
Whitewinged Scoters (seen by some guy named Ak. Must stand for something like 
Andrew Keaveney), hundreds of Red Breasted Mergansers, 4 Common Mergansers, 60+ 
Long Tailed Ducks, 2 Little Gulls, 10 Bonaparte's Gulls, 2 Black Terns,1 
American Pipit (which actually said "pipit"), 7 Short Billed Dowitchers, 3 
Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Ruddy Turnstone, 1 Black Bellied Plover, 33 Dunlin, 3 
Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper , 2 Kildeer, 2 Bobolinks and 2 
Meadowlarks. We believe the meadowlarks are nesting. The Least Bittern was very 
much a showbird today, strutting his stuff right next to the parking lot. I 
didn't see any Cliff swallows as the building they like to nest on appears to 
be under construction.

So as you can imagine we're all tuckered out so we'll see you at 5:30 tomorrow 
morning.

GoodBirds,

Tim

{timmccarth...@hotmail.com}
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[Ontbirds] Fred Bodsworth Memorial Whimbrel Watch - Sam Smith Park, Whimbrel Point

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hi WhimbrelFans

Knowing that many people would be kicking off the long weekend a day early, and 
being somewhat envious of that, Wayne Renaud and I decided to stake out 
Whimbrel Point. And what do you know, Wayne picked a flock of 21 Whimbrels out 
of the gale wind around 7 this morning. This means, of course, we will have to 
start the watch early every year from now on. We would like to welcome an old 
hawkwatching hand to the Whimbrel circus. John Barker kept us company all day 
today and we hope he will become a permanent addition to the watch.

We also recorded at least a dozen Red Breasted Mergansers, innumerable Long 
Tailed Ducks, 4 Common Loons, 1 Red Throated Loon, 2 Dunlin, 2 Spotted 
Sandpipers, a Meadowlark and, if not a first, certainly a rare visitor, a Black 
Tern.

Thanks Marcia Steep for helping make our day worthwhile. There was a blaster of 
an east wind all day which unfortunately portends rain tomorrow but if it lets 
up we will be there and we hope you will be too.

Got home and looked in the mirror. My face was totally red. What a case of 
windburn. Somehow my nose, however, had turned purple. It was then I realized 
that I look exactly like my Grandfather.

GoodBirds,

Tim

You will find Sam Smith Park at the very foot of Kipling Avenue, and Whimbrel 
Point is the Park's southernmost tip. Dress for cold and slather on the 
sunscreen. We're gonna have some Whimbrel fun.
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[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Whimbrel Watch 2018 _ a view to one of Nature's spectacular migrations

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From: Tim McCarthy, via Ontbirds



A call to binoculars for all birders!


Its time once again for the annual Whimbrel migration. These marvellous 
migrants give us a super show for a few days every spring. Almost the entire 
Eastern population of Numenius Phaeopus passes right over our heads between May 
19 or so, through May 31st, with the flights peaking almost always on the 
morning of May 24th. As usual, we of the Toronto Ornithological Club will have 
as many heads as possible at Whimbrel Point, Sam Smith Park, to witness and 
record this spectacle of nature. In the past, the flocks numbering from a few 
to hundreds of individuals could be counted on to pass over Sam Smith park at 
Whimbrel Point, plus the stretch of Lake Ontario shoreline from Ashbridges' Bay 
to Mimico. On May 24th especially, the day's tally often runs into the 
thousands as these magnificent shorebirds pass in noisy flocks all the way from 
their staging area in the Delmarva Marshes (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia - 
isn't that cute)  to the Southern shore of James Bay and beyond to their summer 
breeding grounds. Although the Whimbrel's population status is listed as "of 
special concern" we are fortunate to be able to see so many of them.

Up until a few years ago Whimbrels almost always flew over Sam Smith Park 
without stopping. Lately this behaviour for reasons we do not fully understand 
has begun to change. Almost every day during the last half of may Whimbrels 
have been observed landing and resting at many places along their migration 
route. This means that instead of all passing over during the first early hours 
of morning the flocks can now be seen at various times all throughout the day.

We urgently need observers to watch for Whimbrels at likely places along the 
North shore of Lake Ontario from sunrise to evening especially if they have 
been seen on the ground. In order to document this phenomenon and incorporate 
it into our knowledge of Whimbrel migration we need as many Citizen Scientists 
as we can get out there recording and reporting. Because you can bet your 
bottom toonie that there are not enough professional observers to go around. 
Your observations, if sent to Ontbirds email address : birdalert@ontbirds.ca
or to my email address: timmccarth...@hotmail.com will ensure that the event 
will be recorded by the Toronto Ornithological Club and sent down to the the 
Nature Conservancy in the U.S. Please take the time to count the number of 
birds as best you can, include the time, date, location, and a rough 
description of weather, and whether the birds were flying or resting.

Here's your chance to actually do something for the preservation of this 
species. Don't just watch 'em fly around, this time lets get our observations 
together and do something positive for the conservation of these magnificent 
birds.

