[Ontbirds] Caledon CBC

[Russ McGillivray via ONTBIRDS]

The CBC for the Caledon circle (which includes the NW and north central parts 
of Caledon, plus Erin, HIllsburg and Orangeville) was held on Saturday Dec 29.
It was a cold day (wind chill of -13 except in protected areas) with no snow on 
the ground and open flowing waters following a very warm day on Friday.
We had 28 observers and finished with an enjoyable pot luck dinner.
The overall impression was of a dearth of the normal winter residents, 
especially at feeders which often had no birds.
38 species vs 40.3 average over last 10 years. Individual birds was higher - 
4,391 vs average of 3,937.
Record highs - Bohemian Waxwing (513; previous 350 in 2010), Black Duck (14; 
previous 9 in 2013), Bald Eagle (2, tied with 2012).
The second highest number of Canada Geese (1,229) boosted the count of 
individual birds.
Lots of misses - Sharp-shinned Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Kingfisher, GC Kinglet, 
Cedar Waxwing, Snow Bunting, Pine Siskin.

Russ McGillivray
Compiler
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[Ontbirds] Townsend's Solitaire, Forfar Ave. Kitchener

[Roger Suffling via ONTBIRDS]

Further to Neil Taylor's 11.00 sighting Dec 31st, please note that somebody has 
been trespassing in backyards to get pictures. At least one resident is hugely 
upset. Please be understanding if confronted, and stay out of yards!
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[Ontbirds] West Elgin CBC

[Chris Leys via ONTBIRDS]

On December 27th a total of 56 observers participated in the 72nd annual
West Elgin Christmas Count. The weather was not overly cooperative with
steady, strong winds making it difficult to locate the birds. In total the
observers tallied 70 species for the count day and added 2 species during
the count week.

Notable sightings include 6 Northern Pintails, 1 Turkey Vulture, 37 Bald
Eagles, 1 Peregrine, 2 Northern Shrikes, 2 Eastern Meadowlarks, and a lone
Grackle,

No new birds were added on the count, but a new high was set for
Red-breasted Nuthatches 73

Thanks to everyone who participated.
Chris Leys
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[Ontbirds] Townsend Solitaire in Kitchener

[Neil Taylor via ONTBIRDS]

Townsend Solitaire this morning Dec. 31, at 11:00 a.m. the top of the a spruce
in front of # 64 Forfar Ave. It came in and perched and after about 10 minutes
flew to the west.

Take Hwy 8 north from the 401, exit Hwy 7 east (Conestoga Parkway) to Hwy 7
east Victoria. Go east on Victoria a couple blocks to Forfar Ave. Forfar Ct
is within the circle of Forfar Ave.

Happy New Year and good birding.

Neil E. Taylor
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[Ontbirds] Carleton Place CBC Results

[iain wilkes via ONTBIRDS]

On December 27th, 38 hearty field and 20 feeder observers participated in the 
68th Carleton Place Christmas Bird Count.  It was a cold day with sun in the 
morning and cloud in the afternoon.

This years count is very close to our 10 year average with over 5400 
individuals and 45 species.  Despite this we had a number of records set and/or 
tied for:

Mallards at 68
Wild Turkeys at 498 – keep setting a new record every year
Coopers Hawk 3 – tying the old record.  One lived in my backyard on count day 
enjoying the Starlings for snacks
Snowy Owls 3 – tied the old record, all close to Hwy 7
Barred Owls 3 – a new record
Pileated Woodpecker 18 – a new record
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 – tied the old record
White-breasted Nuthatch 176 – a new record

We also had a hand full of Rough-Legged and Red-tailed Hawks, as well as 1 
Kestral.  After several years of Juncos being at record levels their numbers 
collapsed.  Handfuls of Pine and Evening Grosbeaks as well as Redpolls and 
Siskins were seen.  Waxwings were back in abundance after few to none for 
several years, with 630 Bohemians and 188 Cedars seen.  As always the Bohemians 
maintained their coolness by wearing berets, smoking Gaulois and discussing 
Proust.

