We began the day in high spirits as we joked about the terrible weather we had
encountered on previous winter Fisherville trips. The sun shone and the
temperature was almost balmy !
By day's end, we were happy to reach home as we crawled along the roads in
heavy snow !
The 40 participants on today's outing were rewarded with some excellent
sightings. At Ruthven Park we saw 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, several Eastern
Bluebirds ( more than 12 through the morning), one Pine Siskin, White-breasted
Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow and Sharp-shinned Hawk.
At Roger Gifford's feeders on River Road, Cayuga, were 3 Tufted Titmouse, 6
Rusty Blackbirds, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern
Mockingbird and a Robin.
On a field south of Hagersville were 2 Lapland Longspurs, Horned Larks and
Snow Buntings.
Most of Lake Erie was frozen, including the water near Nanticoke Power
Station, but we still recorded Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Black Duck and
Mallard. Apart from missing Harrier, we had a great day for raptors: Coopers
and Sharp-shinned hawks, several American Kestrels, a Merlin, both dark and
light-morph Rough-legged hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, 8 Bald Eagles as well as 4
Northern Shrikes. Other highlights were Northern Flicker; 3 Song Sparrows; a
female Belted Kingfisher and a Great Blue Heron at the warm-water outflow from
Nanticoke; and a total of 7 Short-eared Owls at the Raptor Reserve near
Fisherville.
Total number of species was 47.
Many thanks to John Schmefelske, Gord Cameron and Hart Brasche for their
expertise and assistance today.
Dave Milsom
[email protected]
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
