FISH CROW ACADIAN FLYCATCHER CONNECTICUT WARBLER (late report) WESTERN TANAGER (late report)
Snow x Ross's Goose Brant Blue-winged Teal Redhead Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Long-tailed Duck Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron American Coot (white-shielded variant) Black-bellied Plover Whimbrel Marbled Godwit Semipalmated Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Dunlin Bonaparte's Gull Caspian Tern Forster's Tern Common Tern Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Whip-poor-will Red-headed Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Blue-winged Warbler Hooded Warbler Lapland Longspur Bobolink Orchard Oriole Migration came to an abrupt halt in the Hamilton Study Area with the arrival of the warm weather. Spring seems to move quickly as do the birds travelling through the area to get to the breeding ground. Our rarities listed are over the last two weeks. Not too sure if FISH CROW should be taken off the rarity list as they seem to be regular now but nonetheless, it appears as if they are breeding in the area. Sightings last week come from the Stoney Creek area where birds were seen around Hunter Estates Park and the Lake and Queenston area. Another was reported from Jerseyville Road. An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was heard calling in the Dundas Valley CA along the service road south of Stacey Meadow. The Dundas Valley is a likely breeding ground for Acadians but the size and accessibility of the Dundas Valley makes it difficult to pin down any breeding evidence. Two great rarities found the week before last were not chasable or able to be found. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen on private property in Lowville and a female WESTERN TANAGER was found along the trails at the Royal Botanical Gardens. A search of the area after did not turn this bird up but its noteworthy for both these birds to be found in the Hamilton Study Area. Windermere Basin has quieted down for shorebirds. Last week a lingering Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Dunlin were present. The week before two Marbled Godwits were seen at once, unusual for the spring in the Hammer. Ducks include Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Ruddy Duck. It is likely that the Redheads will breed here again. Great Egrets seem to be using the basin as a feeding station with one having nesting material in its beak and a second year Black-crowned night heron has been seen lurking in the area. Occasionally a Bonaparte's Gull will sit down amongst the Terns. Of interest though is a White-shielded Variant of American Coot, likely the first record of this odd bird in the Hamilton Study area. At Bronte Harbour and west of here at South Shell Park a few Brant have been seen moving last week, unusual spring migrants for this area. A few of the flocks of Whimbrel passed by here the week before last but shorebirds have dried up. A Forster's Tern is an occasional visitor to the west pier sitting amongst Caspian, Common Terns and the occasional Bonaparte's Gull. Red-necked Grebes are on nest in several places down here including a couple spots at Bronte Harbour and a nest on a tire at Burloak Park. Common Loons were on migration through here last weekend with a good number being seen in flight on Saturday morning. Flocks of Surf Scoter with one containing a Surf Scoter were also seen from the harbour last weekend. Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers can still be seen in small numbers out on the lake. A nice place to visit this time of year is the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. On the trails off Paddy Green Road, both Cuckoos were seen and heard yesterday with stunning views of Yellow-billed. A Hooded Warbler was seen here off Paddy Green and are also in the traditional site off Martin's Road. While trying to relocate the Acadian at the Stacey Meadow, a Pileated Woodpecker flew across the road. Blue-winged Warblers can be heard in a number of locations. Orchard Orioles were present at Stacey Meadows and on Paddy Green Road. A Lapland Longspur was an unexpected surprise on Paddy Green Road between Power line road E and Jerseyville road, likely the latest record we have. Another great place to visit this time of year is the Halton Forest. There are several tracts that are accessible from Guelph Line and 10th Sideroad north of the 401. Yesterday, Hermit and Swainson's Thrush and Hooded Warbler were reported from there. In the odds and sods this week an unusual sighting and photograph of a Snow x Ross's came from Sixth Line between Burnamthorpe and Dundas in Oakville last Sunday. In a field across from this location on the west side of the road, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper and Dunlin made a stopover in a flooded field here. Common Nighthawks were still on the move being seen over Hamilton and Grimsby last week. A Whip-poor-will was heard at 14 mile creek on May 25th. Bobolinks have returned to Olympic Park on the west mountain immediately east of the North South section of Scenic Drive with the Hydro tower corridor. That's the news this week. There are still interesting birds being found province wide so keep at it. This week's cooler weather could be ideal for getting out and about. Report your sightings here! Cheryl Edgecombe HNC. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. 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