On Friday, August 5th, 2011, this is the HNC Birding Report: Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup Common Loon Least Bittern Great Egret Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Lesser Black-backed Gull Bonaparte's Gull Black Tern Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Bluebird Yellow Warbler
It's been another mellow two weeks in the Hamilton Study Area with shorebirds dominating the list from several places here. The highlight of the week was an adult Red Knot found on North Island viewed from Eastport Drive in Burlington. This tiny island seems to be a magnet for this species since one has been seen here around this time sporadically over the last few years. The Windermere Basin shows the most promise in the area but viewing conditions remain tricky as there are many ridges to look over and quite often birds are hiding behind these ridges. The far shore has also been good but even with a scope, this can be challenging. However, do not despair, a little patience can turn up a variety of species including, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, an adult Sanderling, Semipalmated, Least, Baird's and Pectoral Sandpiper and to round out shorebirds a Short-billed Dowitcher or two. Other birds seen in the basin were Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup and a couple of migrant Yellow Warblers. At the Red Hill Stormwater Pond, Killdeer, Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper were all reported over the past two weeks. Outside the Hamilton Study Area but of interest to local birders is the Townsend Sewage Lagoons. Last week and weekend, Semipalmated Plover, Spotted, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated, Least, Bairds, Pectoral and Stilt Sandpiper were all seen in the first cell. East winds stir up the fire in Hamilton Birders. The week before last was no exception as mild east winds brought out some early hopefuls. Although there were not any numbers, Greater Scaup, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black Tern were highlights. Passerines still remain quiet. A couple of noteworthy sightings of Red-headed Woodpecker are highlights, one from Carluke at the corner of Carluke and Shaver Road last weekend and another report from the Sheffield area which has been a stronghold for this species, this time reported from 6th concession west of Sager Road. In the odds and sods Least Bitterns continue to be reported from the Safari Road Wetlands and another was calling at the ponds on 8th concession where it crosses Spencer creek. Black-crowned Night Herons continue to be in good numbers at the stormwater pond on North Service Road and Guelph Line in Burlington. A Great Egret was seen north of Concession 5 and Centre Road in Waterdown earlier this week. A good news story of breeding success of bluebirds came from the Brantford area last week with the successful fledge of four Eastern Bluebirds from a nest box. That's all for this week, please continue to report your sightings, the numbers should increase significantly in the next couple of weeks. Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329 _______________________________________________ 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/
