On Friday, February 03, 2012 this is the HNC birding report: Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Brant Cackling Goose American Wigeon King Eider Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Goshawk Rough-legged Hawk Thayer's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Long-eared Owl Northern Shrike Carolina Wren Winter Wren Hermit Thrush Bohemian Waxwing Cedar Waxwing Yellow-rumped Warbler White-crowned Sparrow Purple Finch White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin
This week has more of a winter flavour bird wise, not temperature wise than past weeks here in the Hamilton Study area. There were no outstanding rarities but winter listers would be encouraged to look over the list to fill in the holes. We will start out with waterfowl. I have met many frustrated birders this week, myself included out looking for the specialty geese. Although the geese are reported, they seldom stay in the same spot or return to the same spot making it frustrating. The Greater White-fronted Goose was seen today at the Rock Chapel Golf Course on Highway 5 east of Clappisons Corners in with hundreds of Canada Geese. American Wigeon were also reported from this area. The Snow Goose was reported from Bayfront Park earlier in the week but has not been seen since. The Brant along with a Cackling Goose was also seen at Bayfront Park on Tuesday but has not been reported since. All of these birds are still in the area I am sure but it is a big guess as to where they will feed or roost so patience is necessary. Be sure not to confuse any with the farm goose now residing at Princess Point! Loons have been in the area of Bayfront and LaSalle Marina with both Common and Red-throated Loons being seen mid-week. A young male King Eider was seen earlier in the week at Bayfront Park. Again this week, while looking for these geese take some time to diversify and look at the gulls. Thayer's and Glaucous Gull were seen at the ship canal at the lift bridge and a Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult) was seen from LaSalle Marina today. Raptors and Vultures seem to be moving about the area. Turkey Vultures were reported over Bayfront Park and over South Oakville this week. One has to assume these are wintering birds moving further afield but maybe warmer temps are driving birds north. A juvenile Bald Eagle was seen over Bayfront on Tuesday. An adult Northern Goshawk was a welcome winter bird on Concession 11 East in Flamborough west of Millborough Townline. Rough-legged Hawk was seen over this area as well. Winter finches seem to be on the move. On 11th Concession East just west of Millborough Town Line, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll and Pine Siskins were flying amongst the trees close to a feeder set up. Cone crops are still plentiful so birds remain up high although Purple Finch were at feeders. Today in the valley across from LaSalle Park, four White-winged Crossbills were seen. Winter Wren and Hermit Thrush were also reported from here. A number of sizable flocks of Common Redpolls have been reported in Flamborough, Wellington County and even here in South Burlington this week. Owls are in the news this week with Snowy Owls being reported from Sladeview Drive in Mississauga, on top of the Longo's grocery store at Burloak just south of the QEW and on the rocks at Confederation Park. On the east side of Bronte Provincial Park a Great Horned Owl has taken up residence and a good number of Long-eared Owls appear to be wintering here. A Great Horned Owl is still being seen and probably on nest at the Valley Inn inbetween the expansion joint of the Plains Road Bridge. In the odds and sods this week, Pied-billed Grebe continues to be seen at the Desjardins Canal on York Road in Dundas. A few American Wigeon were seen here as well. A Great Blue Heron was seen over 5th Concession West at Highway 6. A Northern Shrike was reported on Kirkwall Road today. A few Bohemian Waxwings were seen with Cedar Waxwings across from Little Tract near Guelph earlier in the week. Carolina Wren, Winter Wren and Yellow-rumped Warbler were seen on the trail up the Hendrie Valley at Valley Inn. Two White-crowned Sparrows were seen on the mountain rail trail at Dickenson Road. White-crowned Sparrows have overwintered here in the past. It's a good weekend to be out and about, please send along your sightings for the winter listers! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe _______________________________________________ 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/
