Tundra Swan King Eider Wild Turkey Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Sandhill Crane Killdeer American Woodcock Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Eastern Screech Owl Long-eared Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Brown Thrasher Chipping Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Common Redpoll
It's been a slow trickle of migrants up until today but a good strong system from the south pushed migrants ahead of it and birds came in numbers. Probably the most significant move today was Tundra Swans. There were flocks everywhere, some large, some smaller. Birds were seen over Brantford, Burlington, Woodland Cemetery, Dundas and late afternoon a large flock of at least 250 birds were seen from Cootes Drive spiraling down in the marsh. What a great sound of spring this is. Other migrants were moving through as well. Although no numbers have come in today from the Hawkwatch at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby, raptors were flying over Woodland Cemetery including Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawk. A lone Killdeer was heard yesterday at the start of the Hawkwatch in Grimsby and today were reported over Flamborough, East Mountain and Woodland Cemetery. Sandhill Cranes were seen on migration earlier in the week over Deer Run Court in Brantford, over Grimsby and today over Brantford. Small loose flocks of blackbirds including Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbird were seen passing through in a number of locations. The all familiar sound of Red-winged Blackbirds singing could be heard in many places. Earlier in the week American Woodcock were heard displaying and peenting in Bronte Creek Provincial Park Campground and at the RBG property on York Road, just in time to finish the winter list. In the odds and sods this week, the immature male King Eider was seen off LaSalle Marina early in the week. Fourty-four Wild Turkeys were seen on 7th Concession in Puslinch yesterday. Another flock was seen off Centennial Parkway at the top of the escarpment last weekend. Turkey Vultures were seen over Dundas today and another kicked off the Hawkwatch in Grimsby yesterday. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are still about with both species being seen flying over Woodland today. The Red-morph Eastern Screech Owl is still present on sunny days at Woodland Cemetery at the top of the hill before it descends down to where Valley Inn is. A Snowy Owl was still present on the docks at Bronte Harbour as of Monday. Long-eared Owls were found in the Hopkins Tract on York Road last Saturday on an owl prowl. Sadly two Long-eared Owls were found dead by the side of the road on the 403 in the stretch from Ancaster to Brantford, likely hunting for rodents near the road. A Northern Shrike was seen near Clappison's Corners in Waterdown mid-week. Common Ravens are present in North Flamborough/Fletchers Creek area and are likely on nest again. The Brown Thrasher that eluded so many on the winter list, was seen and photographed today at the Royal Botanical Gardens arboretum. The Chipping Sparrow was seen again at the bottom of the Valley Inn Road, the presence of seed here helps in the effort. A Common Redpoll was a guest on Deer Run Court in Brantford midweek. That's the news for now, so much to look forward to. 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/
