HARRIS'S SPARROW PAINTED BUNTING Snow Goose Cackling Goose American Wigeon Black Scoter Ring-necked Pheasant Common Loon Horned Grebe Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk Merlin Thayer's Gull Glaucous Gull Northern Shrike Horned Lark Winter Wren Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin American Tree Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Pine Siskin Common Redpolls
The deep cold of winter has not deterred some birders from getting out to scour the area. This week's great find was a HARRIS'S SPARROW found on the Sheldon Creek Trail in Oakville. The bird was found last Saturday at a feeder along the trail between Burloak and Great Lakes Blvd. Due to the kindness of birders, seed has now been put out on the north side of the trail east of the entrance in from Willmot Park off Willmot Crescent in Oakville. Please keep your distance to let the birds come in and feed, it is of great importance during this bitter cold. Other birds seen with the sparrow include White-throated Sparrow and Pine Siskins who are quite vocal. Two Winter Wrens were heard along the creek. Our other feeder star the PAINTED BUNTING continues to be seen at the end of Arkendo feeding along the ravine. This bird has endured the cold but seems to be suffering damage on its left foot, perhaps frost bite. Other birds seen at this location include a Hermit Thrush, American Robin and White-throated Sparrow. Life has become interesting for waterbirds this week. With the deep cold, open water on the bay is scarce and even Lake Ontario is frozen. Today a Horned Grebe was seen flying around and finally found a spot of open water next to a ship on the bay albeit small. Hundreds of ducks were crowded into small leeds of open water in a couple of places out on the bay but open water is scarce now. Two Common Loons were seen near the ship canal earlier in the week. The Snow Goose at Oakville Harbour was seen standing on the ice earlier in the week. A Cackling Goose was photographed at the same locale. The American Wigeon couple were last reported mid week at the Desjardins Canal off Olympic Drive in Dundas. A Black Scoter was seen at the west end of the lake but likely has been forced to move. Out on the ice though, up to 10 Bald Eagles have been seen, pickings are good when the food is concentrated. In the odds and sods this week, a Ring-necked Pheasant was a nice surprise on the Hawks and Owls hike being seen in a field on 2nd Road East between Green Mountain and Mud street. A male Northern Harrier was seen and photographed near the Lift Bridge, a Glaucous Gull was seen on what was the last of the open water there early in the week. A first year Thayer's Gull made an excellent office bird at Canada Centre for Inland Waters. A Merlin was seen in the Bronte Area, typically one winters here but it has been hiding this year. Another Merlin was reported at the Guelph Arboretum. A Rough-legged Hawk was an interesting find along the lakeshore at Sioux Lookout. A Northern Shrike was seen behind the Home Depot on Burloak on McPherson Drive. Horned Larks also scurried about in the field there. Eastern Bluebirds have been seen at the Guelph Arboretum throughout the week. A Brown-headed Cowbird has been a guest at a feeder in East Hamilton all winter, should be more of these moving about in the next weeks. Lastly, a group of Common Redpolls were a nice treat in a yard in East Oakville this week. Another small flock was seen at Saddington Park in Mississauga. Thanks to those who have supported our rarities with seed. It's been a tough week out there and this weekend will be tougher. Dress warm and keep in mind that spring is coming, sometime.....soon I hope. Cheers, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ 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