If you are interested in going the distance this year come out to Whimbrel 
Point at the Southernmost tip of Col. Sam Smith Park any morning from May 19 to 
May 31. As most folks who just want to see and hear these fabulous flocks just 
show up during early morning prime time ,May 23 to May 26, snap off a few 
photos, say gee-thanks and go home, we really need you to spend a bit more time 
helping out. The flocks start at daybreak and may go off and on all day. 12 
hours at Whimbrel Point is a bit of a stretch for us, but we will manage it 
with or without your help.

With your help it will be so much better. See you there.


For an idea of where to watch these birds other than Sam Smith Park look for 
any relatively undisturbed spot along the North Shore of Lake Ontario and to a 
lesser extent, the North Shore of Lake Erie, especially near the mouth of a 
watercourse, with rocks along the shoreline. Daybreak is the best time but now 
they go all day. Don't expect to see them in a heavy rain but watch both before 
and after.

For reports on what is being seen please watch Ontbirds. I will report there 
every day with Whimbrel results as well as all the other Shorebirds we see.

For further intriguing reading, see the articles on the TOC website by 
superbirder (and photographer)Wayne Renaud 
-http://torontobirding.ca/site/page/view/projects.whimbrel

TOC - Page Site - Toronto 
Birds<http://torontobirding.ca/site/page/view/projects.whimbrel>
torontobirding.ca
Toronto Ornitholigical Club (TOC) is dedicated to the study of bird life in 
Toronto.




Best Birds

Tim
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[Ontbirds] From: Tim Mccarthy, via Ontbirds

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Atention all Raptorfans, Hawknuts, Buteobuffs, Eagle-expectors and just 
allround lovers of Birds of Prey:


Hope I got your attention in there somewhere.

Tomorrow we are expecting winds NorthWest  of 21 Kph. Where? Well, everywhere, 
I guess. But starting around 9:30 tomorrow morning there will be a growing 
crowd of expectant raptorfans etc. hoping to catch the migration of many 
species of Raptor at Hawk Hill in High Park. Judging by what we think is still 
to come, tomorrow will likely bring a flood of raptor migrants. It may be the 
best day of the season so far. Birds we expect to see are Golden and Bald  
Eagles, Red Shouldered Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, Rough Legged Hawk, Sharp Shins, 
Coopers, Kestrels and Merlins,  Harriers and maybe even a Gosshawk or 2. 
Testing your ability to count really fast while looking through your bins will 
be Turkey Vultures by the hundreds. You are looking through your bins to see 
accompanying Eagles, and who knows - maybe even a black vulture!

This is the day to use that extra holiday you've been saving up, the day they 
give you for death of close relatives (our condolences) or just playing  hookey.

The results of tomorrow's Raptorfest will be posted as soon as I get home 
tomorrow on :

http://hawkcount.org

If you think you may have trouble seeing and identifying migrating Raptors, 
tomorrow is your day as there will be many experts on Hawk Hill ready to take 
you to the clouds. Just dress for the weather and bring your binoculars. If you 
don't think your binoculars are up to the task have no worries. We will explain 
as the day goes on what makes a good set of binoculars, and while I do the 
explaining I will loan you my own. If you plan to stay for a while bring a 
lawnchair and some snacks.

Raptors most likely. Fun guaranteed!


Hawk Hill is located in High Park, just to the North of the Grenadier 
Restaurant. There is an adequate parking lot if you drive, and a pleasant walk 
South from the High Park subway station.

[http://hawkcount.org/logofb-1200.png]

HawkCount
hawkcount.org

GoodBirds,
Tim Mccarthy

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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From:Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds

Greetings fellow Raptorwatchers:

Tuesday was a good one on Hawk Hill,there were lots of birds passing through, 
lots of sharp-eyed observers, and a few newbies who finally got to see what a 
Raptorwatch should be like. Thanks to all who came out, especially the birds.

Northwest winds, albeit light ones, brought lots of small Passerines and the 
attendant Raptors who follow them. Everybody had a great time with the probable 
exception of some of the Passerines. Migration started around 10am  and tapered 
off around 4 pm.

We recorded:

Turkey Vultures  157

Bald Eagle  1

N. Harrier   5

Sharp Shinned  89

Coopers  5

Broad Winged2

Red Tailed   5

Am. Kestrel 6

Peregrine F.1

Unid. Buteo1

Unid. Raptor   1

Total   283


I'm so grateful to the many folks who say they miss my commentaries. HMANA is 
the website to find all that stuff every day.Home page is HMANA.org but there 
is a shortcut also.

hawkcount.org

will get you straight to the reports.Don't make the mistake of asking for  
Hawkwatch.org as it is also a terrific site but not the same.


