On Friday, June 20th, 2012, this is the HNC Birding Report:
FISH CROW DICKSISSEL Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Stilt Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Common Tern Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Things have remained steady and quiet here in the HSA this week with shorebirds being the focal point of our week however, a couple of unusual birds have turned up in the past two days to give us some flavor. Yesterday the FISH CROW was seen in Bronte around the dinner hour on Jones Street just south of Lakeshore. Today an exciting find of three DICKSISSELS, a male and two females questions whether these birds nested in this location. The birds were seen at Lakeside Park in Mississauga this afternoon. This park has expanded in size and now offers some different habitat for birds. The birds were along the weedy fence line that separates the park from the Suncor Energy plant and grounds within 80 feel of the lake. It seems that the low water levels have made the storm water ponds in the area appealing to shorebirds. Various stormwater ponds through the area should be checked. At the Red Hill Stormwater Pond this week, birds were moving daily. Access to this site off the ramp to the Red Hill Expressway is difficult given the heavy traffic on the Parkway ramp so extreme caution needs to be taken. Here this week highlights were Stilt Sandpiper, two different subspecies of Short-billed Dowitcher and a Wilson's Phalarope. Other birds seen with them here were Semipalmated Plover, Spotted, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated, Least and Pectoral Sandpiper. Townsend Sewage Lagoons also has excellent habitat for shorebirds this week with most being found in Cell 1. Semipalmated Plover, Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated, Least and Pectoral Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher were birds seen. Last week a Dunlin made an appearance record early. Nearby Jarvis Sewage Lagoons are also productive with the addition of a White-rumped Sandpiper to its mix. Hundreds of swallows mostly Tree and Bank are gathering at the Townsend Lagoons, quite a sight to see sitting on the cattails. Northeast winds were blowing yesterday and today down at VanWagner's Beach. It's a few weeks early but you never know what will show up on these winds so it never hurts to check. Two juvenile Bonaparte's Gulls were seen which is an early date to see juveniles of this species. Common Terns seem to be doing well again this year with many young being seen on the lake today. That's the news for this week. Every day is different at shorebird locations so it's wise to check regularly. Another couple weeks will see the passerines starting to move so things will be busier. Don't count out the rarities this time of year, anything can happen. 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/
