[ONTBIRDS] Brown Booby, Lakeland Centre, Van Wagner's Beach, Hamilton
The long staying Brown Booby is back enjoying the sun on the wave tower at Lakeland Centre located on Van Wagners Beach road in Hamilton. Cheryl Edgecombe for Barry Cherriere -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Ontbirds is reserved for sightings of provincially rare birds. To post a message on Ontbirds, send an email to: birdalert@ontbirds.ca. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Ontbirds Moderators by email at birdal...@ofo.ca. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To edit your membership settings visit the Ontbirds setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdalert_ontbirds.ca. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
[ONTBIRDS] Brown Booby, Van Wagner's Beach, Hamilton
The Brown Booby has arrived on the wave tower for those wishing to go down to Lakeland Centre. https://goo.gl/maps/wonVgp8zeZhxsc8n6 Cheryl -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Ontbirds is reserved for sightings of provincially rare birds. To post a message on Ontbirds, send an email to: birdalert@ontbirds.ca. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Ontbirds Moderators by email at birdal...@ofo.ca. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To edit your membership settings visit the Ontbirds setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdalert_ontbirds.ca. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report Saturday, February 15th, 2020
VIRGINIA RAIL BLACK VULTURE EASTERN PHOEBE GRAY CATBIRD WILSON'S WARBLER Cackling Goose Northern Pintail Wild Turkey Sandhill Crane Iceland Gull "Thayers Gull" Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Snowy Owl Northern Flicker Northern Shrike Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Horned Lark Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Snow Bunting Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Yellow-rumped Warbler It's been an interesting week here in the Hamilton Study area particularly for this time of year. Let's start at the top. Another VIRGINIA RAIL was flushed out of a marsh in south Brantford this week. The marsh can be reached by driving to the end of Davern Rd off Tutela Heights Rd, parking and walking 250m south along an ATV trail to the marsh. You then walk westwards along the marsh for about 400m, where the marsh gets very open just before where a farm vehicle track crosses the marsh. This is a great record for this time in February. Another surprise this week was a BLACK VULTURE seen flying west from Oaks Rd south of the South service Rd in Winona heading to Stoney Creek last Wednesday. Another EASTERN PHOEBE was turned up yesterday at Ruthven Historic Park near the mansion where it was relocated again today around the same place. GRAY CATBIRDS are in good supply this winter with two being seen in the Hendrie Valley, one at Confederation Park (two have been seen previously) and another one seen at Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga this week. The hardy WILSON'S WARBLER is still alive at Sedgewick Park being seen yesterday making it through the coldest night of the year. A trip to the south of the HSA in Haldimand today yielded a few good birds. At Ruthven Park with the Phoebe were two Tufted Titmice. An adult Bald Eagle flew over the park at the entrance. Travelling from Ruthven, a Northern Harrier and three Horned Larks were seen on West River Road SE of Cayuga. A nice quartet of Sandhill Cranes were seen on West River Road at Yaremy Road. Another Tufted Titmouse was seen on Irish Line and West River Road. In Decewsville 17 Brown-headed Cowbirds and a Common Raven were seen. Nearby at Taquanyah Conservation Area, two male American Wigeon and a female Pintail were seen in the open water there. Along West River Road south of York a dozen Eastern Bluebirds were present. Yesterday, two Cackling Geese were seen along the Grand River at Caledonia. In the odds and sods this week, seven Cackling Geese were seen at South Shell Park/Suncor Pier in Oakville yesterday. A male Northern Pintail is still present at LaSalle Marina. Gull enthusiasts would be advised to go to Pier 4 Park in Hamilton. There this week were Iceland, Thayer's , Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gull. Wild Turkeys were seen on Waterdown Road yesterday. A Turkey Vulture was seen over Mill Road in Oakville. Northern Harrier and Northern Shrike were a consolation prize on an unsuccessful outing on 10th Road east for Short-eared Owl. Bald Eagles seem to be moving about with a total of 5 being seen from Waterdown to Carlisle. Two Bald Eagles were seen over Woodland Cemetery on Wednesday. Two Snowy Owls are present in Bronte spending time between Suncor Pier and Bronte Marina. A Northern Flicker and a wintering Field Sparrow are present on Fifth Road East in Saltfleet. Hermit Thrushes have been seen at LaSalle Park in Burlington and Sedgewick Park in Oakville this week. A group of twenty five Snow Buntings were seen along Fallsview Road in Flamborough. An Eastern Towhee was seen near Brantford near Silvercreek. A Chipping Sparrow is coming into a feeder on Waterdown Road north of the QEW. An immature White-crowned Sparrow is coming into feed at LaSalle Park. A couple of Common Grackles were reported this week, one at a feeder near Bronte Creek Provincial Park and one at the Brantford Dump. A Yellow-rumped Warbler was photographed at Woodland Cemetery earlier this week. Thats the news for this week. Keep the sightings fresh, things are still interesting here in the Hamilton Study Area. Good Birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Wednesday, January 22nd, 2030
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE EASTERN PHOEBE FIELD SPARROW RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET WILSON'S WARBLER Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Northern Pintail Ruffed Grouse Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Common Loon Turkey Vulture Golden Eagle Bald Eagle Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Northern Shrike Hermit Thrush Brown Creeper Winter Wren Eastern Bluebird Snow Bunting Chipping Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Fairly quiet times here in the HSA but its winter and it's to be expected. Excitement came and went this week as a new sighting of GRAY PARTRIDGE was found on Paris Plains Church road in Brant count midweek only to be dashed the next morning by someone releasing birds into the field. This species is now considered extirpated in the HSA unless this population could get going and sustain itself at some point. There were a few good birds around. The female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen again at the end of Grays Road last week. There have been no reports this week but perhaps nobody was looking. A great find was an EASTERN PHOEBE at Courtcliffe Park in Carlisle. The bird has not been reported since it was found last Thursday but the weather turned cold and any open water would have frozen up so this bird may be hard to find. A FIELD SPARROW was found with a flock of Tree Sparrows on 5th Road East at the SW corner of the Vinemount Swamp on January 15th. Lastly our wintering WILSONS WARBLER and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET duo is doing well at Sedgewick Park in Oakville, being seen around the tanks and the woods on the east side. In the odds and sods this week, Cackling Geese were seen amongst the hundreds of Canada Geese down at Bronte Beach yesterday. One was seen over the South Service Road near Fifty Point yesterday as well. Tundra Swans made a move during the warm air week before last and a group of 8 birds were seen on 8th Road East in Saltfleet for a few days. The male Northern Pintail was seen at LaSalle Marina yesterday. A Ruffed Grouse made a very nice addition to a yard list on Monday on Middletown Rd 1 mile south of Hwy 8. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls can be found in the Harbour. A good place to look is Pier 4 park in Hamilton. An adult and juvenile Glaucous gull were seen on the Hamilton side of the ship canal. A single Turkey Vulture was seen over the 403 just before Hwy 6 on Sunday. A Golden Eagle was a nice sighting at Glen Morris Rail Trail Parking lot on Monday. An adult Bald Eagle was circling over the QEW last Sunday at the junction to Niagara. One or possibly two Snowy Owls have showed up around Bronte Harbour/Suncor Pier in Oakville. A single Short-eared Owl made an appearance on 10th Road East at the tracks along the Dofasco trail. A Northern Shrike is back wintering here and another is still present at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery. Birds seen along with the Wilsons and Ruby-crowned at Sedgewick include Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper and Winter Wren. Another Winter Wren was seen at LaSalle Park yesterday. The number of Bluebirds has decreased at Gates of Heaven Cemetery but can still be found. Horned Larks and Snow Buntings seem to be arriving with flocks seen on Fallsview Road near Dyments farm and along Glen Morris Road. A wintering Chipping Sparrow is still coming into seed at Woodland Cemetery and lastly two male Brown-headed Cowbirds were also seen along Fallsview Road. That's the news for this past two weeks. Please send along your sightings along to keep us going till spring. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, December 28th, 2019
ROSS'S GOOSE BARROW'S GOLDENEYE MARSH WREN RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET GRAY CATBIRD RUSTY BLACKBIRD PINE WARBLER WILSON'S WARBLER Cackling Goose Northern Pintail King Eider Barrow's x Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser x Common Goldeneye Wild Turkey Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Tufted Titmouse Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler This past week was sprinkled with some highlights as birders embarked on the Hamilton Christmas Bird Count on Boxing Day. Fair weather conditions and holiday time sent birders into the field and the list is not too shabby this week. As always we will start at the top. A ROSS'S GOOSE made a brief appearance at the Bronte Sports Field with a flock of Canada Geese on Christmas Eve day. There have been no reports since but geese are always in transition so it may pop up again somewhere along the lake. The female BARROWS GOLDENEYE along with the likely returning Barrows x Common Goldeneye were seen off Grays Road last Monday. A MARSH WREN was found on the East Mountain on count day in a small marsh at the southeast corner of Upper Mount Albion and Highland Rd. GRAY CATBIRDS were seen on count day in the Hendrie Valley (2) and one at the east entrance to Confederation Park. Not far away from Confederation a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen along Lake Street and then again later in the Stoney Creek Ravine. A PINE WARBLER was an unexpected surprise at Saddington Park last Saturday. The bird was seen Sunday and Monday but not reported since. Lastly, the long staying WILSON'S WARBLER is still present along with at least one RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Some of the highlights from the Christmas bird count include five Cackling Geese among 400+ Canadas at the quarry accessed from Tew Park in Greensville, Northern Pintail in Carroll's Bay below Woodland Cemetery, King Eider (female) at the Burlington Ship Canal on the bay side, Hooded Merganser x Common Goldeneye at the west end of Bayfront Trail, Pied-billed, Horned and Red-necked Grebe, Common Loon off LaSalle Marina, Iceland Gulls on the bay and at the Burlington Beachstrip (returning adult), Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gulls flying from the bay and another Lesser Black-backed over Windermere Basin, a Black-crowned Night Heron near Windermere Basin, Northern Flicker on Mazza Road in Flamborough, Pileated Woodpecker near the Rail Trail crossing on Binkley Rd. in the Dundas Valley, Tufted Titmouse near Martins Road in Ancaster, Chipping Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler at Woodland Cemetery with another Chipping Sparrow at Willow Point and White-crowned Sparrow at Valley Inn. There will be more results to come. In the odds and sods this week Wild Turkeys were seen in the Dundas Valley. Another Northern Pintail was seen at Wilkes Dam in Brantford in the week. A Red-throated Loon was reported on ebird at the ship canal earlier in the week. An unfortunate report of a deceased Common Loon on the beachstrip near Joseph Brant Hospital was likely a wire strike. The Gates of Heaven Cemetery has been active with Northern Harrier, Northern Shrike and up to seventeen Eastern Bluebirds seen this week. A Rough-legged Hawk was seen last Saturday south of Sydenham Road between Rock Chapel and Harvest roads. Great Blue Heron was observed over the Dundas Hydro Ponds last Saturday. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has returned for a fourth winter to a feeder in Ancaster. Other goodies found at Sedgewick Park in Oakville include Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet and White-throated Sparrow. In Brantford a Tufted Titmouse, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Field Sparrow were good finds on Christmas Day along the fields and trails near the perched fen. Yellow-rumped warblers are turning up in two more locations this week, three along the Spencer Creek Trail in Dundas near McMaster and two more where the boardwalk begins off the west side 8th Rd Saltfleet/Stoney Creek west along Dofasco Trail. It will be a whole new listing year soon. Report your sightings here! All the best to everyone in the New Year. Cheryl Edgecombe HNC ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, December 21st, 2019
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE BARROWS GOLDENEYE SLATY-BACKED GULL RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET GRAY CATBIRD WILSON'S WARBLER Snow Goose Tundra Swan Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal King Eider Common Goldeneye Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Common Loon Turkey Vulture Snowy Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Peregrine Falcon Northern Shrike Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Brown Creeper Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Common Grackle Fox Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Its a little quieter this year than most for birds, most have cleared out and are thankfully spending winter in warmer climes. Results from Christmas bird counts around the province seem to echo this. There are still a few goodies about and the Hamilton Christmas Bird Count is on December 26th so count week begins in a couple of days. As always we will start from the top. Twice this week a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE has been seen amongst the thousands of Canada Geese at the Hespeler Mill Pond. The BARROW'S GOLDENEYE male and female have been seen intermittently with flocks of Common Goldeneye at the end of Grays Road and into Confederation Park although there have been no reports in the last few days, perhaps birders getting Christmas shopping done. The SLATY-BACKED GULL at Mohawk Lake in Brantford has not been seen this week but was seen last week perhaps it is now the one showing in the Niagara Region or in London. At Sedgewick Park in Oakville, two RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and the WILSON'S WARBLER were seen through the week. Two GRAY CATBIRDS were seen last Sunday at the east end of Confederation Park. The South Peel Christmas Count was conducted last Saturday in dismal rainy conditions. Some highlights from the HSA include four Tundra Swans and two Northern Pintails in a field along Fourth Line south of Omagh, a Snow Goose at Forth Line and Lower Base Road and an Evening Grosbeak was heard over MacEwan House at Riverwood Conservancy where one wintered last year. In the odds and sods, four Tundra Swans were seen yesterday over Walker's Line and Harvester Road. A Northern Pintail and three Green-winged Teal were seen in the Red Hill Creek outlet from the viewing platform of Windermere Basin. The King Eider was seen last week at the Burlington Ship Canal but seems to have moved on or somewhere else. Pied billed Grebe, Horned Grebe and Common Loon were seen in the Willow Cove area along the north shore of the Harbour along with 3 Glaucous Gulls. A Red-necked Grebe was seen with Horned Grebes at LaSalle Marina (currently under construction). An Iceland Gulls was seen at Oakville Harbour last Sunday. A Turkey Vulture was seen on a building in Dundas. A Snowy Owl was seen at the end of the Suncor Pier on Tuesday, first arrival for this region. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker made an appearance on Thursday at a feeder in Dundas. Peregrine Falcons seem to be wintering in Brantford a juvenile was seen flying over the Mohawk Institute on Mohawk St and later there was an adult sitting on a cell phone tower along Greenwich St near Port St.. A Northern Shrike appears to be wintering in the Gates of Heaven Cemetery with another seen week before last on 10th Road East south of the tracks. A Common Raven was seen at 2nd Side Road and Appleby Line on Sunday. Tufted Titmice have been seen in a couple of locations with two being seen at the Royal Botanical Gardens along Caleb's Walk, Ginger Valley Ravine Trails. Other birds seen at Sedgewick Park in Oakville include Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush. Up to sixteen Eastern Bluebirds were seen at Gates of Heaven Cemetery last week with three being seen last Tuesday. A single Common Grackle was seen with some starlings at Centennial and Mud Street last weekend. A Fox Sparrow was present at the Mowhawk Landfill. Three Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Winter Wren were good finds on the McMaster Campus West. Finally, a pair of Red-winged Blackbirds were seen yesterday on Fallsview Road east of Oldfield. All the best this holiday season to you and yours and good birding in 2020. Please forward any sightings along here for the Christmas Count period and our count on Boxing Day. Cheryl Edgecombe HNC. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club BIrding Report - Saturday, December 7th, 2019
