Birders, A concentrated effort to turn up a Neotropic Cormorant from my Condo (301 Frances Ave in Hamilton) has turned up a noteworthy bird both yesterday and this morning. Thankfully I managed better photos today. A link to view them is here:
http://www.blog.peregrineprints.com/2013/08/condo-neotropic-cormorant.html Every morning or the past several days, very large numbers of Cormorants have amassed from Confederation Park to Sayer's Park in Hamilton. They sit on the water for several minutes to a few hours, but eventually the entire group slowly takes off - and large strings of birds fly east. This is how the bird has been detected the past few mornings - looking like a Cackling Goose among Canada Geese. It is very easy to pick out large and small Double-crested Cormorants from the groups - but the real deal is startling when you see it. Based on this behaviour - I can only assume the bird roosts each day somewhere in Hamilton. Perhaps an enthusiastic observer can find it sitting somewhere in the afternoon... Other recent highlights include an adult Long-tailed Jaeger (Aug 18) a first alternate Parasitic Jaeger (Aug 18), a juvenile Black Tern (Aug 17) and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Aug 18 and Aug 20). A Rosy-faced Lovebird also provided some fun on Aug 17th. A more detailed list of sightings since August 13th can be viewed here: http://www.blog.peregrineprints.com/2013/08/condo-birding-update-aug-13-to-19.html Good Birding! Brandon ____________________ Brandon Holden Hamilton, Ontario www.PeregrinePrints.com Directions: For the Cormorant - I would suggest a very early start (by 7am) at a good vantage point on the lakeshore (perhaps Green Rd or Fruitland Rd) and the "fly past" usually occurs before 10am. However be warned that the views are likely to be unspectacular beyond seeing a dark small Cormorant... Exit the QEW at Fruitland Rd and follow it north to the Lake (for Fruitland Rd). For Green Rd. - exit Fruitland Road - go north turn left onto the North Service Road (west). Follow it 2.5km to Green Rd and turn right - follow until you reach the lake. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