BestBirds

Tim

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[Ontbirds] Fw: High Park Raptorwatch September Summary

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From: Tim McCarthy
Sent: October 4, 2017 2:09 PM
To: ontbirds
Subject: High Park Raptorwatch September Summary


From: Tim Mccarthy, via Ontbirds


Greetings, Fellow Raptorfans


I've been told by one of our members who was in Muskoka last weekend that the 
deciduous leaves haven't even begun turning yet. Apparently there are Warblers 
and Sparrows all over the place who think its still summer. Which means there 
must be lots of bugs still around and a bountiful harvest of seeds. Long 
distance migrants should be gone by now, answering the length of day rather 
than the long hot summer. That would make an interesting study. Anybody see any 
long distance migrants still hanging around up North? Anyway, we can't go up 
North because we're stuck at the High Park Raptorwatch and pretty happy as you 
shall soon see.

Here's what we've seen so far this September. Below, right after the Raptor 
species you will find the 2017 figure, with the September 2016 total right 
after that:


Species   Sept. 2017
Sept.2016

Turkey Vulture 1,050
141

Osprey6 
 13

Bald Eagle27
  15

Northern Harrier   12   
   13

SharpShinned Hawk204259

Cooper's Hawk 18
  22

Red Shouldered Hawk7
1

Broad winged Hawk   269372

Red Tailed Hawk 108
108

RoughLegged Hawk   0
 3

American Kestrel  69
  73

Merlin6 
9

Peregrine Falcon8   
 6

un.Accipiter1   
 7

un. Buteo8  
 11

un.Falcon1  
   1

un. Raptor  7   
 11

Grand Total so far1801
1041



Vera Cruz River of Raptors counted Broadwings Sept. 2017 at 429,354 and Sept. 
2016 at 242955. Obviously more to come in the final total which to date is 
613796 for 2017 and 752995 for 2016.


As far as we know there was 1 pair of Red Tailed Hawks breeding in High Park 
this year, with, we think, 2 offspring,

1 pair of Cooper's produced an astonishing 4 fledglings, and there has been a 
Merlin around so often we think it is only a matter of time before they start 
breeding in the Park if not already.

And yes, they all have names.

Our education/ outreach program has been very successful so far this year while 
just getting off the ground. To repeat - all are welcome at Hawk Hill, between 
Sept.1 and Nov. 30 every year

and if anyone wishes to learn Raptor Watching just bring a good pair of 
binoculars, a portable chair, your lunch and come see us. We guaranty results.

If you want to read our numbers daily, along with brilliant analysis and 
flavourful commentary, see the HMANA website

www.hmana.org<http://www.hmana.org>

Hawk Migration Association of North America<http://www.hmana.org/>
www.hmana.org
HMANA is a membership-based organization committed to the conservation of 
raptors through the scientific study, enjoyment and appreciation of their 
migration behavior.





Hawk Hill is situated right beside the parking lot of the Grenadier Restaurant. 
The walk from High Park subway station is most pleasant and the restaurant 
parking lot always has spaces.


See you on the Hill,

Tim


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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Here we go. Between noon and 12:15 we have had 3 kettles of Broadwings 
totalling 73 birds plus an immature Bald Eagle flying with them.
Tim Mccarthy

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptor Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From: Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds

Fellow Birders

Its just around the corner. No, not Christmas. Its the High Park Raptor Watch. 
We need you to come out and give us a hand. If you're new to Raptorwatching do 
not despair. Spend some time with us and I guarantee you will become a good 
Raptor watcher. All you need is a decent pair of binoculars. I will even supply 
you with bins if you don't trust yours. Bring a lawn chair and your lunch 
though there is a pretty good restaurant right beside Hawk Hill.We start 
tomorrow, Sept. 1 and watch every day from around 10 am until mid afternoon, 
right through to the end of November, weather permitting. The middle 2 weeks of 
September are the best days to see Broadwings, the most spectacular of Nature's 
migrants. Best flights occur when the wind is from the Northwest but anything 
can happen on Hawk Hill. Look for the Grenadier Restaurant in the middle of the 
Park and we will be on the hill just to the North of it. Though the trees have 
grown, Hawk Hill is still the best place along the migration ro
 ute to see the largest number of species.

I will not post on this site unless something spectacular or unusual happens. 
Instead, each day take a look at the HMANA site, http://hawkcount.org/. Iff you 
happen to see Broadwings wherever you are please post your sightings.

See you on the Hill, and good Hawking

Tim Mccarthy

[http://hawkcount.org/logofb-1200.png]<http://hawkcount.org/>

HawkCount<http://hawkcount.org/>
hawkcount.org


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[Ontbirds] High Park Nighthawks

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From: Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds


Hello Hawkers

Nighthawkers, that is.

Having read several sighting reports of Common Nighthawks in the past few days, 
I decided tonight to strike out for Hawk Hill tonight to see what's (ahem,) up. 
 Sure enough, I saw a total of 23 Nighthawks between 8pm and 9, which is when 
the mosquitos finally drove me out. Now the trouble with Nighthawks is that 
when they are foraging they are all over the place so you don't know how many 
times you counted the same ones. I think a little later in the season the urge 
to migrate will make them seem to stream past from more or less North to South. 
Regardless, I will be there again tomorrow because its fun.

