On Friday, March 7th, 2008 this is the HNC Birding Report:
Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon Green-winged Teal King Eider Surf Scoter Black Scoter White-winged Scoter Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Wild Turkey Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Red-tailed Hawk Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon American Coot Killdeer Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Great Horned Owl Northern Hawk Owl Long-eared Owl Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Common Raven Horned Lark Carolina Wren Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Swamp Sparrow Snow Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Hamilton birders had a taste of warm weather, which brought the first Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and American Robins of the year for many people. This was quickly followed by another blast of winter, leaving many to hope the birds can handle the cold and snow. Even with the strange weather, large numbers of waterfowl are starting to migrate, being found where open water appears. While spring is on its way, it looks like another winter blast this weekend will keep us waiting even longer! Now onto the report: The beach canal has been one of the most active birding locations in Hamilton this week. On the bay side, large numbers of gulls and mergansers are evident on the edges of the ice. This is also one of the better places to watch Bald Eagles, with the highest count this week being 13 birds. Glaucous and Iceland Gulls have been picked out of regulars here as well. On the lake side of the canal, two Red-throated Loons were found on the weekend, with at least one bird staying around all week. Earlier in the week, a Ruddy Duck was seen here. A Red-necked Grebe was present here yesterday, along with flocks of flyby Tundra Swans. The Peregrine Falcons here continue to put on a show, with the male displaying to the female during the warm weather earlier in the week, as well as chasing away a Red-tailed Hawk. Green Rd. in Stoney Creek was productive yesterday, with four King Eiders seen at various distances from shore. Two were first year males, with two female plumaged birds. Other birds seen here included several Horned Grebes, three Red-throated Loons, one Common Loon and all three Scoter species. A flyby Killdeer over the lake yesterday showed a few of these birds are staying around, even with the snow. LaSalle Park has been a great place to get up-close views of American Wigeon, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal and American Coot as they feed amongst the Mallards. More Tundra Swans here as well, when six stopped for a while on the bay ice. A Merlin has spent some time around the car parking lot, and a few Glaucous Gulls have also been seen on the ice off of here. A single Common Raven was a highlight here on the 2nd. LaSalle has also been a popular spot to watch the Bald Eagle show on the bay. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer Conservation Area is underway, despite the snow and cold. Hawk numbers have been fairly low to date, but this is still a great place to watch diurnal migration. Species seen here include Killdeer, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Common Redpoll, American Robin and Cedar Waxwings among others. Hawk watchers often bird the Saltfleet area the same day as a trip to Beamer. Birds in this area include the long staying Northern Hawk Owl on 10th rd. E, as well as a Northern Shrikes on 10th and 11th. Wild Turkeys have been seen on several side roads, including 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th. A Great Horned Owl nest was also found in this area, using an old crow nest. Odds and Sods include a Northern Flicker on Patterson Rd. and Eastern Bluebirds on Middletown Rd. both in Dundas. Bayfront Park turned up a few good birds, with an Eastern Meadowlark found on the 3rd. A Pileated Woodpecker in Kirkwall. A Swamp Sparrow on the trail to the Dundas Hydro Pond. Pine Siskins visiting a feeder north of Brantford. Northern Mockingbirds are being widely reported in the central and southern parts of the HSA. Horned Larks are also abundant in the HSA, especially on back roads, sometimes flocks of Snow Buntings are mixed with them out in the country. RBG property on York Rd. in Dundas, as well as a backyard in Oakville each had a Long-eared Owl make visits. Two Common Ravens were found in west Flamborough. Valley Inn/Grindstone Creek area had a taste of spring this week, with Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Hooded Mergansers and Carolina Wren reported. That's all for this weeks report! Please send your sightings to me – [EMAIL PROTECTED] – for another week as I cover the e-mail hotline report! Good Birding, Brandon _____________________ Brandon Holden Hamilton, Ontario www.PeregrinePrints.com _______________________________________________ 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
