Fallout of Red Knots in Toronto

The inclement weather is probably responsible for 18 Red Knots in breeding plumage landing on the flooded Ashbridges Bay/Woodbine Beach. Normally they would have flown over Toronto without stopping on migration to their Arctic breeding grounds. Strong east winds and driving rain brought them down briefly.  These birds are the rufa subspecies, which is endangered in Canada. 25 May 2017.

 

VIDEO: Red Knots feeding on flooded Woodbine Beach in Toronto on 25 May 2017

They were very jittery as they touched down, took off and touched down again then started to feed. Please see video link above