BARROWS GOLDENEYE SLATY-BACKED GULL EASTERN PHOEBE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET WILSON'S WARBLER Wood Duck Northern Pintail King Eider Horned Grebe Red necked Grebe Sandhill Crane Purple Sandpiper Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Peregrine Falcon Northern Shrike Brown Creeper Winter Wren Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Purple Finch Swamp Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-rumped Warbler Well winter listing started out on a brutal note last Sunday with freezing rain, snow and high winds making conditions impossible for most to get out. Potential winter birds like the Western Kingbird Green Heron and Red-eyed Vireo at Gairloch Gardens unfortunately were not seen. It is suspected that the Green Heron met its demise the day before. One always hopes that these lingering birds find their way south but unfortunately this is not the case. Enough of the Debbie Downer talk, we still have some excellent birds still about in the HSA. A male and female BARROWS GOLDENEYE have been seen through the week at the end of Gray's Road sometimes venturing into the end of Confederation Park. Throughout the week the SLATY-BACKED GULL has made an appearance almost daily on the ice at Mowhawk Lake in Brantford with the bird still being seen as of yesterday. Mid-day seems to be the best time to see the beast as the birds likely feed at the dump in the morning and then come to rest on the lake around the lunch hour. Reports seem to indicate that the bird generally is seen until about 3 unless spooked by a Bald Eagle. Other gulls found out there this week include Iceland, Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gull. For the winter listers, slim pickings, an EASTERN PHOEBE was reported at Gates of Heaven Cemetery in the meadow there on December 4th. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was a consolation prize at Gairloch Gardens while looking for the lingering Red-eyed Vireo. Yesterday a WILSON'S WARBLER was confirmed at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. A yellow warbler was seen on the second but remained under the vegetation, this was likely the beast coming out to be in the full sun yesterday in the parking lot at the Jehovah's Witness which borders the park. In the odds and sods this week, two Wood Ducks were seen in the Desjardins Canal in Dundas on the second, Great Blue and Black-crowned Night-Herons can still be found at the Canal. A Northern Pintail was present yesterday around the islands at LaSalle Park. Horned and Red Necked Grebe were seen from LaSalle last Sunday. Sandhill Cranes were on the move this week with a couple of large flocks going over Hilton Falls Conservation Area. A flock of 14 birds were seen over York Road at the entrance to the RBG. An elusive Purple Sandpiper was seen briefly on the Hamilton side of the lift bridge before taking off to the east, subsequent attempts to relocate were futile. While looking at the Slaty-backed Gull at Mowhawk Lake in Brantford, a Turkey Vulture flew over likely for a visit to the dump. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was also a bird of interest here. Peregrine Falcons were reported from downtown Hamilton and from the cement plant near Winston Churchill in Mississauga. Along the Spencer Creek trail off Cootes Drive in Dundas, a Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Swamp Sparrows and a female Red-winged Blackbird were seen yesterday. A Northern Shrike and Eastern Bluebirds were other notables at the Gates of Heaven cemetery this week. Other birds seen at Sedgewick Park in Oakville include Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush and White-throated Sparrow. A Purple Finch was notable at a feeder on Sawmill Road in Ancaster, a bird that was missed on our fall count this year and virtually no records anywhere of late. A single Fox Sparrow was seen at LaSalle Park last Saturday. Lastly, a Yellow-rumped Warbler was the only straggler found near the sewage tanks across from the Urquhart Butterfly Gardens last week, these seem to have cleared out for the season. That's the scoop for this week. Christmas Bird Counts are starting next weekend so get out and scout your local patch, send along your sightings! Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, November 24th, 2019
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE SLATY-BACKED GULL GREAT EGRET GREEN HERON WESTERN KINGBIRD EASTERB PHOEBE RED-EYED VIREO FISH CROW NASHVILLE WARBLER NORTHERN PARULA YELLOW WARBLER BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER SCARLET TANAGER Wood Duck King Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Common Goldeneye Red-necked Grebe Bonaparte's Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Black-crowned Night Heron Golden Eagle Red-headed Woodpecker Marsh Wren Eastern Bluebird American Pipit Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler It's all quality birding here in the Hamilton Study Area this week. The top of the list highlights our rarities as well as some lingering birds of interest for the upcoming winter listing season. A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE remains in flocks of Common Goldeneye along the Stoney Creek lakeshore being seen anywhere from Confederation Park to Green Road. A female bird was also photographed last week off Sayers Park/Grays Road. On Tuesday an immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flew past the point of Fifty Point Conservation area along with an immature Bonaparte's Gull. A returning mega-rarity, and adult SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen on and off through Tuesday and Wednesday last week at Mowhawk Lake in Brantford. Photographs seem to support that this was one of the birds from last year. As the ice dwindled on the lake later in the week, the gulls moved locations. Colder temperatures by end of week this week should bring it back to the ice. Several Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Iceland Gulls were also present here. Still not too late for FISH CROWS two were seen on Moffatt Road in Flamborough yesterday, an inland location out of the normal lakeshore haunts but just a heads up that they are still about. For those winter listing as of next Sunday, Hamilton has a number of potential targets in the area. The dynamic duo of GREEN HERON and WESTERN KINGBIRD continue at the Desjardins Canal this week. Parking is at the lot on King Street at the Urquhart Butterfly Gardens. The Kingbird has been seen out near the chimney at Canal Park and when cold best to look along the banks of the canal where it hawks insects. Two EASTERN PHOEBES were seen at Princess Point this week. Another potential bird was heard at Sedgewick Park in Oakville yesterday. A RED-EYED VIREO was seen at Gairloch Gardens in Oakville last Saturday, anyone out and about checking this area is asked to advise of an update. Lastly good old Sedgewick Park in Oakville has come through again this year for harbouring some late date species. No reports of the WHITE-EYED VIREO but a YELLOW WARBLER was seen up until last weekend and on Friday, a female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was found. There had also been a NASHVILLE WARBLER lurking about. All of these species may still be there but warmer weather tends to drive birds further from the tanks. Hopefully the birds will find their way south but cold weather at the end of the week will let us know if they are going or not. Of interest as well an immature Red-headed Woodpecker made its way to feeders along the west side of the park but was a one day wonder. A NORTHERN PARULA was seen at Bronte Bluffs on Thursday. Lastly a very late SCARLET TANAGER was feeding on grapes at the end of Fruitland Road in Stoney Creek. Any updates on all of the above birds are appreciated for those foolish enough to winter list! In the odds and sods, a female Wood Duck was present at the Desjardins Canal along with a couple of Black-crowned Night Heron. A King Eider has been present near the Burlington Ship Canal for most of the week. A Red-throated Loon was seen off VanWagners Beach. A few Red-necked Grebes are still about with birds seen off Van Wagners Beach, Bayfront Park and South Shell Park this week. Golden Eagles were reported over the Dundas Conservation Area and at Mowhawk Lake during the week. At the Dundas Marsh, a Marsh Wren and Eastern Bluebirds were seen on Wednesday. American Pipits are still moving through with birds seen at LaSalle Marina this week and one individual along the South Shell Park beach missing a tail and favouring one foot, likely a target of a predator. Chipping Sparrows are still being reported with birds seen at South Shell Park and Bronte Creek Provincial Park. A Yellow-rumped warbler was seen at Slot Road Wetland as well as a couple at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. On Kramer Road on the east side of Christie Conservation area, eight Fox Sparrows were scratching along the road in addition to a Hermit Thrush. It's going to be a wild ride of temperatures this week which may move birds around and bring them into feeders. Keep them stocked! Have a great week! Cheryl Edgecombe HNC ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe
[Ontbirds] Slaty-backed Gull, Mohawk Lake, Brantford
Bill Lamond texted me to advise of an adult Slaty-backed Gull at Mohawk Lake in Brantford. Just getting the word out with a link to the map. It is the same location as last year. Hopefully this link works. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mohawk+Lake/@43.1340103,-80.2485942,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x882c6687e8b4b20f:0xb5f60ded7f2b827a!8m2!3d43.1340122!4d-80.2310846 Cheryl ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, November 9th, 2019
BARROWS GOLDENEYE COMMON NIGHTHAWK (late record) PARASITIC JAEGER AMERICAN AVOCET WESTERN KINGBIRD WHITE-EYED VIREO BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (MEGA!!!) Brant Tundra Swan King Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Horned Grebe Sandhill Crane Dunlin Pectoral Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Golden Eagle Rough-legged Hawk Short-eared Owl Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Snow Bunting Eastern Towhee American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Nelson's Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler It's been another spectacular week here in the Hamilton Study Area as our annual Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count got underway on November 3rd and boy did birders ever come to the plate this year. The total number of species at this point including a count day before and after the 3rd will be around 135, pretty impressive this late in the year. Let's start at the top. Slam dunk for Hamilton's Bird of the Year and the best bird to ever turn up on the fall bird count a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW was found by Mark Jennings on the Sheldon Creek Trail in Oakville. The bird was present for three solid days and one brief morning sighting on Wednesday. As you may recall this year Mark has found Yellow Rail, Cinnamon Teal and a spring Black-legged Kittiwake just in the patch he birds around Bronte. Buying a lottery ticket would be recommended!!! This is also the second time of year that I have thrown yard tools down on the driveway, left my garage open and peeled out of the driveway issuing calls from my neighbours asking what's wrong. While on site of the sparrow, word got out of an unlikely lingering Great Crested Flycatcher, word went out to a scout team who identified it as a WESTERN KINGBIRD which has remarkably been around all week including yesterday. The bird is located at the Urquhart Butterfly Gardens/Canal Park off York Road in Dundas. Other stand alone rarities found on the count include the refind of a BARROWS GOLDENEYE for count day along the Stoney Creek lakeshore, there were actually two separate birds seen in the three days, one discovered on Friday, November 1st and apparently a different bird photographed on the Sunday for the count. A late AMERCIAN AVOCET touched down briefly off Princess Point mid afternoon on count day, the water levels here too high to keep it grounded. Three WHITE-EYED VIREOS were seen on the count, one continuing bird at Sedgewick Park in Oakville, one seen at LaSalle Park in Burlington count day and a third in Brant County. Another WHITE-EYED VIREO was turned up yesterday at Fifty Point Conservation Area in the campground at Site 4. On the day following the count the second latest COMMON NIGHTHAWK was flushed up in Stoney Creek in a scrubby area between DeWitt and Millen Road, the bird looking rather weak and wary. Lastly a PARASITIC JAEGER was a count period bird off Bronte. Other notable fall bird count sightings include the following: Brant (Count Period), Pectoral Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Northern Shrike, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron (at Kingbird location), Golden Eagle (several reported), Eastern Phoebe, Swainson's Thrush (at Kingbird Location count period), Nelson's Sparrow (on the accessible trail off Cootes Drive), Lincoln's Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Tennessee Warbler (2 banded at Ruthven), Nashville Warbler (count period) and Pine Warbler (Flamborough). In the odds and sods this week, a Brant was seen far out from Lakeland Centre on Monday. A small group of Tundra Swans landed in Cootes Paradise on Wednesday. A first year male King Eider was seen on Thursday at Burloak Park. All three Scoter species and a slew of Long-tailed Ducks, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers are visible from the Stoney Creek shoreline. Peppered in here are Common and Red-throated Loons. A number of Horned Grebes were present off Fifty Point yesterday. There was a notable movement of Sandhill Cranes yesterday over the Hamilton Brantford Rail Trail with a total of 255 being seen or heard. Another group was heard calling over Westover Rd, north of the 8th Con Rd West. A week ago on Friday a big movement of Dunlin were seen along the Stoney Creek shoreline, small groups and singles have been noted through the week. A Rough-legged Hawk and a sub-adult Golden Eagle were notables yesterday on a hawkwatch at Springbank Meadows Park in Mississauga. Two Short-eared Owls were flushed near the Wyecroft/McPherson stormwater pond in Oakville. A Marsh Wren was seen on the trail off Cootes Drive on a search for Nelson's Sparrows. Sedgewick Park in Oakville seems to be harbouring a number of Golden-crowned
