On Sunday, March 4th, 2018, this is the HNC Birding Report: TUFTED DUCK BLACK VULTURE
Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Canvasback x Redhead King Eider Harlequin Duck Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Killdeer American Woodcock Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird March came in a like a lion a couple of days ago but prior to this, many migrants flooded into the Hamilton Study Area starting the first spring push which was refreshingly welcome. Up at the top of the list, our TUFTED DUCK made another brief appearance off the platform at Windermere Basin last Sunday but has not been seen since. A BLACK VULTURE first reported on e-bird last week was refound down at the edge of the Hamilton Study Area just south of Smithville in a group of Turkey Vultures. It is likely this bird is still around. A good place to start looking is along Port Davidson Road. Perhaps the most spectacular sight of the week were the thousands of Tundra Swans reported on Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the area. This is always one of my favourites of the spring to hear them first and then see the massive flocks moving through. Geese were on the move and there were various sites to see them. Bronte Harbour had another immature (possible hybrid) Ross's Goose. Another Ross's goose was seen at the Great Lakes Stormwater Pond. In Salfleet, there were a few reports of Snow Geese around, a good number of Cackling Geese reported (most of them at 5th Road East and Powerline Road) and at least three small flocks of Greater-white fronted Geese. Canada Geese were numerous in the fields in Saltfleet and up in Flamborough across from Flamborough Downs. Along with the geese in these locations were Wood Duck, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Gadwall and Northern Pintail. Other migrants this week include Killdeer, now seen in a number of locations. Double-crested Cormorants, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls arrived in numbers last week. American Woodcock are being found in the traditional areas (Hopkins Tract, Bronte Campground East). Double Crested Cormorants are moving back into the nesting areas in the harbour along with hundreds of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Rusty Blackbirds were seen at the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. Large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbirds are being seen at various locations. An Eastern Meadowlark was singing up on 10th Road East yesterday. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has started at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby. This week migrants coming through include, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk. Other migrants seen here this week include, Killdeer, Rusty Blackbirds along with flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. On Wednesday a group of 10 Bald Eagles were seen over the 403 near Waterdown Road. A Red-shouldered Hawk was a likely migrant over Bronte-creek Provincial Park, yesterday. Last Sunday a number of Red-tailed Hawks were moving through south of Smithville. In the odds and sods, a group of 16 King Eiders were seen from Gray's Road. This group was first found mid-week, a good number for this time of year mostly young males and moreso female type birds. The Harlequin duck seems to have moved from the Hamilton Beach Canal to Gray's Road where it has been seen as of yesterday. The Canvasback x Redhead Hybrid was back again at LaSalle Marina. Four Red-throated Loons and Horned Grebes were seen from LaSalle Marina yesterday. A Red-necked Grebe was an arrival down at Bronte Harbour. Two Bald Eagles have been seen a few times near the stormwater ponds on the 407, perhaps a nesting situation. A first year Glaucous Gull was seen on the harbour from Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Snowy Owls are still being seen, with birds reported in Milton, along the QEW Niagara corridor and at Bronte Harbour. Up on 10th Road East, up to 6 Short-eared Owls are still present. Northern Shrike reports came from 10th Road east and from the parking lot at Bronte Creek Provincial Park on the east side. Common Ravens are nesting in the quarry on 10th Road East. A Yellow-rumped Warbler is still hanging in at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Pine Siskins are still being reported at feeders. During these changing weather conditions its good to have the feeders stocked. It seems like we have turned the corner and are on our way to spring. Keep your sightings coming. 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
