At 5:00 p.m. on Thursday May 20th, 2004 this is the Hamilton Naturalists Club birding report:
WILSONS PLOVER BLACK-NECKED STILT * EARED GREBE * WHIMBREL Peregrine Falcon Common Moorhen Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Semipalmated Sandpiper Dunlin Ruddy Turnstone American Woodcock Wilson's Phalarope Black-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker Willow Flycatcher Olive-sided Flycatcher Brown Thrasher Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Northern Parula Mourning Warbler Hooded Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Magnolia Warbler American Redstart Indigo Bunting Grasshopper Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Bobolink Eastern Meadowlark * denotes birds out of the HSA First order of the week are the rarities. The WILSON'S PLOVER discovered last Saturday by Ken Williams was last seen yesterday. There are no reports from today however, this bird has remained elusive and more reports may follow. The bird has been seen at Tollgate Ponds, viewed off of Eastport Drive. A WHIMBREL was seen on Tuesday in the same location but has since flown. Other shorebirds seen this week at this location were Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Dunlin. Other birds, slightly out of the Hamilton Area but noteworthy are the 2 BLACK NECKED STILTS and an EARED GREBE. The stilts have been alternating between Jarvis and Townsend Sewage Lagoons but were seen this morning by myself at the Jarvis Lagoons. On a sadder note, I found a pile of feathers resemmbling the EARED GREBE at the Townsend Sewage Lagoons although I could not produce the head or feet. Obvious to say this bird was last seen yesterday. An attempt to relocate the Little Blue Heron was unsuccessful but yielded a Black-billed Cuckoo instead. Migration seems to have slowed a bit however there are some good reports of birds still around. At Highland Gardens Park in Hamilton, Hooded, Mourning and Northern Parula were all seen on Tuesday along with an Olive-sided Flycatcher. Shell Park in Oakville had Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia all reported today as well as Warbling and Yellow throated Vireo. A walk down Kelson Road today produced Willow Flycatcher, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue and American Redstart. Blue-winged warblers were reported from Westover Hydro Tract. On the sewage lagoon tour this morning, Smithville Sewage lagoons had two pair of Wilson's Phalaropes present in the second cell. A Bobolink was tinkering in the field on the way up to the cell. We stopped at Grimsby as well which yielded 2 Ruddy Turnstone in the north cell. Be sure to heed the No Tresspassing signs for the north cell. Courtcliffe Park is home to a family of American Woodcocks as well as Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting and Eastern Meadowlark. A Lincoln's Sparrow was reported from the Hendrie Valley and Grasshopper Sparrows could be heard singing at Grass Lake near Glen Morris. A Common Moorhen was also present in the marsh there. Baby news, Madame X our Peregrine Falcon on top of the Sheraton has three chicks. The fourth egg appears to be a dud. No news on the Lift Bridge Peregrines, any info would be appreciated. Yard reports this week include Red-headed Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a Brown Thrasher setting up shop in Hamilton. Thats the scoop for this week, further updates on the Wilson's Plover will be posted if seen. Have a great week, thanks for your sightings. Keep them coming. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline (905) 381-0329
