On Friday, November 23rd, 2012, this is the HNC Birding Report: EURASIAN WIGEON BLACK VULTURE BOHEMIAN WAXWING
Tundra Swan King Eider Harlequin Duck Red-throated Loon Black-crowned Night Heron Bald Eagle Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Bluebird Cedar Waxwing Nashville Warbler Eastern Meadowlark Pine Grosbeak Purple Finch Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin It's been a little quiet here this week in Hamilton. One more week until winter listing begins and if you considered started winter listing, it gives you drive for getting out and carousing around when motivation is waning. The official winter listing period is from December 1st to Feb 28th and its always interesting to see what sticks around. You don't have to be crazy to winter list but it helps. This week's rarities include a BLACK VULTURE seen yesterday in the Dundas Valley on Sulphur Springs Road. There are still a few Turkey Vultures lurking about for it to associate with. It could be still in the area. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS true to their name of Bohemian have not been seen since last Saturday where they were seen at the RBG Arboretum. Any flock of Cedar Waxwings is worth checking and there are plenty of trees with fruit on to hold them in the area. Also in the history department, the elusive EURASIAN WIGEON present for some but not for this birder was last seen on Saturday at the back of Mountsberg off Leslie Street. There are some possibilities of some good winter birds hanging around. Black-crowned Night Herons are present at LaSalle Park and I expect a number are still at the Red Hill Creek Outlet off Eastport. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were seen in Cootes Paradise in the week, Nashville Warbler was reported from the Northshore of Cootes Paradise and from Riverwood Park in Mississauga. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen north of College Street at the arboretum in Guelph. Fox Sparrows are lurking at feeders in a couple of places and a Purple Finch was a guest at a feeder in Flamborough after being absent in the area. Lastly an Eastern Meadowlark was seen at Fifty Point Conservation area last Saturday, a good spot to find these is south of here on 10th Road East in Saltfleet up on the escarpment. Waterfowl of note this week include Tundra Swans moving through the area with some resting in Cootes Paradise. The Harlequin Ducks remain at the end of Arkendo in Oakville. An immature King Eider was seen off Sayer's Park in Stoney Creek and a Red-throated Loon seen just west of here. Winter finches are getting harder to find in the area as many continue to move south. Pine Grosbeaks were seen west of the nature Centre at the University of Guelph Arboretum last Saturday but were not seen subsequently. A Red Crossbill was seen at Johnston Green also on the U of G Campus. White-winged Crossbills seem to still be about, more heard than seen. Growing numbers of Common Redpolls are being reported in the area in larger flocks. Pine Siskins are being reported sporadically at feeders in the area. In the odds and sods, two adult Bald Eagles were seen over Princess Point earlier in the week, these will likely stay for the winter. Eastern Bluebirds were reported from the RBG Arboretum. The change in weather should drive birds into feeders and perhaps bring some from the north. Please report any unusual birds you see this week that you think should have left by now! Have a great week, 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/
