EURASIAN WIGEON AMERICAN AVOCET HARRIS'S SPARROW Trumpeter Swan Tundra Swan Horned Grebe American Bittern Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Sharp-shinned Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Virginia Rail Sora Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Upland Sandpiper Dunlin Wilson's Snipe Bonaparte's Gull Little Gull Common Tern Forster's Tern Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Field Sparrow
It's been a little quiet this week with numbers but it's all quality here in the HSA. This week's rarities include an EURASIAN WIGEON found today, slightly out of the Hamilton Study Area at Townsend Sewage Lagoons but close enough to claim as ours. Probably the biggest highlight of the week was a lovely flock of AMERICAN AVOCETS (24) found originally flying over the Suncor Pier but circling back to land on the west pier of Bronte Harbour in Oakville where they remained for the day and overnight. What a spectacular sight. Other great birds found at the same location were Common Terns, Forster's Tern, Bonaparte's Gulls in large numbers, and a Little Gull. Another Little Gull which are not that common in the HSA was seen at the end of Green Road early in the week. To round up the rarities, the HARRIS'S SPARROW was seen again on the south side of the Sheldon Creek Trail in Oakville where it had originally been found. In the unusual department a Dunlin was seen and photographed at Van Wagners Beach that is potentially of a subspecies is rare to this area (no details further on this). Migrants this week include an influx of Black-crowned Night Herons (25) found on the islands off Eastport Drive. American Bittern, Virginia Rail and Sora were all heard at Kerncliffe Park in Burlington. Spotted Sandpiper was seen at LaSalle Marina today. Upland Sandpipers were seen up in Saltfleet this week, a welcome sign of spring. Birds were seen on the east mountain including 4 at a location from last year on South Grimsby Road 15 south of Mud Road. Greater Yellowlegs have increased in numbers. Twenty-five were seen at 8th Line and Britannia today and some were also seen up in Saltfleet on 5th Road East south of Powerline and north of Green Mountain. Up to 50 Wilson's Snipe were counted here on 5th Road East mid week. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby fell slightly flat this week, north winds are not impressing the raptors trying to get through. Birds moving through this week were Turkey Vultures, Sharp-shinned Hawk (in numbers) and a smattering of Broad-winged Hawks. There are more to come for sure, this weekend could be good. In the odds and sods this week, Trumpeter Swans and a lingering Tundra Swan were seen at Neibauer's Marsh today. Eight Horned Grebes were present off LaSalle Marina. At Sedgewick Park today, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Hermit Thrush were noted, these early migrants will be clearing out on the next wave. Several Field Sparrows were singing this morning at Rock Chapel in Flamborough. Another change in the weather is needed to bring more birds in. No excuses though, go out and find what's out there! Report your sightings here! Good birding, 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
