At 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 29th 2004, this is the HNC Birding Report: Great Egret Merlin American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Sanderling Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Semipalmated Plover * Solitary Sandpiper * Baird's Sandpiper * Least Sandpiper * Semipalmated Sandpiper * Stilt Sandpiper * Short-billed Dowitcher * Yellow-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Marsh Wren Bay-breasted Warbler American Redstart Brown-headed Cowbird
Best bird of the week was a breeding plumage male Bay-breasted Warbler found in a cedar swamp in Halton R.M. located north of Speyside slightly east of Hwy 25. This would be considered an early migrant as opposed to a breeding individual. Time is coming now when the early migrants should be starting on their way. Shorebirds seem to be the most numerous bird around this week. Since Townsend Sewage Lagoons, located just outside the town of Townsend is almost in the Hamilton area, I thought I would include it this week since over 500 individuals have been present in the last few days including Semipalmated Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher. Definitely a place to check out on the long weekend if you have some time. The shores of Lake Erie, traditionally Rock Point Provincial Park, seem to be productive as well. During strong Northeast winds this week, six Sanderling were found along VanWagner's Beach. No jaegers yet but soon...... At our local Grimsby lagoons, water is high with Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs present as well as reports of a nesting Marsh Wren. In the odds & sods category, from the Hopkins tract, a picture was sent to me this week of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo residing there. While stopping in to Staples on Guelph Line for a few supplies, I had a Merlin come over the parking lot with a loud screeching alarm call, a nice pick up to a long day. A Great Egret was reported from Rattray Marsh. A pair of Common Nighthawks were seen over Centre Mall this week. Interesting sighting of the week was a female American Redstart feeding a young Brown-headed Cowbird near Bulls Point at the RBG this week, quite the sight of parasitism at its best. On a follow up note, the potential peregrines near Limeridge Mall turned out to be American Kestrels and our Peregrine fledlings are still being seen regularly in the Hamilton downtown area. That's all for this week, quiet for now. Next week the HNC report will be broadcast on Tuesday evening after the long weekend so email or call in your sightings early. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe 905-381-0329 HNC Hotline -
