On Friday, April 3rd, 2009, this is the HNC Birding Report:
Greater White-fronted Goose
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
King Eider
Harlequin Duck
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Wild Turkey
Red-throated Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Wilson's Snipe
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Caspian Tern
Short-eared Owl
Eastern Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Rusty Blackbird
White-winged Crossbill
Migrants have been showing up slowly in the area throughout the week however
a warm push of air yesterday was a good catalyst for bringing more and a
variety of these birds in.
The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer Conservation Area in Grimsby had a
banner day yesterday with over 2000 Turkey Vultures and 7 Golden Eagles.
This was only the tip of the iceberg as the south winds pushed birds to the
lake and only a small portion of the vulture migration yesterday was counted
over the tower. Hundreds of Turkey Vultures came streaming down the Lake
Ontario shoreline. Mixed in with the kettles were good numbers of
Red-tailed Hawks, some Red-shouldered Hawks, Coopers and Sharp-shinned
Hawks. Also seen in the week were a few Ospreys, Rough-legged Hawks and
Northern Harriers. It won't be long before the Broad-wings will be
filtering through. Other interesting birds seen at Beamer this week include
Sandhill Crane, Lesser Yellowlegs, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow in
increasing numbers and Fox Sparrow.
In Saltfleet this week, Wilson's Snipe continue to increase in numbers this
week. Two were seen on 11th Road East today and 5th Road East is a good
spot for them too. Last weekend on 11th Road East, two Northern Harriers
were seen in an incredible aerial display. Also over the same field were
two Rough-legged Hawks. Ring-necked Ducks and Redheads were present at the
quarry on Green Mountain Road between 10th and 11th Road East. On 10th Road
east more displaying Northern Harriers were seen and at least one
Short-eared Owl is still present. On 8th Road East today about a dozen Rusty
Blackbirds were seen in a large group of Blackbirds. Yesterday on 6th road
east just south of Green Mountain Road an incredible flock of around 250
Lapland Longspurs were seen in the field. On 5th Road East yesterday, 3
Sandhill Cranes were seen out in the field in the late afternoon. In the
flooded fields in this area Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Green-winged
Teal and Wood Duck can be noted and a first for me today on 8th Road East
where 3 Common Mergansers were seen in a flooded field. Wild Turkey were
seen today on Ridge Road near Rock Chapel Road.
The lake has also been busy this week. Yesterday from Bal Harbour Park,
approximately 52 Horned Grebes were seen along with 102 Red-necked Grebes.
Further east at Fifty Road last weekend a first year male and female King
Eider were seen Saturday. At L.P. Sayers Park in Stoney Creek a male Black
Scoter was observed last Saturday along with 2 Red-throated Loons. Around
the lake in Mississauga at Saddington Park 3 Harlequin Ducks continue to be
reported.
In the passerine category, early migrants at Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek
include Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hermit
Thrush.
Down at Bronte Harbour this week, Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night
Herons have returned. Red-necked Grebes have also been seen at the harbour
a traditional nesting spot for this species.
Out in Flamborough last weekend Tundra Swans continued to be seen in the
field near Fairchild Creek. Two Sandhill Cranes were also seen on Sheffield
Road south of Conc. 5 West last Saturday along with 60 Tundra Swans.
In the odds and sods, a Greater White-fronted Goose was seen in with a flock
of Canada Geese near Hagersville last weekend. Great Egrets were also
reported at the Valley Inn. Another Great Egret was seen flying over York
Road in Dundas. Caspian Terns have returned to the nesting colony on the
islands off Eastport Drive. Both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were seen on the
islands at LaSalle Marina last weekend. An Eastern Towhee was seen at Shell
Park. Tree Swallows are back checking out the nest boxes at Bronte Creek
Provincial Park. Interestingly a group of 5 female White-winged Crossbills
were seen at Parking Lot A in Bronte Creek Provincial Park on the west side
last weekend. A Chipping Sparrow was heard singing in Dundas this morning
and another reported at a feeder in Lynden.
Lots to be seen as the sun comes out after this deluge. Keep me posted on
returning migrants and especially the rarit