On Thursday, February 1st, 2007, this is the HNC birding report:
SANDHILL CRANE Cackling Goose American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser Wild Turkey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk Peregrine Falcon Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Eastern Screech Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Tufted Titmouse Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Eastern Towhee Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird A quiet winter week in the HSA this week, with only a few goodies to report. The bird of the week was a SANDHILL CRANE last reported on Tuesday at the intersection of Miles Road and Airport Road in Hamilton. This bird apparently has been present for a couple of weeks and is seen a close distance to the road at the fenceline of a horse farm on the northeast corner. Winter listers should look for this bird as it is probably still in the same area. Other significant reports include a couple of Cackling Geese which flew over a yard near 5th Concession and Middletown Road, American Wigeon which have been seen on and off at LaSalle Marina (except when I show up) and a neat find of a large group of 34 + Wild Turkey on Walkers Line and #1 Sideroad in Burlington a rather close locale to the city. There are some good spots to visit for variety this week. LaSalle Park still is a winter home to the Eastern Towhee and the elusive Brown Thrasher. Duck species have significantly increased here with the freezing of other sources of water. There has been significant increases in the numbers of Common Goldeneye, sightings of Canvasback, Redhead and all three species of Merganser. A variety of gulls can be seen here and on the bay with Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull being reported this week. An impressive sight this week was a group of 9 Bald Eagles seen by one observer in the early week. These were mostly immatures but just the sheer number of individuals is rather significant to this area. Bald Eagles continue to be reported regularly on the bay this week. A Peregrine Falcon also has been seen in the lift bridge area. On a field trip into Haldimand and the southern area of the Hamilton Study Area last week, quite a few Northern Harriers are still about, both dark morph and light morph Rough-legged Hawk were seen in various spots, Short-eared Owls were seen on the Oneida Second Line north of Hagersville about 1 km west of Mackenzie Rd. and at a feeder on River Road just south of River Road, a Tufted Titmouse made a nice addition to the field trip list. At the Valley Inn this week the Gray Catbird was seen last Monday. A number of White-throated Sparrows in addition to a White-crowned Sparrow and a wintering Swamp Sparrow are feeding on the boardwalk as well. In the odds & sods this week, a Long-eared Owl gave spectacular views at the RBG Arboretum today, Long-eareds continue to be seen at Parking Lot A of Bronte Creek Provincial Park. An Eastern Screech Owl made a visit to a backyard in the Bevan Road and Spruce Ave area last weekend. A Pileated Woodpecker was seen near Bronte Road and the 407 today. Northern Shrike was reported from the RBG last weekend. A nice flock of 28 Cedar Waxwings were seen on Derry Road just east of Appleby Line and a number of feeders are still reporting Brown-headed Cowbirds. That's the news this week, keep up the reports, winter listing still has another month to go. Thanks and have a great week. Cheryl Edgecombe 905-381-0329 HNC Hotline
