On Friday, December 21st, 2012, this is the HNC Birding Report: BARN SWALLOW HOUSE WREN RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET BOHEMIAN WAXWING ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER CAPE MAY WARBLER PINE WARBLER BLACKPOLL WARBLER COMMON YELLOWTHROAT EASTERN TOWHEE HOARY REDPOLL
Snow Goose Tundra Swan American Wigeon King Eider Harlequin Duck Wild Turkey Red-throated Loon Common Loon Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Goshawk Rough-legged Hawk Barred Owl Northern Shrike Tufted Titmouse Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Cedar Waxwing Yellow-rumped Warbler Snow Bunting White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin It's all about the quality here in the Hamilton Study Area as Christmas counts and winter listers continue to dig up some good species here. The South Peel Christmas Count was last Saturday and a spectacular seven species of warbler were seen on the count and during Count Week. The heart of all this activity was again at Sedgewick Park in Oakville at the end of Hixon Street. On the count itself, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (2), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (2), NASHVILLE WARBLER and CAPE MAY WARBLER were all seen on count day. A day later a BLACKPOLL WARBLER, likely the rarest of the warbler species to be expected, was seen in the morning. Patient birders had to wait to get a glimpse of this one as it remained elusive and was seen the next morning but not since. It will be interesting to see how the weather affects these birds in the coming days. Any further reports would be appreciated. Heading back up to the top of the rarities, the two BARN SWALLOWS were seen as of yesterday at the Burlington Sewage Treatment Plant along Lakeshore Road. Colder weather might keep them closer to the tanks this weekend. As well there are a growing number of Yellow-rumped Warblers with a dozen being seen. These should also be checked for other species adding to them. Two SWALLOW SP. Were seen on a flyby a high-rise in Stoney Creek on Green Road. A HOUSE WREN was seen in the area of Indian Road in Mississauga where the power line intersects the road right by a church. Attempts to relocate have come up short. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen in a large flock of Cedar Waxwings this week at the Guelph Arboretum. To top of the warbler species this week three PINE WARBLERS were seen on the South Peel Count in Bronte Woods accessed off Chalmers Ave in Oakville. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was seen on the count in Erindale Park in Mississauga and relocated today. Finally an EASTERN TOWHEE was photographed at Rhododendron Gardens in Mississauga, not often found at this time of year. A HOARY REDPOLL was seen at a feeder on Sawmill Road in Ancaster. As always waterfowl is a significant part of winter listing here in the HSA. I will only go through the unusual ones around this week. A Snow Goose was found in a large flock of Canada Geese on the South Peel Count at the stormwater ponds on the east side of 6th Line north of Upper Middle. Tundra Swans American Wigeon, Common and Red-throated Loons continue to be seen down at LaSalle Marina. Another Common Loon was present at Bayfront Park. An adult male King Eider was seen off Sayers Park in Stoney Creek on Wednesday. A Harlequin Duck was seen at an unnamed location on the South Peel count however could have been one of the birds seen at the end of Arkendo. In the odds and sods a group of Wild Turkeys were seen from the GO train at the 403 and York Road west of the ramp at Highway 6. A committee of Vultures were seen resting atop St. Joseph Hospital in Brantford. Two adult Bald Eagles were seen soaring over Sydenham Road in the week. A probable Northern Goshawk was seen at the Guelph Arboretum. A Rough-legged Hawk was spotted on the service Road in Stoney Creek. Barred Owls seem to be on the largest invasion in years. Non-specific locations include Brantford, Berry Tract, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, the Bruce Trail between Milton and Georgetown and the Guelph Arboretum. A Northern Shrike was seen at the end of Hazelhurst Road east of Winston Churchill on Lakeshore Road in Mississauga. A Tufted Titmouse is a guest at a feeder in Grimsby. A Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush were seen along with the Sedgewick crew. A small flock of Snow Buntings were seen on the road at Woodland Cemetery. Winter finches are still in the picture here as well. White-winged Crossbills were seen at a feeder in Brantford and at Saddington Park in Mississauga. An increasing number of Common Redpolls are showing up in flocks around the area and at feeders. Pine Siskins are also showing up at feeders around the area so remember to stock your feeders. That's the news this week. Please report your sightings. We are now coming into the Hamilton Christmas Count Period with the count on Boxing Day. Any sightings would be appreciated. Happy Holidays to all! 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/