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, November 1st, 2019
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE POMARINE JAEGER FRANKLIN'S GULL ARCTIC TERN FISH CROW WHITE-EYED VIREO Brant Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Dunlin Greater Yellowlegs Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Egret Green Heron Turkey Vulture Golden Eagle Peregrine Falcon Common Raven Eastern Bluebird Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Tree Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Tennessee Warbler Northern Parula Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler It's been a busy couple of weeks here in the Hamilton Study area as we gear up for the annual Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count this Sunday, November 3rd. There is a good list at the top considering the time of year and with the wild weather, still lots to be found. Today a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen off Green Road and later moved down to Gray's Road. This is tied for the earliest fall date for this species. The lake is still the best place to be for easterly winds as on Wednesday a dark juvenile POMARINE JAEGER was seen from Lakeland Centre and later in the day a juvenile ARCTIC TERN was seen with a group of Common Terns off Fifty Point Conservation Area. The week before last, a great find was a FRANKLIN'S GULL as a one day wonder at the Hagersville Quarry Ponds. A single FISH CROW was seen at Coronation Park in Oakville on October 29th. Lastly a WHITE-EYED VIREO was found on Monday at Sedgewick Park in Oakville, seen last on Wednesday. Now that the weather is growing colder, this will be a good spot to check for lingering birds. The lake as is always this time of year is filling up with ducks. All three scoters were seen from Grays Road today, Long-tailed Ducks have come in with force, Common Goldeneye are arriving in numbers as well as flights of Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. Today there was a flight of up to 180 Dunlin along the lakeshore as well as a late Greater Yellowlegs. Other birds recorded along the west end of the lake include Bonaparte's Gull, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (seen from Green Road today), Great Black-backed Gull, Red-throated and Common Loon. In the odds and sods this week a Brant was present down at Bronte Harbour on Wednesday, tough to see amongst the rocks so may still be in the area. Ruddy Ducks are gathering at Tollgate Pond with 240 seen here on the 29th. A nice late find here at Tollgate last weekend was a Red-necked Phalarope which stayed from October 26th-28th. Great Egrets are still being seen in Cootes Paradise with 14 being seen earlier in the week and 6 being recorded on Wednesday. A late Green Heron was seen in the Hendrie Valley on October 27th. Golden Eagles were seen over Dundas at Governors Road at Over field on October 30th and at the King and Benton Quarry in Brantford on October 25th. A group of 65 Turkey Vultures were likely birds moving through today after a stall over the past days. Two Peregrines were seen off the Hamilton Beach strip, these could be local birds. Common Ravens are still doing well in the HSA with a bird seen low over Reg. Rd. 97 at Valens Rd. on Monday October 28, 2019 and two Ravens at Confederation Park on Oct. 28. A group of 12 Eastern Bluebirds were seen at Gates of Heaven Cemetery today. Thrushes are still moving through, frequenting berry vines and trees in neighbourhood yards. In South Burlington, Gray-cheeked, a late Swainson's and several Hermit Thrushes were feeding. At Sedgewick Park in Oakville late migrants included Northern Parula, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warbler. A first of season American Tree Sparrow was present on Wednesday. A Tennessee Warbler was recorded at Ruthven Park on October 24th. A late Vesper Sparrow was noted at McPherson School in Glen Morris.Lastly, stock those feeders as there are birds that need to eat with the cold. White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow and Dark-eyed Juncos were all feeder birds reported this week. The Fall bird count is on Sunday, but please send along sightings from Saturday and Monday as well. The Fall Bird Count includes the entire circle so please let us know what you see. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe Back at it again, thanks to Rob Dobos for the coverage! -- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, October 6th, 2019
POMARINE JAEGER PARASITIC JAEGER LONG-TAILED JAEGER BLACK-LEGGED KITTWAKE SABINE'S GULL CATTLE EGRET SEDGE WREN Snow Goose Cackling Goose Canada Goose Blue-winged Teal American Wigeon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover American Golden Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Dunlin Least Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Bonaparte's Gull Caspian Tern Common Tern Common Loon American Bittern Great Egret Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Broad-winged Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Great-crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Tufted Titmouse House Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher American Pipit Eastern Towhee Clay-colored Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Black-and-White Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting It's a busy week here in the Hamilton Study Area but when you invite over 200 birders to explore your back yard you're going to get a good results and a massively long list! It's hard to compile all of these sightings into a few locales but some great rarities came up and we brought in some hearty East Winds for the conference which didn't disappoint. Last Sunday was a spectacular day at Van Wagner's Beach.It was great for visitors to get a taste of what goes on down there on east winds. Many left with lifers and a great day was had by all. The action actually started the day before with an adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER seen off Fifty Point Conservation area. On Sunday, POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGER added to the trifecta along with BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and four SABINE'S GULL. Doesn't get more complete than that. Other birds seen here include Cackling Goose, three mixed in with a large group of migrating Canada's, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Redhead, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Surf, White-winged and Black Scoter, Common Loon, Horned Grebe (seen Saturday), Red-necked Grebe, Dunlin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Caspian and Common Tern, Peregrine Falcon and Merlin. There was some action yesterday at Van Wagners as well with a single SABINE'S GULL and a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE seen. Another great find was a CATTLE EGRET, found Thursday before the conference at Princess Point/Kay Drage Park in Hamilton. The bird was seen by canoe on Friday and viewed from the bridge at Kay Drage Park and Princess Point over the course of the conference. It made a brief appearance on Sunday at the Desjardins Canal. Up at the Dofasco Trail in Saltfleet another great find was 2 SEDGE WRENS, a bird hard to find in the study area although this secretive species may breed here each year. The birds were last seen/heard last Monday. Along this trail other finds were Philadelphia Vireo, Field, Lincoln's, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow and Palm Warbler. There were many field trips in a wide variety of locations and listing species in each of these locations would compile a nice set of encyclopaedias so I will summarize places and if known will state which place an unusual species may have been seen. Locations for field trips included Princess Point, Dundas Valley, Fifty Point Conservation Area, Shoreacres/Paletta, Confederation Park, Valley Inn and Ruthven Banding Station. Species reported from these locations include Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Ruthven), Black-billed Cuckoo (Ruthven and Dundas Valley), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse (Dundas Valley), House and Marsh Wren, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray-cheeked, Swainson's and Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco (Woodland Cemetery), Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-White, Tennessee , Nashville, Orange-crowned Warbler,
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, September 8, 2019
WESTERN SANDPIPER POMARINE JAEGER PARASITIC JAEGER LONG-TAILED JAEGER SABINE'S GULL Blue-winged Teal American Wigeon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead White-winged Scoter Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Horned Grebe Common Nighthawk Ruby-throated Hummingbird Black-bellied Plover American Golden Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Stilt Sandpiper Sanderling Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Black Tern Common Tern Common Loon Least Bittern Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Red-eyed Vireo Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Clay-colored Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Ovenbird Blue-winged Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler It's been the busiest week of the fall so far here in the Hamilton Study Area, lots to cover so let's get to it. As is always the case, Van Wagner's Beach is always a hot spot at this time of year. This week northeast and east winds brought in all sorts of goodies and it was a banner week for Jaegers and Sabine's Gulls. Last Sunday 31 juvenile SABINE'S GULLS were counted off of Lakeland Centre, groups of 12, 13 plus some single birds were seen migrating through and over the lake. Later in the day an adult Long-tailed Jaeger thrilled observers racing down the shoreline displaying its lovely streamers headed toward the Burlington shoreline. Sabine's gulls were seen in single numbers through the rest of the week with a bird also reported from Bronte. Friday was another spectacular day down at the beach with all three Jaeger species being seen, LONG-TAILED JAEGER (1 juv), PARASITIC JAEGER (10), POMARINE JAEGER (1 juv). Other species recorded from here during the week include Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, White-winged Scoter, Common and Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe, Green Heron, Sanderling, Red-necked Phalarope (5 on Sept 1), Bonaparte's Gull, Black Tern (2 on Sept 1), Common Tern and Common Loon. Northeast and east winds later this afternoon and tomorrow may be good for producing more birds, no guarantees but just a heads up. The other hotspots this week are our best shorebirding areas in the Hammer, Tollgate Ponds and Windermere Basin, fortunately not that far apart. On Tuesday at Tollgate Pond a nicely marked juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPER was found along with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Seems to be easier in past years to find Buff-breasted at this location rather than cruising the sod farms south of the Hamilton Airport. Both of these birds stuck around a couple of days for birders to see. Other shorebirds seen here at Tollgate pond were Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Least, White-rumped, Stilt, Bairds, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and on Wednesday, a nice group of 5 Red-necked Phalaropes. Three of them stayed in subsequent days. Blue-winged Teal (up to 10), Green-winged Teal and Redhead were ducks noted here. Note of caution, please be careful while viewing shorebirds along here, there is a great deal of traffic and the Port Authority frowns upon people going over the barrier even though it is more protected from the cars and trucks. Down the road at Windermere Basin a juvenile Red Knot was found last Sunday, it was still present as of Wednesday. On Tuesday a Long-billed Dowitcher was found with a group of three Short-billed Dowitchers. The next morning two Long-billed Dowitchers were present. Other birds seen here at the basin include Black-bellied and American Golden Plover, Stilt and Pectoral Sandpiper. Diversity is lower here but you never know what will drop in. Another spot to watch is North Island along the Northeast Shore of the Harbour with viewing from Eastport Drive. Here this week were Ruddy Turnstone (3) and Sanderling (13). Passerine migration has been a little slow but maybe people are beaching it too much to search the woodlots. Yesterday at Shell Park, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green were noted. On Thursday, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were seen at Woodland. On Thursday, Lincolns Sparrow and Chestnut-sided Warbler were seen at Confederation Park. Yesterday, a Blue-winged Warbler, still in bright plumage was found in the Cartwright Property. Nearby at the Berry
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, August 23, 2019
