At 8:25pm, Thursday, May 22nd, 2003, this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report. The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights, unless an unusual bird turns up in the Hamilton area.
The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch wound down it's operations at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby last Thursday. The total number of raptors counted this spring reached 14,359, including a MISSISSIPPI KITE and a dark phase BROAD-WINGED HAWK during the final week of the count. Reports from in and around the RBG this week include eight species of warbler at Borer's Falls, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO in the Hendrie Valley, as well as BOBOLINK and EASTERN BLUEBIRD on the Pinetum Trail. Elsewhere, a day of birding in the Bronte Area produced 93 species, including 20 species of warbler, BONAPARTE'S GULL, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATHCER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Nearby, 11 species of warbler were reported from Shoreacres/Paletta Park. Meanwhile, Confederation Park was alive with migrants. 15 species of warbler were counted along with a flock of 23 RED-THROATED LOONS and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. A trip to the Dundas Valley Conservation Area produced low numbers of migrants but still resulted in sightings of YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH. Several species of shorebirds, including DUNLIN, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and RUDDY TURNSTONE made a stopover at the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons. BONAPARTE'S GULL and LITTLE GULL were also reported from this location, while an immature BALD EAGLE was seen nearby at the foot of Kelson Road. Other local reports include RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at Shell Park, a BARN SWALLOW colony at Burloak Park, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER at the top of the Wentworth Street Steps, three BRANT east of Bayfront Park in the Hamilton Harbour, nine TURKEY VULTURES flying along the escarpment, plus BALTIMORE ORIOLE, EASTERN KINGBIRD and NORTHERN FLICKER in the Red Hill Valley. Seen in area yards this past week were BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in Burlington, and INDIGO BUNTING in Dundas. Further afield, a possible MOURNING WARBLER/AMERICAN REDSTART hybrid was banded at Long Point, and a KING RAIL was spotted at Tanquanyah Conservation Area. Some mega-rarities turned up at other Ontario hotspots, such as PACIFIC LOON, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, KIRTLAND'S WARBLER, and HARRIS' SPARROW at Point Pelee. Last but certainly not least, three chicks now occupy the nest of Hamilton's PEREGRINE FALCONS at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton. At last report, all three chicks were doing well. Be sure to let us know about your sightings this week. Leave your name, telephone number, as well as the time and date of your call. Sightings can also be reported by e-mail. GOOD BIRDING! Keith Dieroff C/O Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report Hamilton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hamilton Naturalists' Club Tel: (905) 381-0329 ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca Keith Dieroff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
