ONTARIO 
Purple Sandpiper is rarely detected during spring migration in Ontario, but this 
cooperative bird was present at Cobourg, Northumberland County on 28-29 
(here 29) May 2009. Photograph by William J. Edmunds. 
they were last seen flying northward up the 
Detroit River. At least 194 Willets were tabu- 
lated at Point Pelee during the period of 25 
Apr-17 May, with high counts of 85 at Hill- 
man Marsh 27 Apr (BRH, LFR et al.) and an 
additional 43 birds at the same location 28 
Apr (AW et al.). There were surprisingly few 
birds elsewhere, but these included singles at 
Alfred 18 Apr 0MB), at Etobicoke 7-8 May 
(BM et al.), at Foxey, Manitoulin 10 May 
(CTB, RT), and at Embrun, Prescott and Rus- 
sell 29-30 May (PWH et al). In Thunder Bay, 
2 were at the Wolf R. mouth 15 May (GGo), 
while along the Thunder Bay waterfront there 
were 2 on 19 May and singles (probably the 
same birds) on 17, 20, & 22 May QRB). Point 
Pelee hosted 54-r Marbled Godwits during the 
period of 24 Apr-17 May, all at Hillman 
Marsh, with maximum counts of 25 birds 28 
Apr (BRH, LFR et al.) and a different 16 birds 
1 May (m.ob.). Elsewhere in the s., single 
birds were present at Blenheim, 
Chatbam-Kent 9 May (GTH et al), at Gore 
Bay, Manitoulin 14 May (CTB, TL, RT), at 
Amherst I. 16-29 May (K.F.N.), and at 
Presqu’ile P.P. 24 May (MJCB). In the n., 
Thunder Bay recorded 9+ birds during the pe- 
riod of 17-27 May (m.ob.), while one at 
Atikokan 27 Apr (DHE) provided a first local 
record. Collections of shorebirds including 2 
Ruddy Turnstones just w. of Dryden 28 May 
(CDE), and 4-6 American Golden-Plovers 
and 13 Whimbrels 30 May-2 Jun at Dinorwic 
(PB), furnished rare sightings for that area of 
Kenora. Red Knot reports continue to be few, 
and the only numbers reported were 60 at 
Cobourg, Northumberland (CEG) and 91 at 
Presqu’ile PR (RIS et al), both 28 May, and 
another 60 birds at Kaiser Crossroad Wetland 
31 May (GDB). A flock of 6 Sanderlings at 
Fish Pt., Pelee Island (ACP) was certainly un- 
usual for the early dates of 30 Apr-2 May. A 
Semipalmated Sandpiper at Hillman Marsh 22 
Apr (AW) was very early but 
not record-early for Point 
Pelee. Extremely rare in 
spring, a Baird’s Sandpiper was 
observed at close range along 
the Toronto waterfront 28 May 
(ALA). A Pectoral Sandpiper at 
Munster, Ottawa 28 Mar (VBL) 
was locally very early. Rarely 
reported in spring, single Pur- 
ple Sandpipers were intercept- 
ed at Presqu’ile P.P. 24 May 
(WDG et al.) and at Cobourg 
28-29 May (CEG et al). Dun- 
lin numbers at Presqu’ile P.P. 
peaked at 12,000+ birds 24 
May (BMDL et al), an excep- 
tional number anywhere in the 
province. A Stilt Sandpiper at Atikokan 21 
May (DHE) made only a 2nd local record. 
The only reported Ruff was a rufous-morph 
male 4-7 May at Drumquin, Halton (DEP et 
al). Very rare in spring. Long-billed Dowitch- 
ers were at Point Pelee 30 Apr-1 May (5; AW, 
WGL, DRG et al), 9 May (one; RJP, JI, AR), 
and 15-18 May (one; Jl et al); another was at 
Pelee Island 1 May (MVAB, KGB), and 2 were 
at Blenheim 9 May (GTH et al). On 14 May, 
a whopping 256 Wilson’s Phalaropes were at 
the Rainy River sewage lagoons (DHE), a very 
high count for Ontario. The only reported 
Red-necked Phalaropes in the s. were single 
birds at Blenheim 15 May (]W) and at Hill- 
man Marsh 17 May (DF, EB, LM et al). 
