On Thursday, June 7th, 2007, this is the HNC Birding Report: PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Bufflehead Common Loon Black-crowned Night Heron Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail Common Tern Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Great-crested Flycatcher Carolina Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Blue-winged Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackpoll Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Eastern Towhee Indigo Bunting Short and sweet is the report going out tonight as it is quiet here in the HSA. A survey of many of the migrant traps have come up with only quiet breeding species and only a smattering of migrants this week. A great surprise last Sunday was a call from Bronte Bluffs on West River Street in Oakville. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was heard on the cell phone singing, delighting the finder and several other people who went down to see it. Oddly enough it was seen high in the trees amongst the leaves but remained there all day for people to hear and perhaps get a glimpse of the beautiful species. A family of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were also bouncing about. At nearby Shell Park, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers seemed to be moving through with two being seen here and two at Shoreacres/Paletta Park. Other species at Shell Park included Indigo Bunting and Great Crested Flycatcher. At Shoreacres Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a late Black-throated Green, Magnolia Warbler and American Redstart were seen and/or heard. At Tuck Creek located just off of Spruce west of Walkers Line, another Black-throated Green and Blackpoll Warbler were extrapolated out of the thick foliage. A Willow Flycatcher gave its Fitz-Bew Call and a Red-bellied Woodpecker was heard, the first I have heard this species so close to home. Nearby this park at a residence a Carolina Wren seems to have taken up residence in someone's flower box. Further west, at LaSalle Park the Common Tern colony has been doing extremely well here. A female Bufflehead (hiding during my birdathon) was seen and a Common Loon remains out on the bay with possibly another one flying past Canada Centre for Inland Waters during the week. Black-crowned Night Herons can be seen flying around the bay and juveniles are starting to turn up on the islands off of Eastport Drive. A new spot visited in Flamborough this week at the west end of Concession 5. A vast expanse of field and evergreen forest produced breeding species including Ovenbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Eastern Towhee (MANY!) and Field Sparrow (MANY!) Cuckoos in the news this week, Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard in the Dundas Valley and Black-billed Cuckoo was heard and seen in the HNC property known as the Cartwright Sanctuary off of York Road this week. A Yellow-billed and another pair of Black-billed Cuckoos were viewed at Kerncliffe Park off of Kerns Road in Burlington, and also seen here was a pair of Virginia Rails. Another Yellow-billed Cuckoo was reported from Rock Chapel. Important news on the Peregrine Falcon front this week. Unfortunately, two of the chicks succumbed to a bacterial infection although this could not be confirmed as they were missing from the nest. The other two chicks were also suffering from a bacterial infection and while banding it was decided that one should be brought to Guelph for treatment. The other chick remains on the nest and appears to be doing well. The chicks have been named Blue Foot and Jump Up. In the odds and sods this week a couple of Clay-coloured Sparrows were seen and heard at a nursery near Brock Road and Concession 5. Its quiet out there, but don't stop looking. Rarities could be hiding out there. Keep reporting your sightings, they are most appreciated. Have a great week! Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329
