Today’s afternoon group had the thrill of seeing several large Whimbrel flyovers.
I quote my grandfather Dr. J. Murray Speirs from his book Birds of Ontario (1985):
In Southern Ontario, the Whimbrels pass through very quickly in late May, often in good-sized flocks. In fall the migration is more prolonged but usually only stray individuals turn up, with other shorebirds on mud flats. If you miss the “big day” in spring you may have to wait another year before a chance to see them. Their passage is always a memorable event, the big brown, long-winged , birds approach in echelons along the lakeshore, sometimes passing over, sometimes circling around a bay, or settling on some promontory to rest.
Here are photos from today’s walk taken at about 2 pm.
Herring Gull:
Today’s 1 pm group:
NATURE POETRY
New flowery scents strewed everywhere,
New sunshine poured in largesse fair,
“We shall be happy now,” we say.
A voice just trembles through the air,
And whispers, “May.” – Sarah C. Woolsey (1835–1905)
Miles Hearn
Thank you for the photos of the whimbrels. I read in “What’s that Bird?” that whimbrels breed in the tundra region.
What a thrill it was today to see these fantastic birds.
Hearing about the tracking methods and seeing the dedication of birders and photographers was not only informative but the sense of anticipation was contagious. As.voiced by a fellow walker, “Thanks Miles for opening our eyes to the many wonders of the nature surrounding us.” 🙏
Thanks for a very special afternoon. The Whimbrels experience was something else!
It made the hair on my neck prickle! First, there was the build-up by way of the wonderful talks, etc. And then–well, it was like the scene of locusts arriving in the movie The Good Earth, only this one was positive! What an exciting experience!