On Friday, February 1st, 2008, this is the HNC Birding Report: BRANT NORTHERN HAWK OWL
Wild Turkey Pied-billed Grebe Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Pileated Woodpecker Merlin Common Raven Horned Lark Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler Snow Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Pine Grosbeak Another quiet week here in Hamilton but there are a few winter lingerers around. More may turn up with this snowfall so stock the feeders well. Our resident NORTHERN HAWK OWL was seen last yesterday. It was viewed well by myself from 10th Road East with a scope. Please respect your distance from this bird and again keep off the railway tracks as we have been warned again that we will be fined. It looks to be in good shape and was out hunting late in the afternoon when we were there. At LaSalle Marina this week a BRANT was seen out on the ice near the rock islands on Monday. It was a one day occurrence so perhaps its gone back to join the rest of the Canada Geese at the foot of Victoria Street in Hamilton as the bay has opened up. Up to 6 Bald Eagles have been seen on the bay mostly immature birds. The hotspot this week was the McCormack Trail, part of the Dundas Valley Conservation Area accessed off Governors Road. Here last Saturday, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen on this lovely trail. On Sunday a Merlin was added to the list. Other odds and sods include a sizable flock of Snow Buntings were seen with a small group of Horned Larks on Brock Road about 1/2 km north of Hwy 5. A small flock of 4 American Robins were seen on Brock Road yesterday in a driveway, still nice to see at this time of year. A group of 18 Pine Grosbeaks were seen across from Olympic Arena last Saturday. Also of interest small flocks totaling 90 - 100 Pine Grosbeaks were seen in Milton traveling in those very strong winds in a southwesterly direction. At Valley Inn, a female Red-winged Blackbird was photographed this week. A few reports of Merlin, one mentioned earlier from the McCormack Trail, one at Central Park in Burlington and one seen in the Main and Kenilworth area of Hamilton. A Common Raven was seen east of Brock Road on Concession 5. A Pileated Woodpecker was located in Bronte Creek Provincial Park. A flock of 27 Wild Turkey were seen between 10th and 11th Road East, on the north side of Ridge Road in Saltfleet yesterday. Another Golden-crowned Kinglet was seen at Woodland Cemetery. A Red-shouldered Hawk was photographed at Battlefield Park in Hamilton last weekend and a Pied-billed Grebe remains in the Desjardins Canal. That's the news this week. This weather may bring some goodies to the area, hopefully the Ross' Gull I missed in Niagara! Have a great week! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
