On Thursday, March 23rd, 2006, this is the HNC Birding Report: KING EIDER GOLDEN EAGLE GYRFALCON PECTORAL SANDPIPER SNOWY OWL
Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Turkey Vulture Gadwall American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Killdeer Eastern Screech Owl Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Belted Kingfisher Northern Shrike Common Raven Eastern Meadowlark More migrants continue to filter into the area despite the cool temperatures we have had this week. New migrants this week include KING EIDER, a male seen yesterday and a female seen today off of Fifty Road. Other birds seen out here today include a number of Red-necked Grebes, a few Horned Grebes, many Long-tailed Ducks, White-winged Scoters and Common Goldeneye. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has been active this week. On St. Patty's Day a dark GYRFALCON buzzed south of the Hawkwatch, a thrill for all. This week there have also been two GOLDEN EAGLES in addition to more Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk and a Rough-legged Hawk. This activity should pick up with warmer temperatures forecast for the coming week. Three adult and one immature, Bald Eagle along with a couple of GOLDEN EAGLES have been reported from the high level bridge on York Road on Sunday. Up in Saltfleet, ducks continue to gather in wet fields. Seen south of Ridge Road between 8th and 10th Road East, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal. In a field on 8th Road West thirty five Killdeer were present along with one very frozen looking Pectoral Sandpiper. Four Tundra Swans flew over the field at the same location. On 10th Road E. Northern Harriers were flying and Eastern Meadowlarks were singing. Owls are in the news this week. There are apparently two Snowy Owls which were observed at the Hamilton Airport in the past couple of weeks. An Eastern Screech Owl was perched in a tree in the downtown Oakville area at dusk early in the week. A pair of Great Horned Owls were hear in Hopkins Tract on the weekend. At Bronte Harbour the Red-necked Grebes are calling in the harbour and a Pied-billed Grebe was present today. At nearby Burloak Park a pair of Belted Kingfishers looked like they were setting up shop in the bank. Up in Flamborough, the Common Ravens seem to be acting as if they are going to stay for a while. These birds were observed last weekend in the same area as previously reported Brock Road and 4th Concession. In the odds & sods this week, a Northern Shrike was seen at the drainage ponds on Great Lakes Blvd. ,Red-bellied Woodpecker was reported from the Northshore/Captain Cootes Trail at the Arboretum and a Horned Grebe was closely photographed at LaSalle Marina. That's our report for this week, have a good weekend. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329
