Large numbers of Whimbrels (over 2000 today - 23 May 07) are passing
through Toronto, Ontario along the northwest shore of Lake Ontario.
The short peak of Whimbrel migration is now. Most Whimbrels pass
through southern Ontario during a short period of a few days at this
time every year. There are two main populations of Whimbrel in North
America. The Toronto birds are part of the eastern population. This
population departs the Atlantic coast mainly south of New Jersey and
crosses the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States going
mainly to Lakes Erie and Ontario, occurring mostly along the Canadian
(north) shorelines of both Great Lakes. They are less frequent west
of Lake Huron. From southern Ontario they will continue north to
wetlands near the coast of Hudson Bay in Ontario, Manitoba and
southern Nunavut. Whimbrels generally arrive on their breeding
grounds in northern Ontario and at Churchill, Manitoba in late May
and very early June. There is additional information in the two photo captions.

Photos of Wednesday's flight in Toronto
http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebirds/2007/whimbreltoronto.htm

Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway
Toronto ON
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