At 5:30pm, Thursday, August 21st, 2003, this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report. The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday, unless an unusual bird turns up in the Hamilton area.
First it was shorebirds, then passerines, now it's raptors heading south. A sure sign of fall, I reckon... Regarding shorebirds, about 250 were present at the Townsend Sewage Lagoons, including one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, one WILSON'S PHALAROPE, five STILT SANDPIPERS, and several dozen SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. At Unity Road and Highway 6 South, one each of BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were spotted among the numerous KILLDEER. Elsewhere, a total of 15 species of shorebirds were recorded at Rock Point Provincial Park, including a single WESTERN SANDPIPER. On to passerines, Courtcliff Park produced nine species of warblers, including BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and CANADA WARBLER, as well as SCARLET TANAGER, VEERY, WARBLING VIREO, LEAST FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, BOBOLINK, PURPLE FINCH, and nine EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. Down the road at the Waterdown North Wetland Trails, seven species of warblers were reported, including MOURNING WARBLER, along with a COOPER'S HAWK and a SWAMP SPARROW. At Shoreacres/Paletta Park, another nine species of warblers turned up, highlights being GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, and CANADA WARBLER. Now to hawks, the fall hawkwatch at Cranberry Marsh recorded its first migrants this week. 36 were counted Wednesday, including five MERLINS and one PEREGRINE FALCON. Other local reports include 25 to 30 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS over Ancaster, the first LONG-TAILED JAEGER of the season at Van Wagner's Beach, plus COMMON MOORHEN, OSPREY, WOOD DUCK, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, and GREAT BLUE HERON at Valley Inn. Have a great long weekend and be sure to let us know about your sightings. 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 www.hamiltonnature.org ______________________________________________________________________ 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.