AMERICAN AVOCET EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE FISH CROW PROTHONOTARY WARBLER Blue-winged Teal Redhead Ruffed Grouse Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail Sandhill Crane American Golden Plover Semipalmated Plover Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Bonaparte's Gull Common Nighthawk Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Barn Swallow Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Cedar Waxwing Purple Finch Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut- sided Warbler Canada Warbler Bobolink This week saw a little more passerine movement so things are slowly starting to get going on the fall migration front. As always we will start at the top of the list. The AMERICAN AVOCET that was present at Hespeler Mill Pond the week before last took flight. Last Sunday another AMERICAN AVOCET was found at Windermere Basin where it remains. On Thursday, August 15th around 5:17 p.m. a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE was seen on the junction of Highway 52 and Wilson Street in Ancaster. It has not been reported since. FISH CROWS have successfully bred at the Sioux Lookout location in Burlington with two family groups seen feeding young in the past week. A group of 10 FISH CROWS were seen two days ago on Lakeland Ave which borders this area going to roost in the trees. A single FISH CROW was seen at Confederation Park this week. A bird not found yearly in the HSA, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen at Courtcliffe Park in Carlisle around noon on Thursday, August 15th. The bird was sighted upstream from the iron bridge which crosses Bronte Creek. It was travelling with a probable female. Other birds seen here which could be considered migrants were Least Flycatcher and Eastern Kingbird. Yellow Warbler and Baltimore Orioles are also on the move but it's hard to tell at this time whether these were migrants. The PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was only a short wonder as an attempt to go back with a camera to refind it came up short. Shorebirds are still in the news. The Hespeler Mill Pond is still offering up a variety of species including Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Least, Semipalmated and Pectoral Sandpiper. Two Sandhill Cranes were again present last weekend and this is also a good place for Great Egret and Great Blue Herons in numbers. At Windermere Basin along with the AVOCET, a number of Lesser Yellowlegs are present , Least Sandpiper and a Baird's made a short appearance on Tuesday before it disappeared into the grasses. A juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher is also present today. A short distance away, at Tollgate Ponds (probably the best spot at present), a Baird's Sandpiper was found on Tuesday and multiplied to 6 today, one remaining adult Stilt Sandpipers was present this week from the two found the week before. Along with the 6 Baird's Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers and a moulting American Golden Plover to add to the mix. Other birds noted here were Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated, Least and Pectoral Sandpiper (week before last) and a Sanderling (week before last). Another jewel of a spot for shorebirds was found this week at a farm pond at #952 Hwy 5 W on the east side of Taylor's farm market which is just east of Flamborough Downs (on the south side of the road). Found here on Wednesday, a Great Egret, 1 juv. Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper , Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Passerines are on the move this week. At Woodland Cemetery yesterday, Chimney Swifts (158), Eastern Kingbird (15), Barn Swallow (48), Purple Martin, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatcher were noted . Raptors were starting to move with 6 Broad-winged Hawks seen. Another spot with some passerine variety was Joe Sams Park in Waterdown. Here this week were Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Least Flycatcher, a number of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Black and White, Blackburnian and Chestnut sided Warbler and many American Redstart. A nice non-migrant resident of 4 Ruffed Grouse were flushed here as well. In the odds and sods this week, three Sandhill Cranes and an ever elusive Least Bittern were seen and heard at Grass Lake. A Red-shouldered Hawk was seen at 8th concession West and Westover Road. A single Broad-winged was seen in the same area but likely nest there so hard to tell if it's a migrant. A few juvenile Bonaparte's Gulls have been seen this week, one at Valley Inn and several at Windermere Basin today. A report from the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons yielded Virginia Rail and Green Heron. Common Nighthawks were on migration last
[Ontbirds] American Avocet, Hespeler mill pond on the speed river in cambridge - Aug 6
According to ebird the American Avocet is present again this morning at Hespeler Mill Pond. Viewed from Ellacott Landing off Queen Street East in Hespeler Village. Cheryl Edgecombe Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, August 5th, 2019
AMERICAN AVOCET FISH CROW Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Long-tailed Duck Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Common Gallinule Sandhill Crane Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Baird's Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Wilson's Phalarope Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Merlin Willow Flycatcher It's still a little quiet out there in the Hamilton Study Area. This week a couple of strong cold fronts should bring some movement of birds and late summer and fall tend to be high season in these parts for specialties. This week, at the top of the list, an AMERICAN AVOCET was found today at Hespeler Mill Pond in the village of Hespeler, best seen from Ellacott Landing off Queen Street. This is one of the best locations at present for shorebirds with Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs all being seen today. Other non-shorebird types here include Wood Duck (several families), a pair of Sandhill Cranes earlier in the week, Common Tern, many Great Blue Herons and up to 16 Great Egrets seen today. FISH CROWS are still being seen along the Burlington/Oakville Shoreline, three probable birds were seen at the end of the Suncor Pier on Saturday and 10 birds were seen at Bronte Harbour including young. Closer to Hamilton both Windermere Basin and Tollgate Pond have shorebird habitat. A Wilson's Phalarope was present up until July 29th. Other shorebirds at these locations include, Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone (Tollgate), Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs. The week before last, a Bairds Sandpiper was reported as a one day wonder from Windermere Basin.The Common Terns have left Windermere Basin for the most part. Green-winged Teal, Redhead and Ruddy Duck have all been seen at the basin. In Tollgate Pond at the back berm a colony of Black-crowned Night Herons totalled 20 on July 29th. Now is a good time to look for a wayward Yellow-crowned Night Heron that we had three of in various locations at this time last year. At Tollgate Pond, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail and Redhead were ducks noted here. In the odds and sods, a rogue Long-tailed Duck was spotted at the Burlington lift Bridge on July 22nd, likely a summering bird. On east winds, 9 Green-winged Teal, 1 Hooded Merganser, Common Terns and a first summer Great Black-backed Gull were reported this week. Several families of Pied-billed Grebe have been successful at Neibauer's Marsh west of Guelph. A Great Egret was seen flying over the Valley Inn on July 31st. Grass Lake has always been a good spot for Sandhill Cranes but they are starting to disperse. Two were seen at Grass Lake today and a flock of sever were seen a couple of days ago on Glen Morris Road west of Hwy 24. Three Green Herons were seen over Grass Lake this morning. A Common Gallinule gave a few squawks this morning at Grass Lake and a Least Bittern has been reported there although not seen or heard this morning. Merlins have been reported in several locations, Strathcona in Hamilton, Lorne Park in Brantford, Windermere Basin. Merlins have established themselves as city nesters. A Willow Flycatcher was a fall migrant seen at Woodland Cemetery on July 31st and an unusual sighting for this time of year and location was of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the end of the boardwalk at LaSalle Park on July 30th. Don't let your guard down, things are turning up province wide and these next weather systems should start some passerine migration. Report your sightings here! Good birding 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club BIrding Report - Saturday, July 20th, 2019
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE FISH CROW Blue-winged Teal Green-winged Teal Redhead Canvasback Red-necked Grebe Common Nighthawk Virginia Rail Sora Common Gallinule Semipalmated Plover Stilt Sandpiper Sanderling Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Solitary Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Bonaparte's Gull Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird The summer continues hot and steamy with little movement of birds but there has been some start to fall migration here in the Hamilton Study area so thought I would give an update. The birds at the top of the list have been hanging around for some time and have bred in the area. Sightings of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE with a juvenile came from Wentworth Street North and FISH CROWS have been seen near Fiesta Mall in Stoney Creek and around Bronte Harbour this week. Shorebirds are the main group in the movers and shakers this week. Windermere Basin has become good for shorebirds once again. Two days ago our first adult Stilt Sandpiper arrived back, bang on time. Other birds seen here include Semipalmated Plover, Least, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs. Another spot that looks like it's going to be productive is Ellacott Landing in Hespeler where this week dropping water levels produced Least and Solitary Sandpiper and both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Five Solitary Sandpipers were present along Spencer Creek downstream from Cootes Drive on July 13th. Continuing with shorebirds a single Sanderling was seen at VanWagners Beach two days ago. I expect more action after this heat passes along with a beginning movement of passerines. In the odds and sods, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal and the family of Redheads continue at Windermere Basin. A lone Canvasback was seen July 5th offshore east of Appleby Line. Red-necked Grebes have successfully nested at Bronte Marsh, another set are potentially on eggs down at Bronte Harbour. Virginia Rail, Sora and Common Gallinule have all been seen at Grimsby Wetlands in the past couple of weeks. A family group of Common Gallinules were seen at Safari Road Wetland as well. A Common Nighthawk has been seen on and off this summer near Gage Park being reported on ebird yesterday at Edgemont St and Justine. On east winds a couple of days ago, two adult Bonaparte's Gulls and a Red-necked Grebe were seen. A single Great Egret was seen at Congestion Pond (stormwater pond between Guelph line and Brant on the North Service Road in Burlington). Up to nine were seen at Ellacott Landing in Hespeler. A good sized colony of Black-crowned Night Herons have successfully bred at Tollgate Pond. Up on the Dofasco Trail on 10th Road East, it is nice to see that Eastern Meadowlarks have successfully bred here in these grasslands. An unusual for this year sighting of a female Rusty Blackbird occurred yesterday at Windermere Basin. That's the news for this week. Let's see what this next bout of cooler air brings in. Southern waifs are also possible with these warm and sticky bouts so it's not time to let your guard down. Stay cool and hydrated 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, June 30th, 2019
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE FISH CROW ACADIAN FLYCATCHER Wood Duck Redhead Hooded Merganser Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Sandhill Crane Dunlin Lesser Yellowlegs American Bittern Great Egret Least Bittern Great Egret Osprey Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-throated Vireo Clay-colored Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Orchard Oriole Pine Warbler Scarlet Tanager It's been a very quiet two weeks here in Hamilton, typical of this time of year but since there have been a couple of notables as far as breeding goes it warrants a report. The breeding record of the year is of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, likely the same birds as were found last fall, this pair moved locations slightly and were found around the block encompassed by Burlington St., Hillyard St., Niagara St. and Land St. near the port. The birds were seen this morning accompanied by a juvenile that the original observer had thought he had seen near the site. An new breeding record for this neck of the woods and one of just a couple in Ontario. FISH CROWS are still in the news, likely bred here in south Burlington. One was seen at Lakeside Plaza which is near Burloak and Lakeshore and yesterday, one was heard here at the house at Walkers and New Street. Up in Britton Tract the ACADIAN FLYCATCHER continues to be seen and heard at the same location accessed from the north parking lot on 6th line Nassawagawa along the second loop that goes North-South across a small creek near some flagging tape. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-throated Vireo and Winter Wren are also highlights here. In other news, shorebirds are on the return with a single Dunlin and a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs seen at Windermere Basin. A Redhead that has bred there continues with one less chick (down to 3) here at the basin as well. The lift bridge Peregrines have all fledged and can be seen occasionally in the area refining their hunting skills. In the odds and sods, a Hooded Merganser was seen with 3 chicks at a puddle on Orkney Road south of Hwy 8 and another juvenile at the Smithville Sewage Lagoons. A Wood Duck with 11 chicks was also present in Smithville. An interesting record of 3 Horned Grebes came from Spencer Smith Park, not often found in the summer here. They were in the company of Red=necked Grebes. Down in the south of the circle, a pair of Sandhill Crane was seen week before last on River Road south of Cayuga with two downy chicks. Up to 15 Cranes were seen at Grass Lake near Glen Morris. An American Bittern was seen flying over the Millgrove Loam Pits. A Least Bittern made an appearance at Grass Lake in Glen Morris week before last. Great Egrets were seen at the pond on Hwy 8 East of Middletown Road and one was still present at the stormwater pond on North Service Road between Guelph Line and Brant Street. Ospreys have set up shop on cell towers throughout the area with a pair nesting SW of Hwy 6 and Greens Road in Caledonia, at the Grand River south of McClung Road, and on the Grand at Windecker Road. A Pileated Woodpecker was seen along the Dundas Valley Rail Trail. Yellow-throated Vireos were also hear at the Millgrove Loam Pits and at the North Cayuga Slough Forest along Indiana Road. There were 3 singing male Grasshopper Sparrows at Valens Road south of concession 8. A Pine Warbler was heard singing in a Dundas back yard, likely a post breeding dispersal. Orchard Orioles seem to be a plenty with birds being seen along the Rail Trail from Dundas to Brantford and three singing males at sites from York to Cayuga. Lastly four Scarlet Tanagers were seen/heard along the trail at Rock Chapel this week, a popular breeding site for this species. That's the news for this week. Happy Canada Day! 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club BIrding Report - Friday, June 14th, 2019
FISH CROW ACADIAN FLYCATCHER American Wigeon Redhead Lesser Scaup Red-breasted Merganser Ruffed Grouse Red-necked Grebe Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Sandhill Crane Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Dunlin White-rumped Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Little Gull Forster's Tern Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Merlin Least Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Winter Wren Veery Wood Thrush Clay-colored Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Blue-winged Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Hooded Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Scarlet Tanager Breeding season is upon us now and it appears that the last of the migrants have left. There is no reason to be complacent as good birds are turning up still and it gives a chance to visit the sanctuaries that provide breeding habitat for those that stay. We start at the top with FISH CROW being seen still around Bronte Harbour and is regular every day on the menu here at Walker's Line and New Street area over the yard. Six birds were seen flying west over Bronte Harbour yesterday. There are a number of breeding sites worth visiting this time of your. The Britton up in the Halton Forest accessed off 6th Line Nassawagawa is one of several big tracts of land which have excellent hiking trails. An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was refound Tuesday here on the north part of the loop accessed from the north parking lot for this tract. Also present there were Ruffed Grouse, Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Alder and Least FLycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Winter Wren, Veery, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white, Nashville, Blackburnian and Pine Warbler, American Redstart and Scarlet Tanager. Another great place to visit during the breeding season is the Dundas Valley which offers a variety of habitat to explore. On June 2nd off Martins Road area, both Cuckoo species were present along with Alder Flycatcher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Blue-winged, Mourning, Hooded and Pine Warbler and Scarlet Tanager. Similar birds were seen near the Merrick Parking lot and Maintenance Centre. Shorebirds have more or less left but over the past two weeks, Windermere Basin, Suncor Pier, Burloak Park and 8th Road East in Saltfleet saw the last of the migrants. Birds include Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin and Semipalmated Sandpiper. The Windermere Basin is still worthwhile visiting as there has been Redhead, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup and last Saturday a first summer Forster's Tern. Babies are in the news this week. There are three Peregrine chicks which have now fledged at the Burlington Lift Bridge. Unfortunately the first nest attempt of the birds at the Sheraton Hotel have failed. Down at Bronte Harbour, at Bronte Beach a family of four chicks seems to be doing well. In the odds and sods, Common Nighthawks were seen over Waterdown and Gage Park in Hamilton last week. Little Gulls continue to turn up sporadically at Oakville and Bronte Harbour. Three first summer birds were seen at Windermere week before last. A large colony of Black-crowned Night Herons seem to be thriving on the west berm at Tollgate Pond with 42 being counted. Nice to see them get some space from the Cormorants. Up in Saltfleet, five very co-operative Black-billed Cuckoos were seen along the Dofasco Trail west of 10th Road East. A territorial Merlin was seen in Dundas one of several pair that seem to now nest in urban areas. A Clay-colored Sparrow was seen at Cityview Park in Burlington. Two interesting late records of Yellow-rumped Warbler occurred the week before last with one being seen in Brantford and another down near Bronte Harbour. That's the news for this week, Cheryl Edgecombe Hamilton Naturalists Club --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Brown Pelican seen early this morning at Confederation Park, please post if you see it!
