June 4th: McLaughlin Bay Reserve, Beaton Point & Cranberry Marsh

[Shortsighted]

I headed east on the #401 this morning at about 6:45 in order to visit McLaughlin Bay Reserve in Oshawa in hopes of maybe seeing some shorebirds, even though it is a little late for that.  A couple of turnoffs before mine the highway just stopped.  Big accident (apparently) and all the lanes were closed.  I got off as soon as I could.  I didn't mean that the way it sounded.  Once free of the lock-down I managed to get to the wildlife reserve.
Not much to report.  There were Yellow warblers in numbers, as well as a few Common yellowthroat warblers (males), Eastern kingbirds, House wrens and the usual species.  Greg's Pond had swans and two cignets that stayed very close to their parents.  Also, two Common coots and a Morhen.  Once on the beach I heard nothing, not even killdeer.  By the time I reached Beaton Point there were indeed three killdeer and one Piping plover, although its mate was around somewhere.  A small flock flew around but didn't land.  I thought that they were Ruddy turnstone but now I think that they were too small, probably White-rumped sandpipers.
Cranberry Marsh in Whitby was also quite dead.  Geese and gulls, none of which were unusual species.  An osprey did fly by while being harassed by blackbirds.