Looking forward to an itchy night.

Tim
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[Ontbirds] High Park Raptorwatch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

From:Tim Mccarthy, via Ontbirds

Greetings, birders.

In just a few short weeks it will be once again time for the Raptorwatch 
season. Starting Sept. 1,and going through to the end of November we will be on 
Hawk Hill in High Park every day weather permitting from 9:30 am or so until at 
least mid afternoon.

You are cordially invited to join us whether its for a brief visit or the whole 
season. Don't worry if you feel that you lack experience as one of the main 
purposes of the Raptorwatch is to teach and out-reach. If you join us for a 
time I promise you will be well on your way to being a good Hawk-watcher. You 
can drop in on a day in mid-September when there is a Northwest wind and be 
virtually assured of a very exciting day with the Broadwing migration all 
passing through at once.

And here, if I may throw in a little urging, wherever you are during the month 
of September look up now and then for Broadwinged Hawks. Please report your 
sightings.

But the High Park experience is best enjoyed by coming out and staying for a 
few hours as many days as you can. That way you get to enjoy the passing of the 
season.

I will not post here regularly unless something outstanding is seen. To see our 
daily tally and that of all the other Raptorwatching sites please go to HMANA's 
webpages at www.hawkcount.org.

[http://hawkcount.org/logofb-1200.png]

HawkCount
www.hawkcount.org



Hawk Hill is just to the North of the Grenadier Restaurant just about in the 
middle of High Park. There is ample parking nearby if you drive,and the High 
Park subway station is an easy invigorating walk away.

When you come bring a good pair of binoculars, sunscreen, a hat and other 
clothes to suit the weather and a lawn chair if you plan to stay for a while. 
Bring your lunch unless you wish to buy it at the Grenadier Restaurant. Keep an 
eye on the weather reports and if you see a day coming up where there is going 
to be rising pressure accompanied by winds from the North or West we're going 
to have more fun than a kettle of Broadwings.

Good Hawking,

Tim
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[Ontbirds] Whimbrel Watch Col. Sam Smith Park May 27,2017

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

If you were a Whimbrel with a coat of non-waterprooffeathers that flew nonstop 
for a couple of thousand kilometers what would you do if you encountered a 
storm along the route?  1) Land someplace a soon as possible and hope it was a 
safe place? Even if you knew it from before how would you know that it was 
going to be still safe? And if you were safe how would you know that the storm 
was going to pass over soon enough that you could get going again? The long 
direct flight is probably out of the question now that you have stopped. Now to 
continue, you will need to rely on more safe stops before you reach your goal.

Would you risk the lives of all members of your flock and lead them into the 
storm? The only thing you might know about it for sure is the wind direction. 
Your flock is composed of mainly strong flyers but they will need water 
sometime. There will be virtually no food available until your flock reaches 
its goal. Many of your flock are not as strong as they once were due to 
pollution of their main stopover area and consequent  diminishing of the 
quantity and quality of the Fiddler Crabs and other stuff that used to be in 
superabundance. So starting out less fit, they may have to stop somewhere on 
the way back just to rest for a while.

Now they're going to take longer to get to the breeding grounds but not too 
long or they will miss the opportunity to breed.

2) Does the flock know enough about the weather and alternate routes to 
circumvent the storm? How much of a gamble is implicit?

3) Can the flock fly over the storm?

Whimbrels have a very strong flocking imperative, it seems. What would you do 
if you were the leader and a bunch of birds challenged your decision and wanted 
to split off for whatever reason. There isn't much time to argue or experiment 
with route changes but from a ground observer's point of view it appears that 
they frequently do just that.

Anyway the folks down in Machipongo Virginia think that the Delmarva Marshes 
are mostly empty of Whimbrels. This means that thousands of birds must have 
left Wednesday night and somehow made it past our mini hurricane that we had 
last Thursday. My clothes are dry now but I'm out of ideas.

Today there were 123 Whimbrels in total to make the Grand Total 1922. I reckon 
that's about a thousand short of what it ought to be.

The Park festival was a great success this year. One of the highlights folks 
will remember for a long time was the Least Bittern, seen by many on the South 
Shore of the Marina Lagoon cowering amongst the dogwoods. Wouldn't you?

He might still be around tomorrow and we will be there too.

Good Birding and Happy Snapping

Tim
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[Ontbirds] Whimbrel Watch, Col. Sam Smith Park May 25, 2017

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

>From Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds


Well, the good news is the storm down on the Delmarva is gone and a thousand or 
more Whimbrels left the coast last night as a result.

The bad news is that storm is now here. I stood out there on (actually beside) 
Whimbrel Point in a near hurricane today and didn't see a single one. 
Visibility was pretty bad and the waves were making so much noise you couldn't 
hear much. The birds, if they chose to brave the storm, could have slipped past 
out over the lake or inland. I'm afraid I didn't last very long on Whimbrel 
Point today. The tally - a handfull of Cormorants and one big Chicken.

So I'll put my clothes in the drier and start out fresh tomorrow.

