GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE ROSS'S GOOSE AMERICAN WOODCOCK RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan American Wigeon Northern Pintail Red-necked Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk Killdeer Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Brown Creeper Winter Wren Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch Its been a very interesting week here in the Hamilton Study area. Unprecedented migration of several species have occurred with warm winds and some early records have occurred. Let's start at the top. Yesterday a flock of over 60 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE made a stop at Dry Lake in the south of our territory. It is always noteworthy to see such a number of these geese in the area. Unfortunately they could not be relocated as of 5:30 p.m. last night but could still be in the area. The number of Geese and waterfowl in the flooded fields has been astounding. In Saltfleet and in Milton hundreds of Geese can be seen milling in the fields. Mixed in with the Canadas, one ROSS'S GOOSE was seen on 8th Road East in Saltfleet on Thursday, unfortunately, it seems that this individual has perished (causes unknown). Two more ROSS'S GEESE were seen at 1st line and Britannia in Milton. Other waterfowl noted were Cackling Geese, Northern Pintail and American Wigeon in great numbers up on 8th Road East. AMERICAN WOODCOCK have arrived record early to the traditional spots off York Road (at Hopkins Tract) and at Bronte East Campground. A singing SAVANNAH SPARROW was a noteworthy sighting up on 8th Road East as well. If a migrant this would be a significant early date but perhaps it is a wintering individual that is just moving around. Our wintering ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS at Sedgewick and LaSalle Park seem to have made the journey through the winter. Save predation, I think it's safe to say this wintering gig has been a success for them. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and a couple of Yellow=rumped Warblers have joined in the journey at Sedgewick. The number of Tundra Swans moving through has been huge, probably a record number for this time of year with flocks reported from everywhere in the HSA. Other migrants include Turkey Vultures (a wintering group in Jerseyville was certainly moving around but I suspect some new birds arrived on south winds), Double-crested Cormorants, probably early arrivals on south winds, Killdeer in various spots, particularly in Saltfleet, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds in big numbers and a few Eastern Meadowlarks that likely did not winter here. In the odds and sods department, two Red-necked Grebes were seen at Bronte Harbour, again a fine line between returning migrants and wintering birds. A Peregrine Falcon was nicely photographed near the quarry on 10th Road East where it likely has set up shop again. Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk and a pair of Common Ravens are also up here on the 10th. At dusk up to three Short-eared Owls have been seen cruising the area around the tracks between Ridge Road and Mud Street. A Snowy Owl gave a lovely show for a day as it sat on the rooftops on Beach Blvd in Hamilton. It likely has a wide area to hunt in here. There have been a couple of Brown Creepers reported from yards this week, these seem to be fairly hardy given the mild winter. A Winter Wren was giving its bold song at the RBG Captain Cootes trail. A Purple Finch also decided it was time to sing. A Hermit Thrush was an unexpected surprise in Hopkins tract. A Northern Shrike was also seen in this area, these birds are not as abundant as other years. As a wrap up, an Eastern Towhee is still a house guest at the University of Guelph Arboretum feeders. That's the news for this week, please let me know what you're seeing out there, this is a strange winter for sure! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
