On Friday, Jan 13th, 2012, this is the HNC Birding Report: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD GRAY CATBIRD BROWN THRASHER ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER WILSON'S WARBLER COMMON YELLOWTHROAT BOBOLINK
Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Common Loon Black-crowned Night Heron Merlin Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Northern Flicker Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler Field Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Snow Bunting Common Grackle White-winged Crossbill The list has dwindled but for mid-January who can complain about a list with the capitalized birds above. The Hamilton area continues to be a hot spot in the province. We will start with the top. The MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was seen up until mid-week probably still about, thriving nicely on what seems to be a rich supply of caterpillars in the area. Colder temperatures might bring it into the Multiflora Rose by the side of the road. It seems to be hanging out with a male Eastern Bluebird which gives nice comparisons of the two species. White-winged Crossbills have been recorded by a couple of observers in the vicinity. Bayfront Park was still a hotspot up until mid-week. The ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen half way down the waterfront trail on Wednesday. At the same time the WILSON'S WARBLER was still being seen on the trail near the marina as of Wednesday. Hopefully these cold temperatures won't mean the demise of these goodies. A group of Cackling Geese, Common Loon, Black-crowned Night Heron, Glaucous, Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gull and Yellow-rumped Warbler were birds seen in this location . Up in Saltfleet on 10th Road east, the BOBOLINK continues to be reported as of Tuesday. A hardy bird for these conditions to be sure. On Townline Road where it intersects with Saginaw Road in Cambridge a small marsh just north of this intersection has been host to a wintering COMMON YELLOWTHROAT last reported Saturday. Another hotspot in the area is the Royal Botanical Gardens property off of Old Guelph Road. At the Arboretum on the trails descending from the Nature Centre, a GRAY CATBIRD was seen last weekend at the bottom of the hill and further along the Captain Cootes Trail, a BROWN THRASHER was flushed from the water side of the trail just where the water runs under the trail. This bird was also seen along the hillside and was actually singing in the warmth on Wednesday. Also seen here were Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen for a brief time at the Desjardins Canal in Dundas on Wednesday. The Lake Ontario Winter Waterfowl Count occurred last Sunday, not too many reports from the area. A group of Tundra Swans were seen near North Island viewed off of Eastport. The Cackling Geese from Bayfront Park were also a highlight. Owls are in the news this week with Snowy Owls being reported from Tollgate Pond, the QEW and Guelph Line on a light standard, perched on the Home Depot at the QEW and Burloak and on 9th Line in Oakville north of Burnathorpe. It is definitely an invasion year for this species. A Short-eared Owl was seen at a field on Great Lakes Blvd near Rebecca on Wednesday and Long-eared Owls were seen at Bronte Creek Provincial Park mid-week. In the odds and sods, Cackling Geese were seen along the Grand River by the Brantford Golf and Country Club on the Brantford Christmas Count last Saturday. A Merlin was present at Sherwood Forest Park today. A Hermit Thrush was seen on the east side of Central Library in Burlington last Sunday. The Field Sparrow continues at Valley Inn on the hill on Valley Inn Road. White-throated Sparrows were seen in the Appleby Creek bed today. The Fox Sparrow continues to be seen at the feeders at the maintenance yard of the Hamilton Conservation Authority on Mineral Springs Road. A large flock of Snow Buntings were seen on Great Lakes Blvd/Burloak Drive north of Rebecca today. A Common Grackle was a welcome guest at a feeder in Aberfoyle. Frigid temperatures and snow cover means "Get those feeders stocked!" Even if you are feeder watching in these temperatures this weekend, please report your sightings! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC _______________________________________________ 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/
