EASTERN PHOEBE
PINE GROSBEAK
Cackling Goose
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
King Eider
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Red-shouldered Hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Tufted Titmouse
Winter Wren
Hermit Thrush
Eastern Towhee
Fox Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Snow Bunting
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Well weather has definitely been a factor in scaling down our birds at the
top of the list. Unfortunately it seems that all the warblers and possibly
the kinglets at Sedgewick Park in Oakville have perished in this ruthless
cold weather and snow. It seems a shame but birds such as these aren't
built to withstand the temperatures let alone find protein and food source
to keep warm. It was a good run for all of them but sadly the news is not
good. The only species of note that is not absolutely cold tolerant but
able to survive at least until the temperatures plummeted this weekend were
two EASTERN PHOEBES, one found at Jaycee Park in Brantford and another along
the Spencer Creek Trail in Dundas. Neither have been reported since the
weekend.
A bird of note that I highlight at the top of the list was PINE GROSBEAK.
It's been a while since we have had an invasion year of this species so if
you haven't gone out to see them, now is the time to do so. There has been
a sizable flock hanging at the South Ring Road at the University of Guelph.
Weekends are best as parking lots are full of students in the week. These
are lovely finches to observe, most of the ones seen around here have been
females which are still exquisite but there are a few males mixed in with
flocks that give more colour to the group.
Much of the winter birding here in the Hamilton Study area centres around
waterfowl. On the bay this week which may be frozen by now, Common Loon and
Red-necked Grebe were highlights. A number of species of ducks can be
viewed for those willing to stand the cold with a scope. A King Eider
remains fairly reliable down at the Suncor Pier in Oakville. There are
usually more of these around in the winter but it seems a lean year. At
Christie Conservation Area a Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal were
counted amongst the hundreds of Canada Geese, Mallards and Black Ducks
there. Cackling Geese have been showing up as the number of Canada Geese
grow due to smaller water bodies freezing over north of here. Cackling
Geese have been seen at Bronte Harbour, Suncor Pier and LaSalle Marina over
the past week.
In the odds and sods, a Red-shouldered Hawk seems to be overwintering in the
Glen Morris area once again this year. Merlin sightings seem to be
consistent with birds reported in Strathcona area and at Kilbourne Street in
Stoney Creek this week. A Peregrine Falcon was terrorizing birds on
Fallsview Road early last week. One was seen perched on the lift bridge on
Friday. Both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls were reported from Bayfront Park.
Bald Eagles were seen flying over the bay, their numbers will increase as
water bodies freeze over and they will be seen on the ice waiting for the
snack bar of ducks. Snowy Owl sightings come from Oakville and Bronte
Harbour this week. A Barred Owl was observed perched on a fence near Spruce
and Burloak Drive, obviously having a big territory here in south
Burlington. Northern Flickers seem to be overwintering in a few places with
birds on Quarry Road in Grimsby, on Bell School Line north of Burlington and
on 5th Road East where it was joined by a Hermit Thrush. A Northern Shrike
was seen on Wayne Gretsky Parkway early last week. A lone Tufted Titmouse
was coming into a feeder on Mineral Springs Road just past the Hamlet of
Mineral Springs. Fox Sparrow and Purple Finch were highlights at the
Hamilton Conservation Authority. An interesting report of a female Eastern
Towhee came from Waterdown on the weekend, unusual to see a female
wintering. A Hermit Thrush was seen on 5th Road East while on the hunt for
Snow Buntings seen there on Friday. A White-crowned Sparrow was a house
guest at a feeder in Grimsby. A group of around 40 Common Redpolls were
hard targets to get on Fallsview Ave in Flamborough. A scope is needed to
scan the weedy area near the Dyments farm west of the Dyments Market.
Lastly, Pine Siskins are still coming into feeders. This cold brings out
the birds as they need energy to fill up. Keep your feeders stocked, you
never know what is going to turn up unexpectedly.
Stay warm!
Cheryl Edgecombe
HNC.
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