On Friday, July 24th, 2009 this is the HNC Birding Report: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN LAUGHING GULL
Redhead Greater Scaup White-winged Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Red-necked Grebe Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Long-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Common Raven Things remain relatively quiet here in the Hamilton Study Area although with temperatures at this level, I'm not surprised more birds would pack it in and head south. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was first seen last Sunday and in the days following at North Island off Eastport Drive. Caution is necessary as you could pass it off as a swan and the bird disappears and then reappears quite a bit. The LAUGHING GULL made another appearance on Tuesday. This time it was seen in the field to the east of the Waterdown Garden Supplies (but viewed from within the compound) and later in the afternoon it was seen on the compost heaps at the back. Patience is necessary as there are many gulls to go through and it doesn't just jump out at you. Other notables there were Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary and Least Sandpipers (many) in the many little ponds around the facility. Waterdown Garden Supplies is located on Hwy 5 just west of Orkney Road. Please remember to check into the office upon entering to get a safety vest. The facility is open 7 - 5 on weekdays and 7 - 12 on Saturday. Another spot for shorebirds is the Windermere Basin. Here this week were Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers and today a Short-billed Dowitcher. Nearby at VanWagners Beach a flock of adult Sanderling were seen on east winds Thursday. At the flooded field on Britannia between 4th and 5th Line, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and one Least Sandpiper were seen today. There are a few tidbits of waterfowl around to look at. A Redhead, Hooded Merganser and juvenile Pied-billed Grebe were seen at Grimsby Sewage Ponds this week. Long-tailed Ducks were seen off L.P. Sayers Park. Two Greater Scaup were present at Shoreacres in Burlington. Common Goldeneye, Common and Red-breasted Merganser were seen at LaSalle Park. A flock of 15 White-winged Scoters were seen over the break wall at Canada Centre for Inland Waters this week, good numbers for summering birds. The Red-necked Grebes still are doing well down at Bronte Harbour with juveniles getting bigger and eggs in the nest again. The Red-headed Woodpeckers are still present on Concession 5 west of Sheffield Road out in Flamborough. Two adults and a juvenile were seen flying on the south side of the road to various points in the woodlot and on the telephone poles to catch insects. An interesting record of a Long-eared Owl possibly breeding up on the Hamilton Mountain is of note this week. A Common Raven was seen flying over Valens Conservation Area by a keen observer. The Bald Eagle in Cootes Paradise seems to be still near the nest set up there. Any reports of young would be appreciated via email. A Red-shouldered Hawk made an appearance on 11th Concession West just west of Madaugh Road on Wednesday. That's the short and sweet report this week. It should pick up this week and next as its almost time for the warblers to think about heading back. Let's not rush it. Summer is almost here! 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
