On Thursday, January 27th, 2011, this is the HNC Birding Report
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Long-tiled Duck Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Dunlin Glaucous Gull Eastern Screech Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Common Raven Horned Lark Winter Wren Eastern Bluebirds Hermit Thrush White-crowned Sparrow Snow Bunting Purple Finch Pine Siskin It is so quiet here in Hamilton, cold weather is a big deterrent to birds and birders getting out and about. The best find for one lucky birder this past week was a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE seen flying over the lake near Joseph Brant Hospital. This is an excellent record for mid-winter. Other ducks seen on the lake throughout the past couple of weeks include Canvasback, a surprising number of Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, many Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks and a raft of Ruddy Ducks at the Travelodge. As the bay is frozen these ducks are concentrated on the open water of the lake so a scan of the area from Bronte to Fifty Point would be a good way to see a variety of ducks and scoters this time of year. Two weeks ago, a Dunlin was seen at the lift bridge. Peregrine Falcons have also been seen at the lift bridge. One of those birds was flying around downtown Burlington today. The Hamilton Harbour is a good place for Bald Eagles to sit with up to five being seen on the ice this week. Glaucous Gulls have been reported and I am sure that Iceland Gulls are around too. A good place to car bird this time of year is on Sydenham and Fallsview Road near Dyments farm in Flamborough. Here a good number of Horned Larks with Snow Buntings mixed in can be seen with a bit of patience by cruising the roads. A Common Raven was seen here last Saturday. Other good winter birds include Turkey Vultures being seen over Lynden and Brantford, Black-crowned Night Herons wintering at the Red Hill Outlet, Long-eared Owls in the west side of Bronte Creek Provincial Park., a Short-eared Owl seen flying over the lake at Bronte Harbour, Eastern Bluebirds at 5th Concession West and Middletown Road and at 8th Concession West and Westover, Hermit Thrush and Winter Wren in Hidden Valley, White-crowned Sparrows at 14 mile Creek in Oakville and in Caledonia and Purple Finches on Patterson Road. Pine Siskins were seen in Bronte and continue to be reported at feeders in the area. Don't get down from the winter birding blues. Birds will be moving about with weather changes so it's always good to get out. Some of our finest rarities have occurred in the later winter months. 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
