On Friday, May 2nd, 2008, this is the HNC Birding Report: WHITE-EYED VIREO WORM-EATING WARBLER
Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe American Bittern Green Heron Virginia Rail Sora Sandhill Crane Greater Yellowlegs Common Tern Forster's Tern Chimney Swift Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-wined Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Veery Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Nashville Warbler Magnolia Warbler Yellow Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Black-and-White Warbler Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Rusty Blackbird Baltimore Oriole A very busy week here in Hamilton with the arrival of many migrants and some goodies too. This weeks rarities include WHITE-EYED VIREO and WORM-EATING WARBLER both hanging around together at Paletta/Shoreacres Park in Burlington last seen last evening in the northeast corner of the park. Patience is necessary as these two birds are skulkers and the Worm-eating Warbler is especially elusive with its colour. Other birds seen here in the week include Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Warbling Vireo, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Pine and Palm Warbler and Baltimore Oriole. Tree, Barn, Northern Rough-winged Bank and Cliff Swallow along with Purple Martin were seen over the park and along the lakeshore feasting on the abundance of gnats down on the water. Down the road at Shell Park/Bronte Woods in Oakville, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian and Black-throated Green Warbler were seen at various times this week. Another spot reporting WORM-EATING WARBLER is Rattray Marsh where two were seen scrounging around in the foliage about 100 yds. east of the intersection of the main marsh walkway and trail down the hill from the parking area at the south of Bexhill. Other birds seen here in the week include Sora, Common Terns, five species of Swallows and Purple Martin, Least Flycatcher, Nashville, Yellow-rumped, Pine, Palm, Black & White, Magnolia, Black-throated Green Warbler and Northern Waterthrush. Another hotspot today was the VanWagners Ponds. On the rail trail between the ponds, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Veery, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black-throated Blue, Nashville, Black and White, Palm, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Quite a mix of birds and an indication that things have come in with this front. A walk behind Tansley Woods Community Centre located on Upper Middle just east of Walker's Line yielded a similar mix of birds today with Wood Thrush, House Wren, Blue-headed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler, Chipping Sparrow and Rusty Blackbird being added to the list above. The Northshore Trails of the Royal Botanical Gardens have been busy as well with Warbling Vireo, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher and a few Least Flycatchers, Black-throated Green, Palm, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers and Indigo Buntings. Today a Green Heron was flushed from the shore. Lots to report in the odds and sods. The Dundas Marsh is a good place to go for listening to Soras and Virginia Rails. A Sandhill Crane was seen over Cootes Paradise this week. An American Bittern was heard calling on 8th Concession West east of Westover Road near the Antrim Glen housing development. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were reported at a feeder in Dundas as early as last weekend. Red-necked Grebes are nesting down at Bronte Harbour once again. Green Heron and Greater Yellowlegs were seen at the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons and a Forster's Tern was seen off Fifty Point. Green Herons were also reported from the Petro Canada Park in Oakville which borders Bronte Creek. A Great Crested Flycatcher was seen at Tuck Creek just north of Spruce yesterday. Out in the Brantford area, Indigo Bunting (an early record of April 22nd), Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Chimney Swift and Sandhill Cranes were among the goodies seen here. That's the news this week, keep reporting your sightings! I love MAY! 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 ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org 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