Now there's a favour I must ask of you. My partner Wayne is under the weather 
bigtime so it looks like I'm forced to go it alone tomorrow. Trouble is, I 
absolutely must leave the Watch tomorrow around 9:15 and won't be back until 11 
or so. Is there anyone who could fill in at the Point until I get back? It 
doesn't look like the weather is going to be as bad and there might be a few 
Whimbies in the air.

Whoever its going to be, thanks in advance.

Tim
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[Ontbirds] TOC outing Sunday, March 5, Humber Bay Park East and points West

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

>From Tim Mccarthy

Posted with permission of Ontbirds

Hi Fellow Birders

I apologise that nothing was posted here from our TOC outing of last Sunday. 
Garth Riley, who was supposed to lead the thing was suddenly called away (to go 
birding down south, the louse) so Kai Millyard, the designated assistant guide, 
asked me if I would help out. Never led a group before but I like Kai so I said 
'What the heck?" The day before the walk, Saturday, Kai and I scouted the route 
and found some pretty good birds though not a lot of them, 2 of them being 
Yellow Rumped Warbler, just off the road to the end of Humber Bay park West, in 
the thickets out behind the little building about halfway to the end that kind 
of looks like a boat house. Its on the East side of the road along with a 
little parking lot. And at the very  West end of that road an Osprey flew over 
our heads. A fellow there remarked that he had seen that bird for 3 days 
running so you might see it too. Just keep looking up. Now I realize that I'm 
talking about birds that move around, and weren't even there fo
 r the walk. But because they are movers if you want to see them there tomorrow 
there might be a chance, so go. As for birds seen on Sunday's actual walk, well 
I guess you can read that report on E-Bird. If you were there, well, you'd of 
already seen them. If you weren't there well, so what?

So morning of the outing, Kai calls me, sick as a Red-tail that's just 
swallowed a Teddybear. Leaving who as the leader? OMG its me!

Luckily, Justin Peter showed up just in time , and volunteered to be the actual 
leader, leaving me to do the colour. I love that guy. He taught us so much on 
that walk about aging and sexing ducks and gulls and stuff like that. If you 
are ever out with Justin make sure you stay close to him and listen. The man is 
a fountain of knowledge.

Now me, come Sunday I failed to put anybody on to the Yellow rump, 
unfortunately, but I did produce a few other goodies who are on territory right 
now. This means that you can go right out there and see them today. Guaranteed. 
And the weather won't be nearly as bad as it was last week, Better than reading 
about somebody else's sightings, right?

If you want to see a Northern Mocking Bird all you need to do is drive out to 
the end of the road on Humber Bay Park West. When you get to the parking lot on 
the right at the very end of the road you will see a berrybush about 10 feet 
from your car. The Mocker is in that bush. Well, most likely, anyway. This time 
of year Mockingbirds are getting hard up same as everybody else, and spend most 
of their time defending a good source of food like that Berry Bush.

While you are driving around by the water, look out into the lake for all kinds 
of ducks. It is their mating season and if you watch closely, you can see  lots 
of interesting behaviour which is the real showpiece of this season.

I'm working on imitating some of their dances. Told you I was doing colour.

The rest of the goodies all appeared at Col. Sam Smith Park. The immature King 
Eider was on the East shore of the Red-Necked Grebe pond. You could reach out 
and touch him almost. I think a couple of our photographers in the group my 
have tried to do just that. Regrettably, I was not close to the event or I 
would have asked them to stop. Folks were disappointed that the big fellow 
didn't look like he does in their field guide, but if you take a good close 
look, you would see that in a sort of muted way, he is very beautiful. All 
immature and female ducks are like that. Beautiful little guys. Borrow my scope 
if you like. That's why I carry it.

To round out our day, which contained no real rarities other than the Eider, I 
want to introduce you to a real challenge which no doubt is still present just 
where we found it (well, Justin found it - I let him). Hard to find, hard to 
see, and almost impossible to photograph well, is one of my favourite birds, 
and one of the world's cutest. Just to the Northeast of the Southernmost 
parking lot at Sam Smith is a culvert which joins the pond to a little marsh. 
Start looking there, I mean really focus. Watch for any movement. Pish a little 
if you like. Follow the little creek Northwards and I guarantee within a couple 
of hundred feet you will find a Winter Wren.

Now how was that? An outing report before you do your outing.

