On Thursday, January 4th, 2006 this is the HNC Birding Report: BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE POMARINE JAEGER SNOWY OWL BROWN THRASHER EASTERN TOWHEE WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL
Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common x Barrow's Goldeneye Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle American Coot Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Horned Owl Long-eared Owl Northern Flicker Brown Creeper Carolina Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Happy New Year to all! The excitement of a New Year, all new birds to list for 2007. Its been a rather quiet week here in the HSA however a few goodies have popped up to make us take note that birds are still around. The warmer temperatures make it harder to find birds these days however LaSalle Marina has been a good spot to find a variety of land and water birds this week. An EASTERN TOWHEE continues to be seen at the beginning of the Waterfront Trail just off the parking lot. The bird is somewhat elusive but associates with House Sparrows and is often seen on the rocks leading down to the water. Further down the trail, a BROWN THRASHER is still present in the thick brush on the side of the hill close to where there is a circular lookout with a bench. Other birds reported from here this week include Northern Pintail, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, American Coot, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Out at Fifty Point on New Year's Eve Day, a POMARINE JAEGER was seen being harassed and harassing a gull out on the lake. Along the lakeshore, all three species of scoters were seen at various access points and the Common x Barrow's Goldeneye, scads of Long-tailed Ducks, Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead were seen at the end of Grays Road on New Years Day. Earlier in the week a juvenile and an adult type BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE were seen at VanWagners Beach. Out at Tollgate Ponds, a very dark juvenile SNOWY OWL was seen again this week. Likely the bird will hang around for a while. The bird was last reported was New Years Day. Two Bald Eagles were seen from the Northshore Trails/Princess Point on New Years Day. Other birds reported from the Arboretum in the week were Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Brown Creeper and Fox Sparrow. Winter Wren, Carolina Wren, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and White-throated Sparrow were seen behind Olympic Arena. At the Valley Inn this week, Carolina Wren, Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird were reported for those looking to add to the winter bird list. There are many items in the odds & sods this week. Of significance was a male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL reported from the Dundas Valley C.A. It was in NE corner of the old orchard, near the wooden building. Five Turkey Vultures were seen near the Binbrook Dump today. Another Red-winged Blackbird was reported from the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons. At Bronte Creek Provincial Park, many Long-eared Owls were reported from both the east and west side of the park. A Brown Creeper was reported from the Brantford Rail Trail and Eastern Bluebirds were seen at Spencer Gorge on Tuesday. New Year, new birds, new lists, keep reporting your sightings!!! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe 905-381-0329 HNC Hotline
