On Friday, February 27th, 2009 this is the HNC Birding Report: KING EIDER RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET HOARY REDPOLL
Snow Goose American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Red-necked Grebe Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon American Coot Lesser Black-backed Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Common Raven Horned Lark Brown Thrasher Purple Finch White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Tomorrow marks the end of winter listing season and although its sad to see it end its also hopeful that this weather will turn around soon! Much the same activity remains here in the Hamilton Study Area this week although there are still a few winter goodies around to get. Birds found this week worthy of getting on the winter list were KING EIDERS, three of them found at Fifty Point Conservation Area. One immature male was seen today at Green Road. A surprise sighting for me today of a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET in the 40 Mile Creek ravine located at the end of Elizabeth Street in Grimsby east of Christie Street. This bird must have survived the winter in the protection of this area. Also still about are HOARY REDPOLLS with individuals being seen at Chappell House at Riverwood Park in Mississauga last weekend and a report of one a feeder in Lynden earlier in the week. A Red-shouldered Hawk was seen at Bronte Marsh last Saturday. Also of note for winter listing, the Brown Thrasher continues to be present at Riverwood Park in Mississauga and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Snow Goose were seen in the Wilkes Dam area of Brantford during the week. As usual for this time of year in the Hamilton Study Area, ducks seem to be a major part of the birds seen in the area. This week in Windermere Basin, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Red-necked Grebe and American Coot were among waterfowl noted here in the week. On the lake at Fifty Point along with the King Eiders, many Long-tailed Ducks, Redheads, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye and Surf Scoters were seen spread out along the lakeshore. The ice is receding on the bay now so gulls and eagles sitting on the ice are less common. On the ice that is remaining however a spectacular number of Glaucous Gulls have gathered here, seen from LaSalle this week. A total of 40 individuals were counted on the harbour from LaSalle on Wednesday. Also seen out here was a 1st year Lesser Black-backed Gull and an Iceland Gull. Three immature Bald Eagles were seen over the east end of the harbour this week. Birds seen up in Saltfleet this week include Northern Harrier and Rough-legged Hawk on 10th Road East. A Snowy Owl was seen last weekend at the corner of Mud Street and 6th Road East at the Stoney Creek Airport. Horned Larks were seen flying off the side of the roads at various places up here in the week. Out in the Flamborough Area this week, two Common Ravens were seen on Brock Road between 4th and 5th Concession West. A Northern Shrike was seen on Brock Road south of Concession 4. Winter finches still seem to be about with Purple Finches being seen at the RBG Arboretum and at a feeder in South Burlington this week. White-winged Crossbills seem to be still around with small flocks being seen at the RBG. Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls are still being reported at feeders throughout the area. In the odds and sods this week, two Turkey Vultures were seen over Brantford today. A Pied-billed Grebe is still present at the Desjardins Canal. At LaSalle Park, a single American Wigeon was seen. A Merlin was seen in the Queenston Road and Lake Street area this week and a Pileated Woodpecker was a good yard bird added to a residence in Dundas and Brantford during the week. Eastern Bluebirds were also seen at Deer Run Court in Brantford during the week. That's the news this week. Spring is just around the corner. Please continue to report your sightings! 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