See you at Whimbrel Point,

Tim


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[Ontbirds] Whimbrel watch May 30

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Time to get back to our gardening for us Whimbrel watchers as it looks like the 
big flocks are all through. Thanks to Marc Miron for yesterday's addition of 80 
birds (which was substantiated by added details and a photograph) and to Vivek 
Kumar for 3 more and to George Parker for just being there. On the watch today 
we saw no Whimbrels but did have 5 Common Loons, 21 Ruddy Turnstones, 56 
Dunlin, 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Greater Yellowlegs and an American Bittern 
(fly-over). To aid your Whimbrel withdrawal you may look at this website 
http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?keyword=whimbrel
And thanks to all those who helped us track this exciting event. We'll see you 
all in September for the High Park Hawk Watch.
Tim Mccarthy
  
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[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Whimbrels 2014

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hello Whimbreleers and Whimbrelettes
Today at Whimbrel point I think we got the closing show. Only 218 birds were 
seen leaving Virginia last night and we at Sam Smith actually saw more than 
that today. From 5:45 am to 10:30 there were 323 birds in 5 different flocks 
making the grand total since May 19th 1,964!
The flocks came through regularly from East to West as you would expect but I 
had a funny feeling they weren't going straight through but were kipping in 
somewhere that we couldn't see. I've got a few ideas where that might be but 
I'm not telling. Every so often they would come and circle over us, each time 
picking up more flock members. Then they'd all disappear for an hour or so. It 
was kind of like yesterday; it looked like they were trying to land except 
there were far too many of them to land at the Park. Finally, around 1:30 pm, 
just after the sky cleared, the whole bunch of them we figured maybe 300 plus 
birds, came back and did a flypast over our heads. They weren't in line or vee 
like they usually fly but all over the place as far as we could see. Then they 
went up so far in the sky they nearly vanished from sight and with a last 
mighty toodle-oo they started pedalling for Hudson's Bay. 
The last few days have been among the most memorable of my life and I'm glad to 
see a lot of other folks feel the same way. Quite a few who visited the Point 
and stayed to hear our Whimbrel stories did so because of these postings. I 
hope like me, they will be haunted forever by the sights and sounds of these 
wonderful beings. 
Thanks today to Jean Iron, Wayne Renaud, Jan Doherty, Garth Riley, Sue Linn, 
Lucie Kirchknopf, Dave Creelman, Ed Mcaskell, Terry Lewchyshyn, Kivik Kumar, 
Bruce Wilkinson, Ron Harwood, special guest star Roy Allen and finally, Mark 
who just stopped by a couple of days ago to see what we were doing and is now 
an avid birder with his brand new second hand binoculars. I envy him the most 
because the world for him has just become a most interesting place. 
Thanks also to the more important visitors - 121 Dunlin, 24 Semipalmated 
Sandpipers, 23 Blackbellied Plovers, 170 Whitewinged Scoters,7 Ruddy 
turnstones, a Green Heron and a Horned grebe, and most amazingly 181 Common 
Loons.
I'll be back tomorrow morning at 5:30 til noon at least looking for more high 
class company. You would be most welcome.
Tim Mccarthy
  
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[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Whimbrel watch May 25

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hello fellow birders, citizen scientists, geeks, and wouldbee geeks. I'll have 
the attention of all of you before I'm done today.
Today was one of the Colonel Sam's greatest days. I'll get the numbers over 
with first, and then we can do some exciting things, hopefully in a concise 
fashion that will please the skeptics, and end up with a theory and a plan so 
that you can go and see Whimbrels and know when to expect them. Observations 
are useless without a plan.
From 5.40 am to 5.35 pm there were:
1,471 Whimbrels  (1,966 left Virginia last night)
380 Dunlin (probably a lot more)
87 Semipalmated sandpipers (again likely lots more)
82 Common Loons (early in the day)
Great Blue Herons, Black crowned Night herons, White winged scoters, and etc.
 
Today something kinda special happened. We had 37 Whimbrel land on the rocks of 
Sam Smith. They stayed a long time. They were reasonably approachable. And if 
this isn't news that should be kept like a military secret then I don't know 
nuthin'.
Here's why I think this happened:
1. We're in Peak Time for Whimbrels over Toronto, and therefore over Sam Smith 
Park. They show up all over the place but nowhere like here.
2.Virginia told us there were almost 2000 birds on the move last night. They 
started out there with a tailwind and no rain possible i.e. best conditions for 
the start of their migration.
3. There was a strong  Northwest wind blowing from Toronto when I got started 
this morning at 5:30 so it must have got far enough into the Whimbrels so all 
those birds that started off well got slowed down (otherwise there is the  
possibility of them flying through in the night and not being seen over Toronto 
.)
4.It takes a Whimbrel with a nice tailwind between 9 and 11 hours to get from 
the Virginia barrier beaches to here so when the gittin' is good, they may fly 
over us in the dark.
5. Because there were many birds leaving Virginia (a given) and there was a 
strong headwind (no doubt) the probability of a lot of flyers slowing down and 
bucking strong headwinds as they approached Toronto was extremely high.
 which means that instead of seeing flocks moving rapidly from east to west and 
disappearing you should see some birds circling around and picking up 
stragglers as their numbers increase. They're tired and stressed because 
they're over budget. And they will fly over your head more than once.
You will see behaviour oriented toward landing. Its easy to see 50 birds coming 
right at you with their feet out..The big flocks fly over but instead of moving 
straight through to the NorthWest they circle back again and again often 
picking up new flock members. You  will get very excited when you know they are 
going to land right at your feet. Your heart will break when they try and try 
but have to move on because somebody shows up with a dog or the guy next to you 
gets excited and waves his arms. (Not you was it?)
6. Here's what you do. Sam Smith Park has structure runing East/ West that 
Whimbrels, if they don't see any dogs or people making quick movements will 
land on to rest. I saw them land 25 years ago when the park was just a 
moonscape and saw it again last year briefly but I did not record the 
conditions. If there are enough of us to guard all the approaches and 
temporarily re-direct 
the pedestrian and bike  traffic a day like today will entice tired birds that 
come in the afternoon to land for a rest. So
7. Peak time ie 24th of May or later,( recently it seem s to be coming a day or 
2 later.), Northwest or West wind, lots of birds confirmed leaving their last 
staging area, and later in the morning than you might think, or even afternoon, 
the exhausted stragglers will be starting to fly slower and slowerlooking at 
landing at your feet. I find this one of the most exciting things that can 
happen in birding, and I know so do you.  So recruit some friends, follow this 
easy recipe and you will have a heart-stopping experience not way up in 
someplace like James bay but right here in our home patch.
Tomorrow.
 
