On Thursday, May 31st, 2007, this is the HNC Birding Report: Surf Scoter Ruddy Duck Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Least Bittern Green Heron Broad-winged Hawk Sora Common Moorhen American Coot Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Dunlin Common Tern Black-billed Cuckoo Yellow-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Great-crested Flycatcher Red-eyed Vireo Cliff Swallow Wood Thrush Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Blue-winged Warbler Magnolia Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-White Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Scarlet Tanager (orange variant) Clay-coloured Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Indigo Bunting
A quiet week in the HSA as migration winds down for the spring. Birders everywhere go into withdrawal as migrants have moved on and remaining birds grow quiet with the nesting season upon us. Over the week, a few lingering migrants have been seen in various places of the HSA, no rarities this week but these may turn up at any time so don't stop looking! At the local migrant traps along the lake, Shell Park in Oakville, Paletta/Shoreacres in Burlington and Fifty Point Conservation Area, a few straggling migrants have been seen through the week. The growing foliage has made viewing more difficult. At Shell Park , Ovenbird, Magnolia Warbler, female Blackpoll Warbler, and a Wood Thrush were reported. At Shoreacres Alder Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mourning, Wilson's, Nashville and Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart and 2 Horned Grebes, a late date for the this species. Around the bend of lake, at Fifty Point C.A., 15 species of warblers were seen, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, a number of Red-eyed Vireos, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrush along with a Clay-coloured Sparrow. At nearby Grimsby Sewage Lagoons, good finds include a nesting pair of Common Moorhens, Green Heron and a Least Bittern in addition to Ruddy Duck, American Coot, a nesting Common Tern and Sora. At the end of Kelson Road, four Surf Scoters were a nice find for this time of year. Shorebird habitat is scarce here in the HSA. In a small farm pond north of Hewitts Dairy on Hwy 6, five species of shorebirds were present in this tiny area, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin and Semipalmated Plover. At the Waterdown Wetlands this week Blue-winged Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and Indigo Bunting were all seen setting up nesting territories this week. Another great area to visit is the Beverly Swamp. In the area of 8th concession and Westover Road, a diversity of species have set up shop here including Broad-winged Hawk, Black-billed Cuckoo, Least and Alder Flycatcher, Veery, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart and White-throated Sparrow. In the odds and sods this week a Clay-coloured Sparrow was found at Rockton Sparrow Field and another on Paddy Green Road at the edge of the Dundas Valley. A Grasshopper Sparrow was located at 4th Concession and Brock Road. Red-necked Grebes and Cliff Swallows are back at their nesting areas at Bronte Harbour with 5 eggs present in the Red-necked Grebe's nest on the harbour. A Great-crested Flycatcher was photographed at the Valley Inn. Common Nighthawks have been seen over University Plaza in Dundas and a unique orange-variant Scarlet Tanager was photographed in Oakville this week. That's the news for this week. Migration is still ongoing. Don't let your guard down! Report all your sightings to the hotline, your emails are appreciated. Good Birding, Cheryl Edgecombe 905-381-0329 HNC Hotline
