On Friday, November 20th, 2009, this is the HNC Birding Report: CAVE SWALLOW SWAINSON'S THRUSH ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
Brant American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe American Coot Sandhill Crane Pileated Woodpecker Ruby-crowned Kinglet Not too many birds are on the list this week but one rarity and two other species that are super late top the list. CAVE SWALLOWS have been seen everywhere but through my binoculars this week. Four birds were reported at Bronte Harbour last Saturday, another sighting came from the Dundas Hydro Ponds at dusk on Sunday, two were seen behind Canada Centre for Inland Waters on Tuesday and today two more were seen along the western edge of Lake Ontario. Elusive but yet present here in the Hamilton Study area, these birds seem to be on a constant move. A late ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen in a yard in south Burlington Sunday and Monday, a good bird to stick around for the winter listing period. At LaSalle Park, just past the end of the boardwalk a late SWAINSON'S THRUSH was kicked up a couple of times this week. Hopefully this bird stays around for the winter list. Redhead, American Coot and a flyover of a Pileated Woodpecker were also birds seen today. At various points along the western edge of Lake Ontario, ducks seem to be building in numbers. It seems like Long-tailed Ducks have reproduced like fruit flies this year. There are many out there and many to come. Sprinkled amongst them are Surf, White-winged and Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser. Both Common and Red-throated Loon were seen on a lake watch on northeast winds this week. In the odds and sods this week, two Brant have been present at Spencer Smith Park the past couple of days feeding on the lawn. A female American Wigeon was seen off Shoreacres in Burlington. Red-necked Grebes are still being seen off Burloak Park and Bronte Harbour. A Horned Grebe was among the Red-necked Grebes seen at Burloak Park. Sandhill Cranes were seen beside the West River Road just north of Glenmorris Road on Thursday. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen in a yard in South Burlington last weekend. That's the news this week. Anyone that can staple down a Cave Swallow for my viewing may get a reward! Keep looking, Phainopepla, Western Tanager and other goodies in Ontario are all reasons to keep searching. 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/
