On Saturday, February 26th, 2011, this is the HNC Birding Report GRAY PARTRIDGE
Snow Goose American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Horned Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Goshawk Merlin Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Shrike Common Raven Horned Lark Eastern Bluebird Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Redpoll Pine Siskin The last weekend of winter listing is upon us and this sends hardy birders out looking for their last winter ticks. Brantford has been a bit of a hotspot this week for winter listing. Today in the late afternoon the flock of fifteen GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen close to the road on Robinson Road between Potruff and Green Road. The flock was first seen under one of the pine trees next to the fence and then wandered out into the field where they fed and good looks were had. Also in the Brantford area on Golf Road located off Hardy Road was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. While looking for the Sapsucker, Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen in the small woodlot north of the second house on Golf Road where the Sapsucker was seen. Two Ravens flew over a nearby field in this area. Waterfowl is always in the news in the winter here in the Hamilton Study Area. While travelling on the QEW at Appleby Line last Friday during the warm spell, a flock of Canada Geese flew over with three Snow Geese embedded in it. Along the Burlington lakeshore today all three Scoter species were seen along with numerous and very vocal Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneye. Ruddy Ducks were seen at the Travelodge, probably ousted from the Windemere Basin. At a distance, up to seven Horned Grebes were seen from Burloak Park. At the Desjardins Canal and Dundas Hydro ponds this past week, American Wigeon, Redhead, Canvasback, Hooded Merganser and Belted Kingfisher were seen. If you are a gull specialist, specialty gulls have been scarce this winter however at the edge of the ice off Eastport Drive, Iceland, Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gull have all been seen in the last few days. In the odds and sods, Great Blue Herons were seen at the Desjardins Canal and the Red Hill Outlet. Turkey Vultures were reported at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby and at Queenston Road and Centennial in East Hamilton. Bald Eagles are on nest in Cootes Paradise with one being photographed today on the expanded nest and another one standing watch. Bald Eagles have also been seen on the ice from LaSalle and Eastport Drive, and along the Grand River where it meets the 403. Northern Goshawk was seen last weekend at Lennon and Gore Road in Flamborough. Merlins were seen at Kenilworth and Cannon in Hamilton and another at Burloak Park in Burlington today. A good place to seen Northern Shrike is in north Flamborough where four were seen last weekend at Puslinch Concession 1 west of Crieff, Puslinch Concession 2 and Sideroad 20, Valens Road south of Concession 8 West and Middletown Road south of Concession 5 West. In addition to the Brantford birds, Common Raven was also seen at Concession 5 West east of Brock Road. Eastern Bluebirds were seen last weekend at 4th Concession and Middletown Road and also seen along the rail trail near Paris in the week. Red-winged Blackbirds are being seen in a few places, possible migrants or over winterers at this point behind the Olympic Arena and at a feeder in Hidden Valley. Brown-headed Cowbirds are appearing now with a report of birds at a feeder in Greensville. There are several reports of Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins at feeder throughout the area. These birds may be on the move so stock your feeders. Spring is just around the corner. Please report your sightings during this inbetween time where anything can happen. Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
