On Friday, November 2nd, 2007 this is the HNC Birding Report: CATTLE EGRET
Snow Goose Tundra Swan Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common x Barrow's Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Red-throated Loon Turkey Vulture Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon American Coot Thayer's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Northern Shrike Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackpoll Warbler American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Snow Bunting Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak Another change in the mix for birders in Hamilton this week. The big find of the week were two CATTLE EGRETS just west of Peter's Corners at the intersection of Woodfield Road and Hwy 5. These birds, discovered on Saturday were last reported on Tuesday but may still be in the area. They were seen at the Yellow Briar Farm on the northeast corner of Hwy 5 and Woodfield but also across Hwy 5 at the horse farm. Any reports this weekend would be greatly appreciated. Nearby at Peter's Corner Hwy 5 & Hwy 8) three Snow Geese were seen last Saturday. Other migrants reported this week include the continuation of the exodus of winter finches from the north. This week Evening Grosbeaks were reported in the Flamborough area at feeder, flying over the Dundas area and as flyovers at Woodland Cemetery. Purple Finches were also seen last weekend over Woodland. Common Redpolls have been reported from Fifty Point Conservation Area and in North Halton and Pine Siskins are still being seen at feeders throughout the area. In Ruthven, at the banding station a nice mix of winter finches including Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskins and Purple Finches were seen yesterday. Along the lakeshore this week, an increase in the number of waterfowl and particularly scoters has been noted. Our CommonxBarrow's Goldeneye hybrid is back in the area being seen at Sayer's Park on Wednesday. White-winged, Surf and Black Scoters are also numerous in the area with the number of Surf Scoters being at a potential record high for the Hamilton Study Area. Other ducks seen out at various viewing points on the lake include, Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Red-breasted Merganser. A few interesting gulls have been seen including Lesser Black-backed Gull seen at Van Wagners Beach and another seen along with a Thayer's Gull at Winona Road. Great Black-backed Gulls seem to be on the increase as well. At LaSalle Marina yesterday waterfowl included Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Duck. American Coots are increasing in numbers here and along the trail many Golden-crowned Kinglets were crawling through the trees. An Osprey also was seen yesterday Woodland Cemetery, a traditional spot for hawk migration in the Hamilton Area, did not disappoint this week. Last Sunday a push of Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Coopers and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Goshawk, Merlin and a stunning low fly-over of Golden Eagle were the highlights. Other migrants beside the winter finches listed above include Red-throated Loon, Northern Shrike, Eastern Bluebird and Rusty Blackbird. A Tundra Swan was seen out on the bay from here. At Bronte Harbour yesterday, a female Harlequin Duck was seen at Bronte Bluffs Park. Two late Blackpoll Warblers were seen at Petro Canada Pier and Chipping, White-crowned and Field Sparrows were seen at Bronte Marsh. In the odds & ends this week, Northern Shrike and American Tree Sparrow were seen at Courtcliffe Park. A Peregrine Falcon flew past Canada Centre for Inland Waters and flocks of Snow Buntings were reported from Fifty Point Conservation Area (brrr!!!). *NOTE* This Sunday, November 4th is the Hamilton Fall Bird Count. Anyone birding in the area on Sunday is asked to report their sightings via email to me or phone the hotline. We are hoping to dig up another rarity for birders to come and see. Have a great weekend! Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
