At 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 25th, 2004 this is the HNC Birding Report
GREAT EGRET PURPLE SANDPIPER CALIFORNIA GULL SNOWY OWL CAVE SWALLOW Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Tundra Swan Canvasback Ring-necked Duck King Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Peregrine Falcon Black-legged Kittiwake Belted Kingfisher Northern Shrike American Pipit White-throated Sparrow Great week in the Hamilton area again. On Saturday, at Van Wagner's Beach a CALIFORNIA GULL was found, only the 2nd record for Hamilton. This gull was viewed for 45 minutes and then it flew to the east. Meanwhile, sitting at Fifty Point photographing, one very fortunate birder had 2 PURPLE SANDPIPERS in view at Fifty Point Conservation Area. This same observer had 2 CAVE SWALLOWS at Fruitland Road on Monday while looking for ducks. What a week......(wish I could have been there). Subsequent efforts to locate the sandpipers and the swallows were futile. An American Pipit and King Eider were reported from Fifty Point on Sunday. Also on the lake this week are the usual suspects of ducks along with Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters. At Van Wagner's on Saturday, a Peregrine Falcon was cruising the beach causing one very scared Mourning Dove to perch about five feet above somebody's head who was at the beach at the time. Yesterday two Black-legged Kittiwakes passed by in the oh so lovely weather down at Hutches. Yesterday, two SNOWY OWLS were reported, one at Pier 26 off of Eastport Drive and one at Bronte Harbour. Also seen at Bronte were Red-necked Grebes and a Belted Kingfisher. On the bay side Sunday came a report of Red-throated Loons, Tundra Swans, Ring-necked Ducks, Canvasbacks and Horned Grebes. A GREAT EGRET continues to be seen at the Valley Inn. This bird is highlighted as the winter listing season is fast approaching. Anyone continuing to see this bird, please post to me as this is a very late date for this bird. In the odds & sods, Northern Shrikes continue to be around with one in the Headon Forest area on Sunday and one lonely White-throated Sparrow was seen at my feeder this week. That's it for this week. Another great week in the HSA. Keep the sightings coming. If there are any species you see that may not be common for this time of year, please email as people will be starting those winter lists this coming week. Thanks and have a great week. Cheryl Edgecombe 905-381-0329 HNC Hotline
