At 6:40pm, Thursday, May 15th, 2003, this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report. The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights, unless an unusual bird turns up in the Hamilton area.
Good news! Hamilton's PEREGRINE FALCONS are the proud parents of at least one and possibly two chicks. Appropriately, the first chick is thought to have arrived on May 11th, Mother's Day. More good news, this time from the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. So far this season, the NPH has been without a significant rarity, until Wednesday. The lone bird counted yesterday was a MISSISSIPPI KITE. Migrants were plentiful this past week. At Shell Park in Oakville at least 10 species of warbler were seen, along with WHIP-POOR-WILL, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. A possible sighting of a RED-FACED WARBLER at Shell Park has not been confirmed. Nearby at Shoreacres/Paletta Park, 15 species of warbler were reported, including MOURNING WARBLER, CERULEAN WARBLER, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and BLUE-WINGED WARLBER. Other species seen at Shoreacres were LINCOLN'S SPARROW, SCARLET TANAGER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, BANK SWALLOW, LEAST FLYCATCHER, and BROWN THRASHER (to name a few). In and around the RBG, a NORTHERN PARULA WARLBER was spotted on the Spencer Creek Trail, BALTIMORE ORIOLE and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK were reported from Cootes Drive, five species of warbler, plus RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, WARBLING VIREO, GRAY CATBIRD, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW were seen near the Nature Centre, and a morning fallout at the Hendrie Valley produced nine species of warblers, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and INDIGO BUNTING. Another observer at Hendrie Valley noticed a PINE WARLBER and a RED-TAILED HAWK chick in a nest near the cemetery. Other local reports include RED-THROATED LOON at Spencer Smith Park, BALD EAGLE at Binbrook Conservation Area, CERULEAN WARBLER at the Waterdown North Wetland Trails, WILD TURKEY on the 7th Concession Flamborough, plus WILLET and BLACK TERN at Tollgate Ponds/Pier 24. Subsequent searches for a LITTLE BLUE HERON reported from Christie Conservation Area on Friday were unsuccessful. Lots of spring migrants turned up in area yards. Six species of warbler plus BALTIMORE ORIOLE and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were reported from Beamsville, while INDIGO BUNTING, SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, GREAT HORNED OWL, and COOPER'S HAWK were reported from Caledonia. East of Caledonia, a number of BALTIMORE ORIOLES were joined by an ORCHARD ORIOLE, while COMMON FLICKER and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK were reported from the East Mountain, a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was seen in a Burlington yard, and COMMON FLICKER and GRAY CATBIRD were reported near the Kenilworth Access. Out of town rarities include LITTLE BLUE HERON, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, TRICOLORED HERON, RUFF, and COMMON EIDER at Pelee, plus BLUE GROSBEAK, LECONTE'S SPARROW, and LARK SPARROW at Rondeau. Oddly enough both Pelee and Rondeau reported MISSISSIPPI KITE and FISH CROW this past week. Last but not least a trip to Long Point yielded 80 species, including 19 species of warbler, SANDHILL CRANE, PEREGRINE FALCON, and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. Be sure to let us know about your sightings this week. Leave your name, telephone number, as well as the time and date of your call. Sightings can also be reported by e-mail. GOOD BIRDING! Keith Dieroff C/O Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report Hamilton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hamilton Naturalists' Club Tel: (905) 381-0329 ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca Keith Dieroff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