Happy Year’s End to all and best wishes for 2019

Cheers

Iain CBO DSBC (NC)






Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, December 31st, 2018

[Cheryl Edgecombe via ONTBIRDS]

SLATY-BACKED GULL
EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE
FISH CROW
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
GRAY CATBIRD
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
NASHVILLE WARBLER
OVENBIRD
HOODED WARBLER
EASTERN MEADOWLARK


Cackling Goose
Harlequin Duck
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Black-crowned Night Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Merlin
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Snowy Owl
Short-eared Owl
Tufted Titmouse
Hermit Thrush
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Well 2018 ends off with a bang here in the Hamilton Study Area.  The top of
the list is again filled with great birds and we look forward to them
continuing into the new year.  The two SLATY-BACKED GULLS have been more
difficult to see these days as the access to the dump for birders has been
terminated.  Nonetheless, lurking outside the dump or standing watch at
Mowhawk Lake has proven fruitful for birders who have ventured to Brantford
and at least one SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen in flight yesterday.  

The EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES were seen on the Hamilton Christmas bird count
and were reported at least up until the day before yesterday.  They are
likely still around and I'm sure will be checked on tomorrow for the 2019
tick of the year.

A single FISH CROW was seen and heard on the Hamilton CBC on Woodward Ave
near the sewage treatment plant.

The Fab Five continue at Sedgewick with RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, ORANGE-CROWNED
(3), NASHVILLE, HOODED and Yellow-rumped Warbler all being seen this week.
At one point all of the birds were along the fence line providing an
excellent study of size differences and it was really neat to see the group
all at once.  A Hermit Thrush is an extra bonus.  Another ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER was seen and photographed behind McMaster in Hamilton this week. 

Christmas counts are always good for digging out birds.  On count day two
GRAY CATBIRDS were seen, one at Mount Albion Conservation Area which has
been seen previously and another near Lake Street in Stoney Creek.  

There were two OVENBIRD sightings this week both in yards that are
inaccessible at this time.  A bird in Port Credit has been seen sporadically
since November and was last seen on December 27th.  Another bird was seen in
a yard in Cambridge.  It's important to keep your feeders out and stocked
particularly suet feeders as some of these insectivores rely on suet to get
them through the rough patches.

Lastly an EASTERN MEADOWLARK found last week was reseen on December 28th and
again yesterday at the west end of Heritage Green Park up on 1st Road east
in Stoney Creek.

In the odds and sods this week, Cackling Goose reports come from 8th Road
East and 5th Road East in Saltfleet.  There seem to be a growing number of
Canada Geese to check through.  Two Harlequin Ducks were seen on December
22nd along Bayfront Park.  A Common Loon and up to 3 Red-necked Grebes were
seen on the Hamilton Harbour this week.  Two Black-crowned Night Herons were
seen at the Red Hill Outlet yesterday. An adult and a juvenile Bald Eagle
continue to scout the area around Cootes Paradise.  A wintering
Red-shouldered Hawk was seen across from the Nestle plant in Aberfoyle, one
has wintered up here for a number of years.  Merlin reports come from
Walker's Line and New Street area, Lake Street in Stoney Creek and Maltby
Road up near Guelph.  An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and immature
Glaucous Gull were mixed in with the gulls down at Pier 4 park in Hamilton.
Snowy Owl sightings continue to rise with birds being seen at the 40 mile
creek Pier, on Hwy 6 south south of Hagersville, on the islands at Eastport
Drive, Bronte Harbour and two seen together at Canada Centre for Inland
Waters on count day.  A Short-eared Owl was seen cruising the roads on the
east side of 10th Road east south of the tracks between Ridge and Green
Mountain Road on Boxing Day.  Tufted Titmouse was reported on the Hamilton
Count from Ancaster area, likely near the Dundas Valley.  An Eastern Towhee
was seen along the old Martin Road trail in the Dundas Valley yesterday.
Another good count find was a Chipping Sparrow in a flock of Juncos at
Woodland Cemetery.  Lastly White-crowned Sparrows were seen at the Brantford
Dump (up to 6) and a single bird was seen a couple of times in the parking
lot at the Desjardins Canal.  

That's the news to wrap up the year.  All the best in 2019! Happy New Year.

Cheryl Edgecombe
HNC.






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