Hi Cheryl, there's actually three ravens at the quarry, at least. I had three a
couple of weeks ago.
Thank you for your usual excellent report!
Mark
From: Cheryl Edgecombe <cheryl...@cogeco.ca>
To: birdalert@ontbirds.ca
Cc: 'Hamilton' <hamiltonbi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2015 8:24 AM
Subject: [Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday,
January 31st, 2015
THAYER'S GULL
PAINTED BUNTING
HOARY REDPOLL
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
American Wigeon
Harlequin Duck
Black Scoter
Common x Barrow's Goldeneye
Ruffed Grouse
Horned Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Rough-legged Hawk
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Snowy Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Bluebird
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Winter is deep here in the HSA although not as bad as last year, birds seem
to be scarce the past two weeks. Maybe it's the birders that have been
scarce as well. Our star of the winter, the PAINTED BUNTING, remains at
Arkendo Drive in Oakville most often being seen at the feeder near the
ravine or at the edge of the ravine itself. Patience is necessary and if
you are so inclined, please bring seed to keep the stock up.
Geese seem to be a big story here in the HSA where an estimate of 3000
Canada Geese seem to be hanging out near Oakville Harbour. In amongst the
Canadas, a white Snow Goose is present although sometimes hard to see
amongst the flock. Also seen in this group was up to 3 Cackling Geese. A
scope is helpful to sift through the crowd. While down in Oakville, have a
look for the pair of Harlequin Ducks which have been hanging out at Gairloch
Gardens.
As is typical this time of year there are some species on the move. Numbers
of Snow Buntings have increased signficantly in the last week with a large
flock of 250 being seen on White Church Road about 200 m west of Tyneside
Road. Another large flock of around 250 were seen near the Brantford
Airport near Potruff and Robinson. There were several Horned Larks and a
couple of Lapland Longspurs in with this group. Redpolls are also on the
move with a small group being seen at Saddington Park in Mississauga and
another group at Valens Conservation area. A HOARY REDPOLL was seen amongst
the group of 42 birds in a group of tamaracks here at Valens.
In the odds and sods, last week a group of three Tundra Swans were seen in a
corn field south of Hagersville on Hwy 6. American Wigeon are still being
seen at Desjardins Canal. At the end of Green Road and to the west of here
at Sayer's Park, a Glaucous Gull and several Black Scoters were seen. The
Common x Barrow's Goldeneye was seen at Confederation Park last weekend.
Ruffed Grouse are still coming into a feeder on Westover Road north of 8th
Concession West in Flamborough. Another bird was flushed on a walk near
Miesner Road in Brantford. Horned Grebes were seen at Bronte Harbour and
the Burlington Ship Canal. Three Hardy Great Blue Herons were seen at
Windermere Basin. Bald Eagles can still be found on the ice on the Hamilton
Harbour. Northern Harriers were reported at LaSalle Park and up at the
quarry on 10th Road East. It doesn't seem too hard to find Rough-legged
Hawks this year with birds being seen in the south of the HSA, up in
Saltfleet and in Flamborough. An adult THAYER'S GULL was found a week ago
Friday and seen again on Saturday down at Bronte Beach. I am sure this bird
has not ventured too far. Snowy Owls continue to make their presence known
with one along the west end of Lake Ontario between Millen and Green Road.
Another continues down at Bronte Harbour. Short-eared Owls continue to fly
at dusk on 10th Road East. A Northern Shrike was also seen up here. Two
more were reported, one at 6th Rd close to Highland Rd and one on Highway 6
south near Willow Grove. The number of Common Ravens is impressive here in
the HSA with two been seen over the quarry at 10th Road East and two more
south of Hagersville. They have had great breeding success up in the quarry
in North Halton over the past several years. Eastern Bluebirds are still
being seen near Raspberry house at the RBG Arboretum. Two Yellow-rumped
Warblers were present behind Olympic Arena this week. A White-crowned
Sparrow was present at a feeder on 10th Road East at Ridge Road, this seems
to be a yearly event here. A Swamp Sparrow was present at Windermere Basin.
Lastly, a flock of Pine Siskins were seen along the Sulphur Creek Trail in
Dundas.
That's the news for the week, lets see what Mr. Groundhog says on Tuesday
but this birder is ready for spring.
Have a great week, report your sightings here!
Cheryl Edgecombe
HNC.
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit
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