This morning Tristan Uchida saw the Brown Pelican at Confederation Park near the waterworks, it was flying east but briefly touched down. Local birders are out scanning now and have not turned it up but I am posting widely so that if others are in the area and able to look or see the bird they can post immediately. More eyes, the better the chances. Confederation Park is on VanWagner's Beach road east of Centennial Parkway. This is a highly sought after Hamilton Bird! Thanks Cheryl Edgecombe --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, May 27th, 2019
CINNAMON TEAL FISH CROW Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Common Gallinule Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Whimbrel Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Dunlin Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Bonaparte's Gull Little Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull American Bittern Least Bittern Great Egret Broad-winged Hawk Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Willow FLycatcher Least Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Marsh Wren Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Wood Thrush Clay-colored Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Connecticut Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Scarlet Tanager Migration was slightly slower this week as is typical of the latter part of May. Shorebirds were in the news big-time over the weekend. We will start with the top of the list where lightning struck again for the birder who found us the Black-legged Kittiwake and Yellow Rail this spring. A pair of CINNAMON TEAL were seen just east of the Suncor Pier on Monday, just a little after 7 p.m. which was difficult for people to see before the sun set. They did not resurface the next morning but again, what a spectacular find. FISH CROWS just continue to be in the news all spring here in the HSA with two individuals being seen at Bronte Harbour and 5 seen yesterday over Fifty Point. One was seen earlier in the week at this location. As stated, shorebirds were in the news particularly over the weekend. Birds moved in droves down the shoreline yesterday with numbers in the thousands. Flocks consisted mostly of Dunlin and Semipalmated Sandpipers but mixed into a flock that landed at Burloak Park was a Willet, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover. Whimbrel were moving as well throughout the week with small flocks reported from Bronte, Saddington Park and individuals seen at the Suncor Pier and Burloak Park. One individual was seen flying past Confederation Park. With water levels at a record high, there are no places for birds to land along the shore however, mid week a Red Knot was seen along the shore at Confederation Park with Dunlin and Ruddy Turnstones. Four Red Knots were seen flying past Saddington Park in Mississauga yesterday. Ruddy Turnstones have been reported at various places along the shore of the lake all week with Oakville Harbour holding the most of 22 on the breakwall on the west side of the harbour. Finally, the water is coming down at Windermere Basin enough to provide shorebird habitat. Yesterday, Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Ruddy Turnstone were seen here. The field on 8th Road East is still flooded with Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers present there on Thursday. The woodlots were still full of migrants this past week. Places reported from include Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby, Woodland Cemetery, Shoreacres/Paletta and Sherwood Forest Park in Burlington, Shell Park, South Shell Park and Bronte Bluffs in Oakville, Princess Point in Hamilton, Rock Chapel in Flamborough and the banding station at Ruthven. Migrants noted this week include Olive-sided Flycatcher (Rock Chapel, Sherwood Forest Park), Eastern Wood Pewee, Yellow-bellied, Alder, Willow and Least FLycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo (Sassafras Point near Princess Point, Ruthven), Blue-headed, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo, Gray-cheeked, Swainson's and Wood Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow (South Shell Park), Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-White, Tennessee (in big numbers), Connecticut (Princess Point), Mourning Warbler (Bronte Bluffs, Shoreacres), Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Bay-breasted (in numbers), Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Palm, Yellow=rumped, Black-throated Green, Canada and Wilson's Warbler and a number of Scarlet Tanagers. As you can see there was still a mix of early and late migrants. In the odds and sods this week, Yellow and Black-billed Cuckoos were heard on territory in Flamborough yesterday. A group of 22 Common Nighthawks were seen over Valens last Tuesday and another two over Bronte Creek. An Eastern Whip-poor-will was heard at Bronte Creek Provincial Park late week. Yesterday at the Safari Road Wetland, American Bittern and Common Gallinule were heard. Earlier in the week at Valens a chorus of American and Least Bittern, Common Gallinule were heard at Valens Conservation Area. Another Great Egret was seen in the odd place on Concession 7 up in north Flamborough in a bog.
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, May 19th, 2019
WHITE-WINGED DOVE ACADIAN FLYCATCHER FISH CROW BOHEMIAN WAXWING CERULEAN WARBLER PRAIRIE WARBLER SUMMER TANAGER Blue-winged Teal Harlequin Duck White-winged Scoter Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Dunlin Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Bonaparte's Gull Little Gull Black Tern Forster's Tern American Bittern Great Egret Green Heron Pileated Woodpecker Merlin Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Willow FLycatcher Least Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Common Raven Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Pipit Pine Siskin Clay-colored Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Golden-winged Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-White Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler American Redstart Cape-May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Another novel in store tonight for the Hamilton Birding report it's been a very busy week! Let's start as always at the top. Just in today, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE showed up late this afternoon at a feeder in the Delta area of Hamilton. The bird was seen in the area around Edgemont St - London St S. at Justine, East of Gage Park. The bird was relocated along Justine St on the south side in a Norway Maple adjacent to 215 London St. Listen out for the call of the dove. If going to see this bird, please keep in mind that this is a residential neighbourhood and not everyone will want masses of people lurking in their front yards. Be respectful and if you are asked to carry on, please do so. Late this afternoon an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was reported from Shoreacres/Paletta Park in Burlington from early this morning on the east side. A check this evening did not turn it up but it could be still in the area as the rain will keep it from moving. FISH CROWS are in the news again. While waiting out the rain mid-week, I had one over the yard in South Burlington. Up to 6 were seen going over Shell Park in the last two days and today one was heard and seen over Fifty Point Conservation Area. A record late BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen in a yard near Fifty Point Conservation area earlier in the week. Two CERULEAN WARBLERS were seen in the last two days, one a dull female that has likely been present for a while relocated on the Sheldon Creek Trail south of Shell Park and today a stunning singing male at Bronte Bluffs. A PRAIRIE WARBLER was a nice treat down at Bronte Harbour mid-week. The bird stayed around the area of Bronte Harbour, moving to Bronte Beach and then up to Bronte Bluffs. The SUMMER TANAGER seen at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby was present up until last weekend. Before I get to the woodlots, shorebirds have come into the picture. This week, several reports of Ruddy Turnstones came from Hutches and Lakeland Centre at VanWagners Beach, Fifty Point Conservation Area and Burloak Waterfront Park. The most lucrative field for shorebirds appears to be on 8th Road east between Ridge and Green Mountain Road. Earlier today, Black-bellied Plover and Semipalmated Plover, Dunlin, Least, White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpiper were seen along with Lesser Yellowlegs. Last Sunday a stunning almost breeding plumaged American Golden Plover was seen then vanished and appeared briefly on Wednesday. A Solitary Sandpiper was present on Thursday. American Pipits were seen here on Wednesday and one remained today on the west side of the road. A pair of Blue-winged Teal were also present here mid-week. Getting to the woodlots, places reported from this week include, Shell Park, South Shell Park and Bronte Bluffs in Oakville, Shoreacres/Paletta Park and Lasalle Park in Burlington, Confederation Park in Hamilton, Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek, Fifty Point Conservation Area and Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby, Rock Chapel north of Dundas, Crooks Hollow in Flamborough and Joe Sam's Park in Burlington. Seen in these locations this week, Black-billed Cuckoo (Forty-mile Creek, Shell Park) Great Crested FLycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied, Alder (Joe Sams), Willow, and Least Flycatcher, Blue-headed, Philadelphia, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush (40 mile creek), Swainson's, Hermit and Wood Thrush(Forty Mile Creek), Lincoln's Sparrow, Baltimore and Orchard Oriole, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush (Forty Mile
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, May 12th, 2019
YELLOW RAIL CATTLE EGRET (probable) FISH CROW YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT CERULEAN WARBLER SUMMER TANAGER Ruffed Grouse Common Nighthawk Ruby-throated Hummingbird Virginia Rail Sora Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover Upland Sandpiper Least Sandpiper SHorth-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull American Bittern Least Bittern Green Heron Broad-winged Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood Pewee Least Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Veery Swainson's Thrush Wood Thrush Brown Thrasher Grasshopper Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Bobolink Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting What a week it's been here in the Hamilton Study area. Many migrants have arrived not in great numbers but in smaller and quality and oh boy that list at the top has driven me to seek a therapist. Let's start with the big one. On Tuesday a YELLOW RAIL was flushed in the marsh at Wyecroft and McPherson in Oakville. It ultimately ended up under a Spruce at the Longos on Wyecroft east of Burloak where dozens of birders were able to get a look at this extremely secretive species. What a great find by Mark Jennings. Sidenote: I was stuck on Pelee Island with no ferry service due to weather, and lacked the skills and stamina to cross the lake like Marilyn Bell. Needless to say this may have been the most frustrating event of this birders career!!! The bird was a one day wonder and was not seen the next day. In other news, two probable CATTLE EGRETS flew by Joseph Brant Hospital seen by an employee (birder) who was on duty at the time so no bins around their neck. The FISH CROW sightings continue with birds around Oakville Harbour and Shell Park. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was banded at Ruthven last Monday. On Tuesday, the day of YELLOW RAIL Armageddon a CERULEAN WARBLER was found at Shell Park in Oakville and a SUMMER TANAGER was found at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby. The SUMMER TANAGER was seen yesterday, up the hill from the boardwalk near a feeder that is at the houses that border the west side. Rubber boots are mandatory, the water is high here. There are lots of places to visit for birds in the Hamilton Study Area. A few of the places reported from this week include Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby, Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek, Confederation Park in Hamilton, Cartwright Sanctuary, Crooks Hollow just north of Dundas, Shoreacres/Paletta and Kerncliffe Park in Burlington, Shell Park and Bronte Bluffs in Oakville and Rhododendron Gardens in Mississauga. Migrants seen at these locations include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (getting late, Edgelake), Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher (Confederation), Eastern Wood Pewee (Kerncliffe), Least Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo (Crooks Hollow), Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo (Forty Mile Creek), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Swainson's and Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Lincoln's, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow, Orchard Oriole (also at a number of feeders), Baltimore Oriole, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler (Cartwright), Black-and-white, Tennessee, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler (Rhododendron Gardens), American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Palm, Pine, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green and Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. In the odds and sods this week, Ruffed Grouse were heard drumming in Hyde Tract. A territorial Broad-winged Hawk was also present here. Common Nighthawk and Marsh Wren were good birds found at the Slote Road Marsh. At the Safari Road Marsh in Flamborough, Common Gallinule, American and Least Bittern, Sora and Virginia Rail are all present. Another American Bittern was heard at the marsh on 11th Road East just south of the tracks and north of Green Mountain Road. Sandhill Cranes were seen near Valens Road south of Concession 8 where also Bobolinks have settled in for the season. More Sandhill Cranes were seen and heard over Princess Point. A Black-bellied Plover was seen in a field on Tapleytown Road north of Green Mountain last Sunday. The Upland Sandpipers are still present on South Grimsby Road 15 with 3 being seen here last Sunday.
