With strong SW winds and rain overnight,with similar conditions continuing nearly right until the trip started, I admit the outlook for the trip looked a bit bleak. Nevertheless, nearly 40 faithful birders met this morning at 8 AM at Hutch`s on the Beach for the annual Hamilton OFO trip.
Conditions for lake watching were far from ideal and early scans of the lake turned up very little save 3 common gull species and 4 Greater Scaup. With this in mind, we started birding immediately at Van Wagner`s Ponds. Things definitely started slow,winds continued to blow,and birds were hard to come by, and the ones that we did see were skittish and did not show well at all. Flyover Common Loons and Common Merganser were noteworthy however. About 45 minutes into the trip,the sun came out, and things really started to pick up at the east end of Van Wagner`s Ponds where we encountered large groups of passerines.The majority of these birds were the vanguard of the later expected migrants such as White-throated Sparrows, Kinglets, and Brown Creepers. However a strong showing of 15 Winter Wrens was a good count for the species. Fox Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, Rose-breasted grosbeak,Swainson`s Thrush, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were highlights for some. Warblers were well represented with Yellow-rumped, Nashville, Magnolia, Palm, Black-throated Green, Cape-May(photographed), Northern Parula,and a highlight for many in the group was an Orange-crowned Warbler seen by many as it was catching insects in a goldenrod patch. The crown jewel of the day came when the group watched a migrating Peregrine Falcon fly inland off the lake, only to be dive bombed and hit by a second Peregrine Falcon. As if that was not good enough, a third Peregrine was sitting atop a hydro tower screaming at all the action, allowing for excellent looks. After a heart healthy lunch break at Hutch`s, we continued to Windermere Basin where winds were high and problematic for viewing. However, good birds were still had. A late juv. Broad-winged Hawk was seen by some of the group, and a getting late Osprey was another high flying migrant. Shorebirds were well represented with Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin,with a getting late Least Sandpiper and a late Samipalmated Plover. Overall, the group tallied 81 species. A respectable number for a day that did not have ideal conditions. I thank Lisa Teskey for compiling and Andrew Don helping with leading the trip. Thanks also to everyone who attended and helped put others on birds. It was a team effort and a fun filled day. I look forward to the next one. attendees E-bird checklists will be shared later this evening Len Manning _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
