GREAT EGRET BLUE-HEADED VIREO RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER PALM WARBLER WILSON'S WARBLER
Cackling Goose Wood Duck American Wigeon Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup King Eider Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Horned Grebe Great Blue Heron Great Egret Turkey Vulture Rough-legged Hawk Merlin American Coot Northern Saw-whet Owl Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Tufted Titmouse Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Snow Bunting Yellow-rumped Warbler White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird American Goldfinch Winter listing is pretty decent here in the Hamilton Study Area for those who are interested. Although we are not Ottawa, there are some good local birds to seek out. As has been the case for several winters now, Sedgewick Park in Oakville seems to be the winter listing hub. This year is no exception as there are many ticks (not the bugs) to be had here. This week a BLUE-HEADED VIREO was added to the list. It was seen today down near the tanks and then ventured to the south of the park to the cedar hedges that border the south end of the park. Also seen here were RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and White-throated Sparrow. A WILSON'S WARBLER was found today at Lakeside Park in Mississauga. This is perhaps the same bird that has been haunting the sewage tanks near Arkendo but you never know, there could be two. The bird was located in the extreme southwest corner of the park. Another good bird about is a GREAT EGRET which was seen today in the Dundas Hydro Pond. Sometimes the bird can be seen from Olympic Drive up the Desjardins Canal but sometimes a hike into the property behind Olympic Arena is needed to see it in the pond. As is usual this time of year, waterfowl is a huge part of the landscape here. The second instalment of the West End of Lake Ontario IBA waterbird survey occurred last weekend. Birds seen along the west end of Lake Ontario include 2 Cackling Geese at Casablanca Road, 9 King Eiders seen from Fruitland and Hunter Road (these birds have been seen in the area during most of the week ranging from Fruitland to Fifty Road), 3 Harlequin Ducks, a male and a female at Fifty Road and another male at Ben Machree Park in Mississauga. A significant population of Long-tailed Ducks are located along the western end of Lake Ontario. Other birds seen here along the shore here include American Wigeon, a good population of Redhead, Surf, White-winged and Black Scoter. At the Biggar/Grimsby Lagoons, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Northern Shoveler and American Coot added to the mix. At Windermere Basin, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, many Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Ducks round out a good list. In the odds and sods this week, a male Wood Duck continues to be present at the northwest corner of Concession 2 and Woodhill Road. A Horned Grebe made an unexpected landing at Bronte Harbour on the grass. The bird was rescued with an injured wing and brought to the Oakville Humane Society. A Turkey Vulture cruised over Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Rough-legged Hawks were seen on 5th Road East in Saltfleet just above Powerline Road. Nearby at 10th Road East, a Northern Shrike has taken up winter residence. Merlins seem to be plenty with one seen in Bronte Creek Provincial Park, one seen in Beamsville and one seen today near Arkendo and Lakeshore. A good supply of 120 plus American Coots are present at Bayfront Park. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was seen at Bronte Park mid-week, a huge area to search! Pileated Woodpeckers were present behind Olympic Arena and another one heard drumming in the Dundas valley. Tufted Titmice continue to be seen behind Olympic Arena, its best to turn left from the parking lot behind the arena and walk almost to where the creek is, turn right and then search at the feeders in the woodlot and along the second hydro corridor. Eastern Bluebirds seem to have taken up residence here. Eastern Bluebirds were also seen at the RBG property off Unsworth. A group of 50 plus Snow Buntings were seen on 5th Road east in Saltfleet. Two Red-winged Blackbirds were seen settling into the marsh behind Olympic arena mid-week. I expect that as the weather turns colder, these birds will settle into the feeders there. On an end note, an interesting phenomenon at Sedgewick Park today was of 32 American Goldfinch clinging to the wall of the Jehovah witness building picking midges off the brick. It was neat to see. Just a polite word for those who are considering playing tapes and harassing wintering birds. You can be liable for such harassment under the migratory bird act. It's hard enough for these species to find food during this time of year without people imposing additional pressure and agitation. Please respect the OFO Code of Ethics and keep your distance. There are lots of birds out there to be seen and found. Christmas counts are coming up so report your sightings here! Happy Winter Listing Cheryl Edgecombe HNC --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. 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