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, May 4th, 2019
WESTERN GREBE EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL AMERICAN AVOCET BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE King Eider Harlequin Duck Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Virginia Rail Sora Sandhill Crane Pectoral Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Willet Greater Yellowlegs Wilson's Snipe Iceland Gull Caspian Tern Common Tern Forster's Tern Red-throated Loon Common Loon American Bittern Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Broad-winged Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Great Crested Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Veery Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Purple Finch Pine Siskin Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Golden-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Cape May Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Rose=-breasted Grosbeak Life is good in the Hamilton Study Area when you have to type the entire checklist. This week has seen the most influx of migrants yet so let's start at the top of the list. A WESTERN GREBE was reported on Thursday in a group of Red-necked Grebes off the mouth of the creek at Rattray Marsh. This could be the same bird that was seen a month ago down at Port Credit. EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL can be a tough find but a sound recording in the McMaster Forest picked up the song dating a week and a half ago and one was flushed at Forty Mile Creek yesterday. Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were a good find last Saturday as they flew and rested on the Burlington Beach early last Saturday and stayed the day delighting birders and photographers. Lastly, yesterday a surprise guest a first summer BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was found sitting on the rocks off Bronte Bluffs. The bird looked weary and disappeared for a short time but did return to the same spot later in the day. There were many birders out in their local patches this week. Sites reported from include Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby, Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek, Hamilton Cemetery and Princess Point, Spencer Creek Trail in Dundas, LaSalle Park, Shoreacres/Paletta Park, Sherwood Forest Park, Sheldon Creek Trail, Appleby Creek all in Burlington, Shell Park and Bronte Bluffs in Oakville and Lakeside Park in Mississauga. New arrivals this week most of them yesterday include Chimney Swift (flock of a hundred seen over the Waterfront hotel in Burlington), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (feeder in Dundas), Great Crested and Least FLycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo (LaSalle Park), Blue-headed Vireo (in great numbers!), Warbling Vireo, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Swainson's and Wood Thrush (Appleby Creek), Gray Catbird (LaSalle & Spencer Creek Trail), Purple Finch (reporting in at a number of feeders), Savannah, Lincoln's, White-throated (in numbers), White-crowned Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Golden-winged Warbler (LaSalle Park), Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville, Cape May, Blackburnian, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Palm, Pine, Yellow-rumped Warblers in numbers, Black-throated Green, a record early Canada Warbler (LaSalle Park), and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Some of the lingering migrants in these spots include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush (in quantity!) and Ruby-crowned Kinglets (still arriving in great numbers yesterday) Shorebirds should be coming into the numerous numbers of wet fields in Flamborough and Saltfleet soon. Good numbers of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Wilson's Snipe have been seen in the field up on 5th Road East. A Pectoral Sandpiper was present week before last. A Willet was seen at Bronte Harbour last week and four were seen in a flyby yesterday down at the same location. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch is in its final two weeks but another push of Broad-winged Hawks came through this week as the bad weather cleared out for a day. There are still some other good birds still hanging around for listers and those doing birdathons. An immature male King Eider was present at the Suncor Pier in the week. A lovely transitioning male Harlequin duck was very photogenic at Bronte Beach, day before yesterday. Horned and Red-necked Grebes, Red-throated and Common Loons are still numerous along the west end of the lake. Up at Safari Road Marsh an American Bittern was still booming as of last weekend. Sora and Virginia Rails also very vocal here. Another good spot for these are the marsh along 11th Road East in Saltfleet and Kerncliffe Park in Burlington. A Sandhill Crane
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, April 22, 2019
BLACK VULTURE SWAINSON'S HAWK FISH CROW Snow Goose Blue-winged Teal Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Chimney Swift Virginia Rail Sora Sandhill Crane Upland Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Bonaparte's Gull Iceland Gull Green Heron Broad-winged Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Blue-headed Vireo Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Tufted Titmouse Brown Creeper Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Brown Thrasher Purple Finch Lapland Longspur Grasshopper Sparrow Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler It's almost May and the birds are coming in steadily now as the cold damp weather seems to be leaving us. Up at the top, a BLACK VULTURE was reported perched on a fence-post on the Caledonia bypass (Highway 6) at Domtar Road on Friday. Yesterday a probable SWAINSON'S HAWK was well described passing through Saltfleet, seen on 5th Road East travelling west. Now is a good time to look for one as they often travel with Broad-winged Hawks which have steadily been passing through the area last few days. Lastly our FISH CROW update this week includes a group of 13 at South Shell Park on Friday, they seem to be multiplying by the day. New arrivals this week include a couple of Chimney Swifts, one over Dundas and one over Woodland Cemetery. A Sora joined multiple Virginia Rails at the marsh on 11th Road East just north of Green Mountain Road. Spotted Sandpiper was seen at the Suncor Pier and along Bronte Creek at Petro Canada Park this week. Upland Sandpipers are back with birds displaying over Oak Park Road in Brantford. Grasshopper Sparrow is back on territory here as well. Another pair of Upland Sandpipers were found yesterday at the traditional nesting area near South Grimsby Road 15 and Mud Street. Green Herons were reported on a flyover at Fern Hill School in north Burlington and along the Sheldon Creek Trail in South Burlington, early dates for this species. Blue-headed Vireo was seen on Saturday at Lakeside Park in Mississauga and reported along the trail at Sheldon Creek. All six swallow species were reported from Bronte Harbour on a soggy Saturday. Brown Thrashers have been reported singing on territory in a number of places. A nice flock of around 80 breeding plumaged Lapland Longspurs were seen along Paris Plains Church Rd near Paris on Thursday. This is an excellent spot to look for this species as they seem to pass through here every year. Pine Warblers are increasing in numbers with birds reported from LaSalle Park, along the Sheldon Creek Trail and South Shell Park in Burlington. Yellow-rumped warblers seem to be arriving although numbers are expected to increase significantly this week. Lots to report in the odds and sods this week. A Snow Goose was seen on Saturday with two Canada Geese on Drumbo Road in Paris. Pied-billed Grebe was seen at the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons along with a continuing pair of Blue-winged Teal. Horned and Red-necked Grebes are still sprinkled along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. A lone Virginia Rail was kidekking at Grass Lake on Thursday on a rainy night. Sandhill Cranes could be heard bugling here as the light faded. On Saturday, six Iceland gulls were noted sitting on the Suncor Pier. A small number of Bonaparte's Gulls were also seen here. Saltfleet still has a number of flooded fields to scan. At 5th Road East there was a count of over 20 Greater Yellowlegs on the weekend. A number of Lesser Yellowlegs were present there on Friday. A Tufted Titmouse was present on Lookout trail in the Dundas Valley on Thursday. On a rainy Friday and Saturday, numbers of earlier migrants were still being reported in several woodlots including good numbers of Brown Creepers, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Hermit Thrush. Purple Finches showed up at feeders in Flamborough and in St. George this week. Common Redpolls are still in the area with one reported yesterday on Mackenzie Road and Fife Street in Caledonia. Keep those feeders going it's important to keep them stocked for the coming weeks as you never know what will show up! Report your sightings here! Good birding, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, April 15th, 2019
EURASIAN WIGEON BLACK VULTURE FISH CROW Wood Duck American Wigeon Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal King Eider Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Egret Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Virginia Rail Sandhill Crane Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Pectoral Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Little Gull Bonaparte's GUll Caspian Tern Common Tern Forster's Tern Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Hermit Thrush Brown Thrasher Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Fox Sparrow Evening Grosbeak As you can see, warm weather brings birds and this week there has been a push of migrants moving into the Hamilton Study Area. Our bird of the week was a EURASIAN WIGEON found on Saturday at Windermere Basin. The bird was seen for most of the morning before being spooked and flying off to the southeast. It has not been seen since. Another BLACK VULTURE made an appearance at the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch last week, perhaps one of the Niagara birds taking a wander. Flights have been steady this week with an increase in Sharp-shinned Hawks and the first Broadwings. Other raptors include a steady stream of Turkey Vultures, Osprey, Bald Eagles, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks. FISH CROWS are still in the mix this week with up to 8 being seen at the location off Lakeshore at Wilton in Burlington. One was reported over a yard in North Burlington and several seen along the Burlington/Oakville/Mississauga Lakeshore in the week. Migrants coming into the area this week include a Great Egret seen at Bronte Marsh. Virginia Rails are here early (Auburn Road up in Halton, back at Kerncliffe Park in Burlington, at the Marsh Boardwalk at the Arboretum, Grass Lake and one lost soul along the pipeline at Shell Park). Shorebirds up in Saltfleet and in the flooded field at Eighth Line and Britannia include Solitary Sandpiper (8th road East), Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpiper (5th Road East). Caspian Terns are here in growing numbers and a Forster's Tern and Common Tern were seen along the west end of the lake on the weekend. Bonaparte's Gulls were streaming through on Saturday. A careful watch picked out a Little Gull down at the Suncor Pier. Tree, Northern Rough-winged and Barn Swallows have all been moving in. A few Purple Martins were seen in Saltfleet with one checking out the martin house at 10th Road East and Ridge Road. A pair of House Wrens were seen in a yard on Sawmill Road in Ancaster. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are starting to creep into the area along with a growing number of Golden-crowned Kinglets. Our first Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were seen at Sedgewick Park in Oakville and at Fifty Point on the weekend. Brown Thrashers were reported from shrubs at an office at Walkers and Harvester (lol) and from Fifty Point Conservation Area. Freshly decorated Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen at Fifty Point on Saturday. The first Pine Warbler of the season was seen at the RBG arboretum and another on Traquility Ave in Ancaster. Chipping, Field and Fox Sparrows continue to filter through the area in growing numbers. In the odds and sods, ducks can still be found in some numbers in the flooded fields of Flamborough. Species reported include Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal. A pair of Blue-winged Teal has remained at the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons for a couple of weeks now. A young male King Eider was seen at the Suncor Pier on the weekend. Red-throated and Common Loon, Horned and Red-necked Grebes are sprinkled around the lake being seen at virtually every lookout point. A Pied-billed Grebe was in the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons. Sandhill Cranes are back at Grass Lake in Glen Morris. Earlier migrants are still lurking in the woodlots along the lakeshore including Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush. A Northern Shrike was present till mid-week on 10th Road East in Saltfleet. Lastly an e-bird report of the wintering Evening Grosbeak from Riverwood Conservancy last Thursday is getting extremely late for this species. That's the news for this past week, this week should be better now that we are past that mess of yesterday. Report your sightings here. Good birding, 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. Send bird
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, April 7th, 2019
