On Friday, April 17th, 2009, this is the HNC Birding Report: Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan American Wigeon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal King Eider Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Pectoral Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Common Tern Forster's Tern Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Common Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Tufted Titmouse Pine Warbler Eastern Towhee Field Sparrow Fox Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin
The momentum builds as the winds which have been everything but south all week are now shifting around to the right direction. Easter weekend was quiet and cool but birders managed to get out and find some migrants. No rarities this week but a few new birds highlight the list. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has been quiet due to winds this week. Turkey Vultures are still coming through in smaller numbers. Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, more Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned Hawks are the majority of the birds reported in the week. This weekend should see the first Broad-wings, if not today! Other birds seen at the feeder and over the tower include Common Loon, Sandhill Crane, Common Raven, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Towhee, Field and Fox Sparrow and Purple Finch. Out in Flamborough this week a check of Fairchild Creek on 5th Concession West near Settlers Road, produced a small number of Tundra Swans, hundreds of Canada Geese, a single Cackling Goose, American Wigeon and Northern Pintail. At the Rockton Berry Farm on Hwy 8 just south of 4th Concession West, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and a single Pectoral Sandpiper were seen in the week. A Field Sparrow was a welcome returning resident to the Klaus Christmas Tree Farm on Kirkwall Road. On 6th Concession West just west of Hwy 6, a flock of 25 Rusty Blackbirds was seen last Monday. A trip down to the south end of the Hamilton Study Area was fruitful for waterfowl. On West River Rd SE of Irish Line (south of Cayuga) an astounding 925 Northern Pintail were counted along the banks of the Grand River along with American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal. In the flooded field on West River Rd at Mount Healy (south of York) Wilson's Snipe (8) and Greater Yellowlegs were seen. Along the river at several places, Ospreys have returned to nest. This southern area of the HSA is also good for Eastern Bluebird. Bald Eagles seem to have set up shop at the end of McClung Road and can be seen cruising the Grand. Down at the Hendrie Valley this week a Great Egret continues to be seen in the north pond. A Tufted Titmouse was seen checking out nesting holes. Tree, Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows were seen over the ponds here. In the odds and sods, a Pine Warbler was heard at LaSalle Park yesterday. Pine Warblers were also seen near Felkers Falls C.A. up on the east mountain yesterday. Pine Siskins are still being reported in a number of areas, report any nesting activity you see. On the lakeshore a single Forsters Tern was seen last Sunday and a Common Tern on Tuesday. Off Millen Road a 2nd year King Eider and several Red-throated Loons were seen in the week. On 8th Road East in Saltfleet more Greater Yellowlegs are passing through the flooded field on the west side just north of Ridge Road. Horned and Red-necked Grebes were seen in numbers off Shoreacres/Paletta Park in Burlington yesterday. That's the news for this week, this warm push of air should bring in new migrants. Please report your sightings. Good Birding, 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/