 
 
 
 
  
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[Ontbirds] Report from Whimbrel Point at Sam Smith

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hi to all Shorebirders and Whimbrellizers in particular.
Today at Colonel Sam Smith Park was so different from yesterday I don't know 
where to start. But isn't that just like nature?
The boys in Virginia reported 2,361 Whimbrels leaving their shore last night to 
make a total so far of 5,739 birds. Not exactly darkening the skies but at 
least we're learning about them. Maybe even in time to save them?  Remember 
last night when I asked if anybody out there could unravel the mystery of only 
3 birds in Toronto when 1,548 left Virginia? It might have been Freddy 
Bodsworth but probably one of the reasons below.
 I was told  there are several different paths the Birds may take when they 
decide to leave their staging reas in Virginia take, with Toronto and CSS Park 
in particular  being but one of the birds' favourite fly-overs. Virginia says a 
bird tracked by satellite transmitter may take from 9 to 11 hours to get here. 
So if they say Wally Whimbrel with his radio transmitter left the beach between 
5;45 and 6:15 last night we should expect to see Wally and his Fling 
(collective noun for Whimbrels - isn't scholarship wonderful?) by late 
afternoon unless they've gone via Rochester or whatever. You can actually 
follow some of the birds in real time on the website called Seaturtle.org - 
http://www.seaturtle.org/search.shtml?cx=partner-pub-9193338284454234%3A2zdd5d-zgk8q=whimbrelcof=FORID%3A9
  and of course see bits of alternate routes through this report.
So they reckon we in Toronto and you and me at Sam Smith may on an average day 
get around a third of the birds from Virginia if we're lucky. Thanks so much 
Virginia. All my birdgroupies are going to wanna have your babies. 
Next time around I'm thinking of doing my PhD on factors affecting the 
migration of birds, Whimbrels in particular. (I don't actually have a PhD but 
I've thought about it before).
OK
This morning by the time Pryor and I got to Whimbrel Point Wayne Renaud already 
had 305 Whimbrels, 280 of them in a single flock.( Sorry, fling.) 
By the time I got set up to watch for them the total was over 320. The rest 
came between 3 and 4 pm. so the total for today was 406, and the grand total 
from May 19 to date is now 1,210 birds. 
Wayne and I were both recording so furiously at some points that it may be 
better to let Wayne tell his own story but there were Blackbellied Plovers that 
flew through like arrows and one of my most favourite,  Dunlins. By the 
thousands I reckon. The Dunlins, accompanied by a few Semipalmated Sandpipers 
stuck around to entertain us (sorry, anthropormophification error but don't you 
think Dunlins are a candidate for Worlds' Cutest Bird?) Everybody who came out 
to the Park, all the casual users with kids and dogs and barbecues and Grandma, 
 was treated by the Dunlin display and, coupled with some inspiration provided 
by us, I'm sure emerged from the experience much improved human beings. Except 
for the dogs.
Late afternoon there was a heads-up event brought to you by Mr. Peregrine 
Falcon who swooped through an enormous but slightly  mixed up and complaining 
flock of little shorebirds and to emerge with a Dunlin in his grasp. Was he a 
resident Peregrine? And if so, from where?
Awards consisting of a Timbit for the sharpest eyes went to Kris Ito in the 
womens' category and were shared in the young mens' category by Henrique 
Pacheco and Adam Caparelli while the award for the most enthusiastic (and 
toughest young birder blackbelt did he say?) went to Ben Harrison. Seeing these 
young fellows be such keen birders makes me a little more comfortable about the 
future of the world. And I would almost, but not quite, trade my gold medal 
ears for their incredibly sharp young eyes, and my years of experience for 
their contagious enthusiasm. And thanks, Mom. 
Folks who made the day so pleasant I wish they were on board every day were, in 
rough order of appearance, Wayne Renaud, Dave Pryor, Vivik Kumar, Jean Iron, 
Ron Pittaway, Huey Mcneil Bruce Wilkinson, Mark Cranford, Garth riley, Howard 
Shapiro, Herb Elliott, John Fitzsimmons, Lynn Pady, Debbie Pacheco, Moni 
Harrison, a lady named Adair whom I was so entraced by I forgot to ask her last 
name, a fellow named Mark, who I personally supervised the transition from a 
fairly ordinary bystander to a raving birdgeek in just 48 hours, and about a 
dozen other people who shall remain nameless for the moment through no fault of 
their own. I should have been recording but I got so excited I jumped up and 
hollered like everybody else!
Colonel Sam Smith Park. What a place. Located at the South end of Kipling 
Avenue in Toronto. There is free parking in the south lot but you should leave 
a note on the dashboard that you are birding. Eat at Timmies, use the 
facilities there, bird yourself crazy up in the Bowl and Dogwood Patch and then 
come down to see us at Whimbrel Point. What a day.
Tim Mccarthy
 