WESTERN GREBE FISH CROW BOHEMIAN WAXWING Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Tail Blue-winged Teal King Eider Red-throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great BLue Heron Osprey Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk American Coot Greater Yellowlegs Wilson's Snipe Iceland Gull Short-eared Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Common Raven Tree Swallow Purple Martin Tufted Titmouse Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Towhee Fox Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Pine Siskin Things are looking a little more spring like in the Hamilton Study Area this week with the arrival of some early migrants. Up at the top of the list a WESTERN GREBE has returned to the eastern most border of the HSA again. It was found on Wednesday at Saddington Park in Mississauga and since has moved west of here with a number of Red-necked Grebes to Rhododendron Park. On Thursday, a second bird was reported further out but has not been seen since. Lighting can be difficult in the mornings and a scope is highly recommended. FISH CROWS seem to be all over the place with some being recorded at Rhododendron Park in Mississauga yesterday, up to five seen at Bronte Harbour this week and up to eight at the location near Sioux Lookout in Burlington. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still roaming around the University of Guelph Campus near the War Memorial lecture hall. This is located directly in front of College Avenue. If you haven't had a chance to catch up with them, I would soon. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch continues its count this week with Turkey Vulture, first of year Osprey, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks. With the warm air filtering up from the south the next couple of days could be really productive. Keeping with the raptor theme, Osprey's are back on territory at Christie Conservation Area. Arriving migrants this week include a Greater Yellowlegs seen on the west side of 8th Road West south of Ridge ROad. An Eastern Phoebe was seen at Confederation Park yesterday and one seen at Fifty Point C.A. earlier in the week. Our first Purple Martin was seen over Grimsby Sewage Lagoons along with a growing number of Tree Swallows. A Blue-winged Teal remains here as of yesterday but two pair were seen earlier in the week. A few Bonaparte's Gulls were seen from Green Road earlier in the week, these should be coming in decent numbers in the next days. Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen at Paletta/Shoreacres park in Burlington. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen at the Hawkwatch at Beamer. Other arriving migrants there this week include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Towhee and Fox Sparrow. Vesper and Savannah Sparrows are back on territory on Highland Road near address 1306 which is east of 10th Road East. In the odds and sods, a King Eider was seen off Green Road last Tuesday. Birds seen in the flooded fields include Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal. Red-throated Loons continue to be seen on Hamilton Harbour. A number of Great Blue Herons were on the move yesterday, time for our first Great Egret tin the next couple of days. Up to three Iceland Gulls were seen near Bronte Harbour last week. A Short-eared Owl was an unexpected surprise flying over the lake at Green Road on Tuesday. A Northern Shrike continues its winter stay on 10th Road East in Saltfleet usually seen on the west side just north of the tracks. Common Ravens are being seen again in Oakville on Wyecroft between Bronte and Third Line exhibiting nesting behaviour. A Tufted Titmouse was seen yesterday on the Hilltop Trail in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. Eastern Meadowlarks are here in numbers as of yesterday. Rusty Blackbirds can be seen and heard sporadically on 5th Road East and 8th Road East in Saltfleet although difficult to find for this birder!. Pine Siskins are still coming into feeders. Stock up those feeders for the coming weeks, never know what may show up. Its going to get busy in the next few weeks so report your sightings here. If you know you have something rare on your hands, kindly take a minute to post on the local list serve or Ontbirds for other birders to enjoy. Not everyone is connected to WhatsApp and ebird alerts in the field and this reporter is far too busy to field posts right now! With so many ways to hear about birds, I still think the list serves get out the word to everyone in a timely manner. Thanks for your consideration and for listening to my two cents. Good birding, 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. Send bird reports to
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, March 31st, 2019
BLACK VULTURE FISH CROW BOHEMIAN WAXWING Snow Goose Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal King Eider Harlequin Duck Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Iceland Gull Snowy Owl Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Common Raven Tree Swallow Eastern Towhee Rusty Blackbird Migration remains on a slow pace with a couple of nice days bringing in a few migrants last week but halted to a standstill with another round of cold weather now. This week should prove to be a little better for migration as temperatures warm up and stay warm overnight. In the rarity department a few BLACK VULTURES were seen earlier in the week over the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. These could be Niagara birds moving to another location or just coming over this way and returning to roost in Niagara. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby has had a better week this week with the movement of mostly Turkey Vultures but also numbers of Bald Eagles, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks. Other raptors include Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's Hawks and a few Rough-legged Hawks. Mid-week a nice adult Golden Eagle was seen from the tower. FISH CROWS should maybe taken off the rarity list as every year there seem to be more and more reported. This week a number of locations reported multiple crows, Bronte Harbour, Oakville Harbour, Saddington Park in Oakville, Coronation Park in Oakville and lastly a few seen at Wilton and Lakeshore in Burlington where a pair is apparently setting up a nest. It's a good time to look or listen for these beasts as when nesting start they tend to quiet down. The BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS that dazzled birders last weekend at the University of Guelph Arboretum were last seen on Tuesday. A group of about 100 were reported. Waterfowl continue to move through. A Snow Goose was seen at Flamborough Downs on Thursday. Cackling Geese were also present here. Greater White-fronted Geese and Cackling Geese were seen in North Oakville at the flooded field at Drumquin Park west of Trafalgar and more seen at 8th Line and Britannia. Other waterfowl here included Tundra Swan, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal. In the odds and sods, an immature male King Eider was seen at Glover Road on Wednesday. A female was seen on Friday at Millen Road. The immature male Harlequin Duck that has been seen on and off all winter at the Suncor Pier returned this week. A Ruffed Grouse made a brief appearance at a feeder on Westover Road north of 8th Concession in Flamborough. Red-throated Loons and Horned Grebes are still in numbers on the Hamilton Harbour. Red-necked Grebes continue to stage along the Burlington-Oakville-Mississauga shoreline. Four Great Blue Herons were seen on Thursday at Flamborough Downs. Wilson's Snipe are here in small numbers at the flooded field on 5th Road East between Powerline and Green Mountain. American Woodcock continue to peent on warm evenings and can be heard at the parking lot at Bronte Creek Campground accessed off Bronte Road at Upper Middle. There have been several sightings of Iceland Gull on the harbour and at Bronte. A Snowy Owl continues to be seen on the docks at Bronte Pier this week. Eastern Phoebes were reported at Beamer C.A. in Grimsby, on 5th Road East and at Concession 5 and Kirkwall. A Northern Shrike hangs in on 10th Road East near the railway tracks. Common Ravens have been reported over Beamer in numbers this week. These along with Fish Crows are giving American Crows some competition. A few Tree Swallows have come in, two seen over the Red Hill Parkway on Wednesday and three seen at Windermere Basin. A single Swallow was seen over Dundas on Friday. A striking male Towhee made an appearance at the NP Hawkwatch in Grimsby on Friday. Rusty Blackbirds were seen and heard on 8th Road east but hard to track as they move around Saltfleet. This week should bring more change in the birding landscape. Be sure to let me know your sightings. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, March 24th, 2019
BLACK VULTURE FISH CROW BOHEMIAN WAXWING Greater White Fronted Goose Snow Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Red-throated Loon Red-necked Grebe Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Coopers Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Sandhill Crane Killdeer American Woodcock Iceland Gull Snowy Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Shrike Eastern Phoebe Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Eastern Meadowlark Lapland Longspur Rusty Blackbird Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Spring is safely here and migrants continue to filter into the area slowly giving birders species to search for. This week saw the return of FISH CROWS to the area. Two were seen down at Oakville Harbour on Thursday and birds have been reported on e-bird down at Bronte Harbour. Yesterday, three individuals were seen flying westward over Bronte Beach. The great wanderers BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS finally made it to the Hamilton Study area after being found in areas to the north and west of here previously. A flock of up to 200 were seen at the Guelph Arboretum yesterday. Waterfowl is always a big part of the early spring migrants. This week Greater White-fronted Geese were seen at flooded fields on Powerline Road between Tapleytown and 5th Road east and also up at 8th Line and Britannia yesterday. A Snow Goose was also a good find here at Britannia as they seem to be hard to find this spring. Cackling Geese are also being found in good numbers this spring with 4 seen at Flamborough Downs on March 22 and up to 12 seen at Tapleytown south of Powerline Road on March 20th. Tundra Swans continue to be seen moving through with a report of up to 1000 in Cootes Paradise yesterday. Other ducks seen in the flooded fields and in the Hamilton Harbour include Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail in big numbers, Ring-necked Ducks and Green-winged teal. Red-throated Loons continue to be seen on the Hamilton Harbour and Red-necked Grebes are here in numbers with 35 being seen off Bronte beach yesterday with two keeners attempting to build a nest on a sunken log. Now is a good time to look for the Western Grebe that has returned each spring. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch is going stronger this week with Turkey Vultures being the mainstay but yesterday three BLACK VULTURES were counted there. Earlier in the week a BLACK VULTURE was seen near IKEA in Burlington. A single BLACK VULTURE was seen on the count earlier in the week as well. Golden Eagles have also started to come through. An exquisite adult bird was seen passing by Vinemount Swamp mid-week. Other raptors noted at the watch include Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Coopers, Red-shouldered(in decent numbers), Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawk. Still in the raptor department a Merlin was seen near the Burlington Seniors Centre last Monday where they have set up shop the last few years and Peregrine Falcons have begun nesting and territorial behaviour up at the quarry on 10th Road East. Other spring migrants arriving this week include Sandhill Cranes (over the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch and one in amongst the Tundra Swans on 8th Line and Britannia), good numbers of Killdeer, American Woodcock (Bronte Campground East in Oakville), McMaster Forest and on Tapleytown and Powerline Road, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe (50 Point), Eastern Meadowlark (10th Road East in Saltfleet and Fairchild Creek in Flamborough), Lapland Longspurs near Paris on West Dumfries Road east of Pinehurst Road and Rusty Blackbirds (a group at 5th Road East in Saltfleet last Sunday and 2 at Middletown Road north of Concession 5). In the odds and sods this week, Iceland Gulls were reported from Bronte Beach and past Woodland Cemetery. A Snowy Owl continues to visit the docks down at Bronte Harbour although elusive at times. Northern Shrikes were seen at 10th Road East near the tracks and at the Guelph Arboretum. A Tufted Titmouse was seen at LaSalle Park. Lastly to remind us that winter species are still moving through Pine Siskins were seen at a feeder in Dundas and a Common Redpoll was seen on March 22nd on Sodom Road near Westover. That's the news this week, today should be a good day again for migrants. Please report your sightings here. Good birding, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, March 16th, 2019
