On Friday, October 29th, 2010 this is the HNC Birding Report: CATTLE EGRET CAVE SWALLOW BOREAL CHICKADEE
American Bittern Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Dunlin American Woodcock Parasitic Jaeger Northern Saw-whet Owl Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Blue-headed Vireo Tufted Titmouse Eastern Bluebird American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Northern Parula Cape May Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Snow Bunting Purple Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak Things have gone wild here in Hamilton over the past days with strong south winds bringing in southern specialties and invasions of northern species bringing good birds in from a different direction. Last Monday, groups of swallows starting with 30 at Lakeland Centre at VanWagners beach and ending with a total of 109 over the day between there and Fifty Point Conservation area brought frustration and intrigue as the possibility of a CAVE SWALLOW invasion was upon us. Good looks and i.d. were difficult as they were moving quickly from east to west. Over the past couple of days large numbers of CAVE SWALLOWS were reported from Long Point and Pelee and today it was our turn. This morning a small group of four CAVE SWALLOWS were seen coming in from the east at Bronte Harbour. Numbers built and a total of 21 individuals were seen swirling west of Bronte Harbour for about an hour and a half. The group dispersed but individuals were seen up until early afternoon and JUST IN as of 6:25 p.m., five were seen at Bronte Bluffs at the end of West River Road in Oakville (west of the Harbour) at close range by Dave Don and Mark Peck. There is a possibility that these may roost in the Cliff Swallow nests at the restaurant at the Harbour. I would recommend a check of Bronte Harbour again tomorrow. Another surprise while viewing the swallows was a CATTLE EGRET which flew into Bronte Harbour but was not refound again after the flyby. Meanwhile along the lakeshore today a large raptor migration was underway with many birds being held back with the strong southwest winds in the week. Golden Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Cooper's, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier and Peregrine Falcon were all species noted moving through along the south Oakville/Burlington lakeshore. Another CATTLE EGRET was present for a second day today on Centre Road just north of Concession 5 East in Waterdown. This bird seems to like the horse pasture here in the valley on the east side but parking is tricky and it's a busy road so caution is necessary. BOREAL CHICKADEE is also in the news with two individuals being sighted over the past two weeks. One was at Erindale Park in Mississauga and the other at the University of Guelph Campus last Saturday. Despite searching none of these individuals were relocated. Boreal chickadees are on the move southward so no chickadee should go unchecked. Winter birds seem to be moving through the area. Red Crossbills were heard over Hidden Valley the week before last. Purple Finches continue to be seen at feeders and heard overhead at local migration spots. Pine Siskins have also moved in with some being reported from feeders today and a large group of approximately 70 birds being seen down at Bronte Harbour. A week ago Monday an Evening Grosbeak made a brief stop in Flamborough around 8th Concession West and Westover Road. A small flock of Snow Buntings were seen at Fifty Point Conservation Area on Tuesday. Other feeder birds being reported throughout the area are Chipping, Fox, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow. Keep the seed going, Green-tailed Towhee may be lurking about. This time of year is key for digging out stragglers for our Fall Bird Count here in the Hamilton Study Area. A scouring of Bronte Creek Prov. Park yesterday produced one Greater Yellowlegs, American Woodcock, Eastern Bluebird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping and Savannah Sparrow. Eastern Phoebe and Blue-headed Vireo were seen earlier in the week and an immature Golden Eagle flew over there today. Down at the lake at Bronte Bluffs a first fall female Cape May Warbler was seen amongst the Yellow-rumped Warblers. There are lots of birds to report in the odds and sods. Greater Yellowlegs are still present at the Dundas Hydro Ponds. An American Bittern was flushed near Lynden the week before last. A Virginia Rail was seen flying across the road at Christie Conservation Area today. Merlins have been reported setting up winter territories in the Burlington and Oakville areas. One seems to be present regularly at Woodland Cemetery. Northern Shrike was seen out in west Flamborough and on Concession 6 near the hydro lines west of Westover in the past week so they have moved in. Golden Eagles were seen over Woodland Cemetery yesterday, Bald Eagle numbers are also building here. American Woodcock was seen in North Halton, at Hyde Tract and at Patterson Tract in Flamborough in the past week. Flocks of American Pipits seem to be moving through plowed fields with several flocks being seen near Lynden Road and 4th Concession and near Sheffield. Tufted Titmice seem to be on the move with two being present at a feeder in south Burlington, two at Sheffield and one in a back yard in Brantford this week. Northern Saw-whet Owls have been reported from a couple of back yards in Hamilton so keep checking those hedges. A Pine Warbler was seen at Fifty Point a couple of days ago. Lastly, a Parasitic Jaeger was seen at the end of Fifty Road cruising low over the water. That's the news for this week. These strong southwest winds this week have surely blown in something significant (not to take away from Cave Swallows). North winds could bring something else worth writing up. Please report your sightings. October/November is always an exciting time of year for strays. 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 ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
