BLACK VULTURE FISH CROW
Ross's Goose Tundra Swan King Eider Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle Sandhill Crane Killdeer Iceland Gull Snowy Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Lapland Longspur Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Pine Siskin It's been relatively quiet here in the Hamilton Study Area but this coming week warmer temperatures and south winds should get the party started. That said however, the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has had some good results with an influx of BLACK VULTURES this week, two being seen on March 22 and three on March 23rd. Hard to tell if these are any of the same birds but this is a record number for the watch already. Other raptor migrants this week include Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, an ample supply of Red-shouldered Hawks and many Red-tailed Hawks including a dark morph yesterday. The week before a couple of Golden Eagles made their passage through. On the non-raptor side, counters have noted Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer and Common Ravens. Our other rarity of the week seems to return to the same location every year with a FISH CROW being seen down near Bronte Harbour yesterday. The coming days should be good for additional birds or for scouting out the one with the funny call. In the odds and sods, a Ross's Goose was noted at Hespeler Mill Pond yesterday. A small flock of Tundra Swans flew over Breadlebane Ave in Hamilton on Tuesday. A King Eider was still being seen off Green Road. A Horned Grebe in breeding plumage was seen from LaSalle Marina yesterday. An early report of an Osprey came from two sources, both from the high level bridge in Hamilton. A Sandhill Crane was heard over the Merrick Orchard in the Dundas Valley yesterday. Birds have returned to Glen Morris as well. Snowy Owl reports came from Bronte Harbour and up in Milton. A Northern Shrike was seen at Cityview Park in Burlington yesterday, soon time to consider both shrikes in migration. Common Ravens have been seen at the Brant Street and 403 junction where a nest has been found on the hydro towers. Another pair appears to be nesting in the Vinemount Quarry up on 10th road east. A Tufted Titmouse was seen at Puslinch Lake. A group of 30 Lapland Longspurs were seen on Plains Church Road just north of Paris, they were seen at this location last year. Earlier in the week with cold temperatures it seemed as if things were reversing a bit with large flocks of blackbirds heading south. A group of Rusty Blackbirds and an Eastern Meadowlark were seen over Stoney Creek, hopefully they have returned. That's it for now, this week has promise. Please send your sightings along here! 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
