Frankenstorm at Point Edward

I went to work today wondering what Point Edward would be like.  Maybe TOO windy for birding?
Well, I had to go to Sarnia anyway later today (luckily) so I left work early and arrived at the lakewatch spot just after 4 p.m.
Many people were coming and going to get a look at the lake.  Non birders of course.  However, I managed to get my favourite parking spot right away at the very west end.  Here you can see the start of the river and anything coming and going.
It was an incredible sight!  Hundreds of birds everywhere having fun in the wind.  They would head into the lake into the wind and drift back and repeat the process over and over.
Firstly, six Brant geese were on the lawn right in front of me.  Very nice to see.  They stayed in the area the whole time but once in a while would get up thinking they could fly into the wind.  They got nowhere.

It was a challenge to try and watch all the birds in bad visibility at times.  With sustained winds at 60+ km/h one could not get out of the car.  I managed to pull up the scope a few times in the car and look at particular birds.  The two phalaropes were one, then the Franklin's Gull.  The phalaropes appeared to be Red, as at one point they came fairly close and I got the scope on them.  Although one could not tell bill size, wing pattern was obvious.  On the other hand, Red Phalarope is more likely at this time of year and more likely in this scenario.
Earlier I thought I had a Franklin's Gull, but due to visibility and movement I was not sure.  Then later I saw it again and got the scope on it to confirm.
At one point I spotted a jaeger fairly distant but it never came very close.  Mike Bouman, who had been there a while and was beside me saw it as well.  Jaeger sp.
Only five minutes after Mike left, a jaeger came in fairly close and I was confident it was a Parasitic.
Mike also mentioned a kittiwake.  Not surprising in this weather!  Early on I saw a bird on the water that looked like a kittiwake.  Again, not sure due to bad visibility and motion.  I kept watch for it and just before it was too dark I saw it come out of the river.

Hundreds of ducks were present heading into the wind, drifting down with the current and repeating the process. I notice quite a lot of White-winged Scoters today.  A few Black and Surf were there as well.  I did see one small dark duck, possibly a Harlequin, but not sure. I would not doubt if one or two was around.
Several Horned and Red-necked Grebes were present as well.
Photos are courtesy of Mike Bouman and much appreciated.

Below is my post to Ontbirds which sums up the situation:

Brant Geese (6) --on the ground until dark right in front of my vehicle.
Parasitic Jaeger (juv) --a little before dark as it came in fairly close.
1 jaeger sp. (possibly above bird earlier, but not sure)
Red Phalarope (2) --seen several times, but I am confident of ID due to
past experience.
Sanderling (~13)
Franklin's Gull (ad.) --well seen --saw it earlier but not sure at that time
due to visibility
Thayer's Gull (ad.)
Black-legged Kittiwake (juv.) --knew it was there (Mike Bouman told me about
it). I did not see it until almost dark as most birds came out of the
river.
all three scoter species --lots of White-winged
several duck species.

It was incredible to see so many birds in such a brutal wind. Binoculars
were well used the entire time. I expect tomorrow these birds and more will
be around. No place to go!