At 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 23rd, 2005 this is the HNC Birding Report:
DICKCISSEL Red-necked Grebe Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Yellow-billed Cuckoo Great-crested Flycatcher Brown Thrasher Warbling Vireo Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Brewster's Warbler Lawrence's Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Scarlet Tanager Eastern Towhee Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Northern Oriole Hamilton birding remains slow this week as nesters are busy with eggs and young. The exciting prospect of the week is a pair of DICKCISSEL seen in north Bronte Park. The pair was seen copulating last weekend and have likely set up shop somewhere in the vicinity. This phenomenon appears to be present in several areas of Southern Ontario signifying an influx for whatever reason of this species in south-western Ontario this year. Hopefully the breeding will be successful. On a sadder note, Bridget the young Peregrine from the Lift Bridge was found dead today up on the ledge where she was born. No leads yet as to the cause. The other young Peregrines are giving falcon watchers a run for their money as they are fledged and spending time on various buildings downtown Hamilton. All appear to be doing well. Other sightings within the week include another nest of Red-necked Grebes down at Bronte Harbour, fairly accessible for viewing and photographic opportunities. Out at Berry Tract off of Patterson Road, a young Bald Eagle soared over and further south on the Cartwright Property owned by the HNC, species found breeding include Great-crested Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Blue-winged Warbler, Brewster's Warbler, Lawrence's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat,Eastern Towhee and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Out at the Beverly Swamp in Flamborough Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue-winged Warbler and Eastern Towhee were noted. Down at Martins Lane in Ancaster, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Redstart, Indigo Bunting and Scarlet Tanager were all seen in the week. A walk in Shoreacres yielded Warbling Vireo, Northern Oriole and Yellow Warbler, all nesters in this great spot. That's it for a quiet week. Keep the sightings coming as the summer is now here and pretty soon shorebirds will be on the move back! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329