GULLS THROUGH GOATSUCKERS 
There were 10,000 Bonaparte’s Gulls at Erieau 
3 Apr QTB), and amongst this flock was an 
ad. Black-headed Gull 0TB)- Three ad. Little 
Gulls at Englehart 25 May (MW, SGe) repre- 
sented a new species for Timiskaming. No- 
table counts for the locations were 10 ads. at 
Erieau 3 Apr QTB), 30 at Port Dover, 
Haldimand 4 Apr (PT), 10 ads. at Kaiser 
Crossroad Wetland 24 Apr (RTS), and 43 at 
Oshawa Second Marsh 26 Apr (TH); by late 
May, first-year imms. were regular at Point 
Pelee, where at Hillman Marsh 8 on 28 May 
was the maximum count (BRH). Single 
Laughing Gulls (all ads.) were found at Point 
Pelee 24-26 Mar (DJW et al.) and 16 QHS, 
JMT, RGT), 25 (BRH, DJW), & 28 May 
(BRH); at Blenheim Landfill 1 May (KJB); at 
Rondeau P.P 13 May (CCh); at Long Point Tip 
17 & 24 May (L.EB.O.); and at Cobourg 28 
May (CEG). An ad. Franklin’s Gull at Thun- 
der Cape 12 May (JMW, MEW, JRB, SLS, ARS) 
was only the 4th record for Thunder Bay. Else- 
where, the only reports were a first-cycle 
Franklin’s at Rondeau RP. 9 May QTB), an ad. 
following tillage machinery at Demorestville, 
Prince Edward 17-21 May (SD), and at 
Presqu’ile P.P. 30 May (]HS). An ad. California 
Gull (nominate californicus) at the Tip of 
Point Pelee 9 May QMP, DAG, RVZS) was a 
7th local record. A first-cycle Thayer’s Gull at 
Wheatley Harbour 26 May (BRH) was record 
late for Point Pelee. An ad. Great Black- 
backed Gull was at Thunder Bay 22 Apr 
(AFG), a very rare species anywhere on L. Su- 
perior. Along the Ottawa R., where Arctic 
Tern is regular in spring, 10 were present at 
Constance Bay 24 May QHS) and 2 at De- 
schenes Rapids 31 May-2 Jun (RAB, CAL et 
al). Elsewhere in the s., 2 were at Presqu’ile 
P.P. 16 May (PP, RCe) and one along the 
Burlington lakeshore, Halton 23 May (RZD, 
DRD, CEE). The wintering juv. Pomarine 
Jaeger along the Hamilton lakeshore since 1 
Feb (KMN et al.) was last reported 6 Apr. 
A Eurasian Collared-Dove at Rondeau EE 
22 May (KJB) furnished a 2nd local record. 
Single White-winged Doves were found at 
Blenheim Landfill 24 Apr (KJB) and at Thun- 
der Cape 22-23 May OMW, MEW, SLS, ARS). 
The 2 wintering Great Horned Owls of sub- 
species scalariventris at Leslie St. Spit, noted 
since 14 Dec (JI et al), were last seen 21 Mar. 
Amherst I. hosted a significant 21 Snowy 
Owls 12 Apr (DO, MB), with the last one 
there 26 May (PJG). Other late singles were at 
Strathroy 29 Apr (DS) and at Jessopville, Duf- 
Mmt regions of Ontario have recorded Little Gull, but this 
fine adult (along with two others) established a first record 
for Timiskaming District when found at Englehart on 25 
May 2009. Photograph by Michael Werner. 
ferin 22-26 May (MJL); the latter may have 
been the same bird seen se. of Dundalk 28 
May (AR). In the s.. Great Gray Owls from 
winter included last sightings of one at Assig- 
inack Township, Manitoulin 23-25 Mar (JDi) 
and 3 at Dunrobin, Ottawa 13 Apr (m.ob.). 
One at Holland Landing since 14 Feb (DKS et 
al.) was last seen 3 Mar. If not nesting, one at 
West Guilford, Haliburton 7 May (WG) was 
very late. Last of the wintering Boreal Owls at 
Amherst 1. was a single bird 1 Mar (BY et ah). 
420 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
