NORTHERN PARULA Tundra Swan American Wigeon Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Osprey Northern Goshawk Bonaparte's Gull Northern Shrike Common Raven Eastern Bluebird Yellow-rumped Warbler Lapland Longspur Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird White-winged Crossbill
For such a warm November, it's been a little bit of a slow start to the winter listing season but this weekend should bring out the birders who are winter listers and the list will grow. I have great expectations for next week's report! The biggest star of the week is a NORTHERN PARULA found last Monday and well seen today at Bronte Bluffs in the little parkette near Sovereign House. This bright little bird is well worth the trip to see and is a refreshing sight as its colours are outstanding. This little gem was found by a group of ladies who bird each Monday and who have found Ross Geese, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and now this in the last three weeks. Hats off to them for getting out and turning these birds up. Seen from LaSalle marina today out on the bay were Tundra Swan, Red-throated and Common Loon and Horned Grebe. These are all good birds to get before the water freezes up. Winter finches seem a bit scarce at the moment but perhaps the start of snow up north will drive them in. White-winged Crossbills seem to be on the move again with a large group seen in West Hamilton last weekend. Crossbills were also present at Bronte Bluffs while in pursuit of the Northern Parula and heard over south Burlington in the Walker's Line and New Street area. In the odds and sods this week, American Wigeon was seen at Chancery Lane Promenade in Oakville. Red-necked Grebes are present at Bronte Harbour. A Pied-billed Grebe is back at the Desjardins Canal. A late Osprey was seen over Deer Run Court in Brantford last Saturday. A Northern Goshawk made an appearance through the Tuck Creek ravine in South Burlington. Bonaparte's Gulls along with a few Red-throated Loons were seen on east winds at VanWagners Beach early in the week. Northern Shrike was reported from Powerline Road west of 5th Road East up in Saltfleet and from Fallsview Road again up in Rock Chapel. A Common Raven was seen today at 5th Concession West and Brock Road. Eastern Bluebirds were seen in the town of York mid-week. A Yellow-rumped Warbler was present at Saddington Park in Mississauga. A Lapland Longspur was a great flyover early this morning at Sherwood Forest Park in Burlington. Eastern Meadowlark was reported on December 1st from the McNally Pit in North Halton. A Brown-headed Cowbird was seen at 8th Road East and Green Mountain Road. It's a great weekend to get out and look for those birds for the winter list. Please report your sightings! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe _______________________________________________ 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/
