On Friday, January 11th, 2013 this is the HNC Birding Report: PURPLE SANDPIPER BANK SWALLOW RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET SWAINSON'S THRUSH BROWN THRASHER BOHEMIAN WAXWING ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER CAPE MAY WARBLER BAY-BREASTED WARBLER PINE WARBLER EASTERN TOWHEE CHIPPING SPARROW
Wood Duck King Eider Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Ruffed Grouse Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Barred Owl Northern Shrike Horned Lark Tufted Titmouse Winter Wren Eastern Bluebird Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird White-winged Crossbill It's hard to know what to highlight at the top as not all birders are insane enough to be winter listers. Nonetheless, the top of the list highlights birds that are significant for this time of year and kind of fun for all birders to start their year list with. Sedgewick Park in Oakville continues to be a hotspot this week with all five Warbler species being seen although no reports since early in the week. Any recent reports would be appreciated. The CAPE MAY WARBLER has been the least apparent this week. As far as is known the other species continue to thrive here. The big debate appears to be over as to whether we were faced with a Blackpoll or Bay-breasted Warbler. Strong photographic evidence suggests that the bird once thought a Blackpoll Warbler is indeed a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. A big thanks to those who sent pictures and perspectives in on this bird, what a great learning curve! It is a great bird regardless of what species it turned out to be. The ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE and Yellow-rumped Warblers continue to thrive on the midges present here near the tanks and the RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are still in the mix. There are a few more unusual species for the week which include the two BARN SWALLOWS that continue to thrive as of Tuesday feeding in the last tanks across from the Beachway Pavilion on Lakeshore Road in Burlington. A PURPLE SANDPIPER was seen and photographed last Saturday at Burloak Park in Oakville. The bird was seen only briefly and was not refound later in the afternoon but may still be lurking along the shoreline. A highlight of this observers weekend was a SWAINSON'S THRUSH found at Valens Conservation Area last weekend in the campground area near Hilltop bathroom facilities. The bird was seen again on Sunday but not reported since. A PINE WARBLER is an infrequent visitor at a feeder in Bronte but not reported since Sunday. A BROWN THRASHER has been a guest of the Asian Honeysuckle at the Arboretum Centre. A flock of over 120 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen swirling around the Arboretum Centre today. An EASTERN TOWHEE was turned up at Globe Park at the end of Brampton Street in East Hamilton. The bird was first observed at the tennis courts in the park but has had a wide range throughout the park in the week travelling with American Tree Sparrows. The CHIPPING SPARROW was reseen on Old Waterdown Road early in the week. The winter waterfowl count was last Sunday. Conditions were not ideal as light rain and hazy conditions were hampering the count. A few noteworthy sightings came from it though. A Wood Duck was seen at Lakeside Park in Mississauga. A trio of 2 male and 1 female Harlequin Ducks were seen at the end of Creanona Blvd in Grimsby which is east of Winona and west of Fifty Road. Along with this trio a first year male King Eider was seen on Thursday. All three scoter species are present here. Other goodies are in the odds and sods this week for the taking. A Ruffed Grouse is an occasional house guest at a feeder near 8th Concession and Westover in Flamborough. The long-wintering Pied-billed Grebe remains at the Desjardins Canal. Great Blue Herons continue to be found along the shore. Another Great Blue Heron was seen on Highway 6 near Puslinch today as a flyover. Three juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons were found in the Red Hill Outlet viewed from Eastport Road in Hamilton. Four Turkey Vultures were seen on Sager Road just east of St. George. Two immature Bald Eagles were seen near Cootes Paradise. There are still two adult birds around as well. An Iceland Gull was seen at Port Credit Harbour as well as the Burlington Ship Canal. An immature Glaucous Gull was seen from Canada Centre for Inland Waters today. White-winged Gulls seem to be scarce this year. There have been Barred Owl reports from Bronte and from the Arboretum in Guelph although the birds tend to be on the move alot. A Northern Shrike was seen at Windermere Basin mid-week. Winter Wren was reported from Saddington Park. There have been a few Eastern Bluebird reports this week including Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Hwy 8 east of Valens Road, Valens Road and 6th Concession and Kerns Road across from Cityview Park in Burlington. Tufted Titmouse was a new house guest at a feeder in Carlisle and on Concession 1 in Puslinch. It seems to be a great winter for these birds, stock those feeders. A traditional spot for these species along Fallsview Road north of Dundas, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and a single Lapland Longspur were reported in the week. Two Red-winged Blackbirds were seen behind Olympic arena in Dundas last weekend. White-winged Crossbills were reported from Saddington Park and from Fifty Point in the week. That's the news for the week. Warm temperatures tomorrow will move things around again and bring birds and birders out! Please report your sightings here! 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/