  

[Ontbirds] Sam Smith Whimbrel Watch

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

Hello Whimbrelgroupies
Today at Col. Sam Smith Park was no disappointment provided you dressed warmly, 
had rain gear and arrived early. We had 436 of the little beauties fly over all 
between the hours of 6:30 and 9:45.
Flock size ranged from 26 to 114 and all flew straight past heading west. There 
were lots of other shorebirds but this is a Whimbrel report after all. 
Now tomorrow is statistically the biggest day for Whimbrel migration but you 
will want to be there for other reasons too. The weather is supposed to be 
terrific and the Park's bird festival will be on. Keep in mind there are no 
washroom facilities in the park. Last year there were porta-potties at the gate 
put there for the festival but so far the nearby Tim Horton's is it. 
Don't forget your bins and the sunscreen we're going to have a time.
Toronto's Sam Smith Park , of course, is still at the foot of Kipling avenue, 
next to Humber College's scenic Lakeshore campus. See you all there.
Tim Mccarthy
  
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[Ontbirds] Whimbrel Time

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

The peak time approaches for you to see the most exciting of wild birds. Now I 
know that Peregrine Falcons are fast , Yellow Rails are hard to find, 
Worm-eating Warblers are rare, etc. But for pure exotic wildness - sight and 
sound - the embodiment of Mother Nature's essence at its most exquisitely tuned 
best,  nothing beats  good old Numeneus Phaeopus. I was remiss yesterday - I 
told you about Colonel Sam Smith Park but not about how to find it. Take 
Kipling Avenue or 18th Street as its called in New Toronto to its absolute 
Southernmost end. You will find a free parking lot there. Because many 
university students who should use the pay lots just North of there try to park 
in your lot for free, sometimes the Man issues 65 dollar parking tickets. For 
that reason its best to leave a note or your binocular case on the dashboard. 
Note also the Timmy's just North of the parking lot. Thus secured walk South 
along the gravel path until you see a point with a telephone pole on it. (Don't
  miss the non-Whimbrels along the way, Sam Smith is a terrific place to see 
migrating and resident birds in general.)
That's Whimbrel Point and well-named it is. There, if you are patient, you may 
be fortunate enough to see a fling or two of Whimbrels.
Sam Smith Park is the place to see them for several reasons. It is easy to get 
to, compared with Toronto's other reliable Whimbrel site, the Leslie Street 
Spit (aka Tom Thompson Park), there is food and comfort reasonably close to the 
viewing site and most important by far, it appears that the Whimbrels are 
learning to land there if they are not disturbed too much. So please don't 
bring your dog.
Yesterday the Whimbrel tally was 220 birds while today it was 121. They have 2 
peak times of arrival- first thing in the morning, and again in mid-afternoon. 
If you come out to Whimbrel Point in Whimbrel viewing season you will always 
find a member of the Toronto Ornithological Club there with information as to 
when the birds left their last staging ground and therefore how many to expect 
on a given day (but not when).
Tomorrow, Friday, the weather sounds kind of iffy but that should not deter the 
Whimbrels. Saturday and Sunday historically represents the peak of their 
migration over Toronto. So the place will be rockin'.  Then it tapers down to 
just a few birds by the end of May.
 Saturday May 24 is the day for Sam Smith Park's Bird Festival 
(http://www.ccfew.org/html/activities.html) so there will be guided tours and 
stuff. And lots of Whimbrels.
See you there,
Tim Mccarthy
 
 
 
  
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[Ontbirds] Whimbrels at Sam Smith

[Tim McCarthy via ONTBIRDS]

The Whimbrel watch at Col. Sam Smith Park has started to rock and roll. Anybody 
who loves these little guys (and who doesn't) had better call in sick for a few 
days and get on out to Whimbrel Point which is the southeast tip of the park. 
Today we totalled 200 birds which took us 13 hours of vigilance in all kinds of 
weather except rain. The Whimbrel show should just keep getting better for the 
next week or so as the number of birds should increase each day and peak around 
May 24 or 25. So who cares if we shiver a little bit. 
Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds
  
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