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE BLUE-WINGED TEAL KILLDEER TREE SWALLOW RUSTY BLACKBIRD Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal King Eider Ruffed Grouse Red-throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Sandhill Crane Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Finally there is a sign of hope that winter will indeed end as there was a significant movement of birds in the last week of early spring migrants. Highlighted at the top are not rarities but first spring migrants this week. More GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE came in with the warm push and one was seen on Wednesday for a first over the Hawkwatch at Beamer Conservation Area. Three more were seen along Powerline Road on the mountain. Yesterday two BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen from Woodland Cemetery along the edge of the ice. One of the same or perhaps a different bird was noted later on down at LaSalle Marina. KILLDEER were arriving in droves on Thursday, setting up territory in a number of places but particularly noted in Saltfleet and St. George. The first TREE SWALLOW daringly arrived yesterday and was seen battling strong winds at Powerline Road and 5th Road East in Saltfleet. Lastly, last week a single RUSTY BLACKBIRD was photographed on March 8th at the Desjardins Canal near the butterfly gardens. There are lots of places to go to see migrants finally. Most of the birds arriving are puddle ducks and blackbirds. On the Hamilton Harbour and over Woodland Cemetery yesterday many Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveller, Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail could be found along the edge of the ice. Some of the same mix could be found in the flooded fields on the mountain and in Saltfleet with areas around Powerline Road and 5th Road East being very productive. Also seen on the Hamilton Harbour were arrivals of Pied-billed, Red-necked and Horned Grebes. Red-throated Loons continue to be seen on the Harbour with new arrivals coming in daily while other birds move on. Tundra Swans have been reported over a widespread area in the Hamilton Study Area, their calls a welcoming sign of spring. Canada Geese too have been moving with Cackling Geese being seen mixed in their flocks. A total of 18 Cackling Geese were seen near Powerline Road and 5th Road East on Thursday. Sandhill Cranes are moving as well with one heard over a house in Dundas on Wednesday and seen at the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer. Great Blue Herons have started to arrive with two reported in Binbrook and other reports around the area. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch located at Beamer Conservation Area in Grimsby will be ramping up over the next weeks. A slow trickle of Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks were noted this past week. The first Red-shouldered Hawk arrived yesterday, more to come. Also of note were three species of Falcon including American Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. The Hawkwatch is still looking for counters and counters on duty are always looking for an extra pair of eyes. Blackbirds were streaming in over the past few days with Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbirds all setting up and singing on territories as they do so early in the season. In the odds and sods this week a King Eider was seen and photographed by a group at Jones Road last weekend. This species has been a little scarce this year. Ruffed Grouse were seen along Lennon Road in north Flamborough two weeks ago, they should be a little easier to hear drumming now that the weather has turned. A Snowy Owl has returned to the docks at Bronte Harbour although difficult to spot at times. Iceland Gulls were seen at Bronte and Oakville Harbours in the week. A Glaucous Gull was seen on Hamilton Harbour. A Northern Shrike was seen on 10th Road East on the north side of the tracks yesterday. Common Ravens are being reported in growing numbers with a few reports coming from Grimsby over the last week. They are likely tending to nest. There appears to be a pair also nesting at the transformer station again seen from the 403 at Brant Street. A single Yellow-rumped Warbler seems to be the sole survivor over the winter at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. That's the news this week, now that things are starting to happen, reports will be more frequent but sightings are needed to make a report so please send along. Looking forward to the next weeks! 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
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding report - Saturday, February 23, 2019
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE BARROW'S GOLDENEYE HOARY REDPOLL PINE GROSBEAK EVENING GROSBEAK Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Black Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Pileated Woodpecker Common Raven Horned Lark Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Snow Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Redpoll It's been relatively quiet here in the Hamilton Study area over the last two weeks with a couple of nice goodies at the top of the list to add some flavour. High south winds could be a difference maker tomorrow to bring in some early spring migrants. Let's start at the top of the list. Four GREATER-WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at Bronte Harbour along with a huge number of Canada Geese last Saturday. Those having more patience than I were able to also find Cackling Geese in the mix. An unexpected female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was photographed on an early morning last Saturday from LaSalle Marina with a nice silhouette comparison to a female Common Goldeneye sitting beside it. The bird was only seen this one morning but is likely still out on the bay if you are patient to sift through the many Common Goldeneye located at various points around the bay. While out looking for the BARROW'S, Red-throated Loon and Horned Grebe were noted. Along Fallsview Road in Flamborough a stretch traditionally known for Horned larks, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspur, a flock of Common Redpolls have been seen on and off for a few weeks now. A careful and patient study of an ever moving flock yielded one frosty HOARY REDPOLL in the mix. According to Ebird the female EVENING GROSBEAK has been seen at Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga again. Lastly PINE GROSBEAKS continue to be reported from Grange Road and South Ring Road at the University of Guelph Campus. In the odds and sods this week, a group of a dozen Tundra Swans were seen at Hespeler Mill Pond last weekend, there could be a movement tomorrow. A field up on Powerline Road in Salfleet yielded a couple hundred Canada Geese, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard and Northern Pintail. Again, with warmer temperatures tomorrow, waterfowl numbers could increase before it freezes up again. A Barred Owl was reported again in South Burlington this week, just a reminder that these hard to find birds are still around. A single Short-eared Owl was seen on 10th Road east but its best to walk west toward 8th Road East on the trail where they have been seen at the small bridge.Turkey Vultures were seen along the ridge of the escarpment at Tapleytown Road and on the 403 at the junction of the Linc. A single bird was seen at the Meadowlands in Ancaster yesterday. Bald Eagles continue to cruise the area and sit on the ice in the bay. An adult was noted up in north Halton on Sunday. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was visiting a feeder snack bar in Ancaster this week. A Northern Goshawk was photographed on 1st Line Nassawagawa last weekend. There is excellent territory up there for this species. Both wintering Red-shouldered Hawks were reported in this last two weeks, one in Glen Morris and one in the Vicinity of Hwy 6 north of the 401 toward Guelph. A nice dark Rough-legged Hawk was seen on Fallsview Road. In addition to the Common Redpolls, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, American Tree Sparrows, White-throated and a White-crowned Sparrow were seen here. Common Ravens did a fly by north of here last Sunday and yesterday a small flock of 5 Wild Turkey were seen out here as well. Another flock of 14 Wild Turkeys were seen at Darnall and Twenty Road on Wednesday. A Pileated Woodpecker was a nice consolation prize while looking for the Goshawk up in North Halton on 1st line Nassawagawa on Monday. In the extremely odd category this week a fourth Fox Sparrow has shown up at the feeders at the Hamilton Conservation Area CA on Mineral Springs. A flock of 21 Common Redpolls were seen here yesterday. Brown -headed Cowbirds are showing up at feeders and yards now with a flock of 21 present at a yard in St. George yesterday. It will be an interesting couple of days with extreme south winds and then a freeze. Keep your feeders stocked and keep the reports of birds you see coming. This just in a migrant Red-winged Blackbird appeared this morning at a yard in St. George so heads up. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding report - Sunday, Februrary 10th, 2019
ROSS'S GOOSE GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Cackling Goose Canada Goose Northern Pintail Harlequin Duck King Eider Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Red-throated Loon Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Merlin Peregrine Falcon Horned Lark Tufted Titmouse Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Purple Finch Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Snow Bunting Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Bird activity has had a couple of spikes this week as an extreme change in temperature has brought in some migrants and nasty weather conditions have driven birds into feeders. At the top of the list geese are on the move with thousands of Canada Geese moving into the area particularly the fields in Flamborough and Saltfleet. Amongst the geese three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at Flamborough Downs last Monday. On Tuesday after the warmfront a flock of 34 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were found at a field at Tapleytown and Powerline Road in Saltfleet. Also present there were a few Cackling Geese. The main flock of White-fronts look like they have departed but several were seen at Confederation Park yesterday. Down the shoreline east of here at Forty Mile Creek a ROSS'S GOOSE made an appearance yesterday morning. Northern Pintails also arrived in small numbers. It will be interesting to see if these birds stay around or head south again. In the odds and sods this week, a King Eider is still being seen at the Suncor Pier. Yesterday a Harlequin Duck joined it. Iceland and Glaucous gulls were around especially when the bay was iced over. Out on the Hamilton Harbour 18 Red-throated Loons and 17 Bald Eagles were counted yesterday. While people were looking for the geese the adult and an immature Black-crowned Night Heron were seen at Confederation Park, likely the same two birds that have been present at the Red Hill Outlet. Turkey Vultures were up flying around when the weather was warmer, there is still a significant roost at Jerseyville. A Red-shouldered Hawk has been wintering in Glen Morris. On the Grey Doe trail at the Royal Botanical Gardens, a Barred Owl was seen a week ago. A search for it turned up a Great Horned Owl which seems to be on territory. An Eastern Bluebird was also seen at this location. A Merlin was seen around Bronte Harbour. A Snowy Owl has been seen on and off here throughout the winter. Out on Fallsview Road, a Peregrine Falcon seems to have been spending some time. This location has become quite active with Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and Common Redpolls being seen over the past couple of weeks. At the feeders at the maintenance yard of the Dundas Valley Conservation Area on Mineral Springs Road, Tufted Titmouse, up to 3 Fox Sparrows and Purple Finch have been visiting. Unfortunately most of the specialties at Sedgewick Park in Oakville have met their demise. A single Hermit Thrush remains there. As things move around in the weather conditions, a couple of Chipping Sparrows turned up at feeders in the area, one in Ancaster and another down in Caledonia. A small group of Common Redpolls were seen at LaSalle Park yesterday but trails remain icy there so please be careful. Lastly, Pine Siskin seem to be on the move with growing numbers of birds being seen at feeders. That's the news for this week, please continue to send along your sightings, things will change soon! Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, January 21st, 2019
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. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, January 13th, 2019
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE EASTERN PHOEBE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET GRAY CATBIRD LINCOLN'S SPARROW PINE GROSBEAK EVENING GROSBEAK ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER PALM WARBLER COMMON YELLOWTHROAT HOODED WARBLER King Eider Barrows x Common Goldeneye Wild Turkey Red-necked Grebe Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Barred Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Common Raven Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin Yellow-rumped Warbler We are still finding some great birds here in the Hamilton Study area despite the changing conditions and cold weather setting in. It will be interesting to see what transpires the next week or so as the deep freeze hits us. As always let's start at the top. A female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was a great find on the Peach Tree Christmas count on January 5th. A trained eye picked up the bird fairly close to shore with some other Common Goldeneye and many in the HSA were able to come out and see a bird not easy to identify. Also along the Stoney Creek shoreline during that count 2 Common x Barrow's Goldeneye Hybrids, an adult King Eider at Fifty Point and a Red-necked Grebe. The EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES located on Ferguson Ave in Hamilton were last reported Tuesday, any further updates would be appreciated. An EASTERN PHOEBE was found on Thursday at the hydro cut at the Credit River just north of the 403. Access is from west side (Leslie Log House) or east (Hewick Meadows). The bird was not located later that day but likely has a wide range here and with the cold keeps low where insects might be. A GRAY CATBIRD was seen at the Merrick Orchard parking lot in the Dundas Valley today. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was a new find this week first seen Friday and then yesterday. It is along the Hamilton to Brantford rail trail about 150 m east of Papple Rd. adjacent to a large Pond north of the trail, Two female Brown-headed Cowbirds were seen there today but no Lincoln's Sparrow. PINE GROSBEAKS have finally made it to the Hamilton Study area where the most reliable sightings were on the South Ring Road at the University of Guelph. A half dozen birds were seen yesterday in Puslinch at Deer View Ridge and Fox Run Drive. An EVENING GROSBEAK was somewhat reliable for a few days this past week at the Riverwood Conservancy on Burnamthorpe Drive in Mississauga. There have been no reports in the last few days so perhaps it moved on. Five birds were seen briefly at a feeder in Flamborough but did not return. This is just a reminder to keep those feeders filled! Other new finds this week were from Bronte East Campground accessed off of Upper Middle Road in Oakville. This week within the campground a PALM WARBLER was seen near Campsite 411 and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was heard in the marshy cattails near the south end of the park. Lastly the Fab Five winter warriors are still holding on at Sedgewick Park. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (2), ORANGE-CROWNED (2), NASHVILLE, HOODED and Yellow-rumped Warbler continue to be seen up until today. Upcoming temperatures will be hard on these little creatures, would be nice to get an air drop of meal worms in and around the tanks. Other birds seen there include Winter Wren, Golden-Crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush. In the odds and sods this week, a King Eider is fairly reliable at the Suncor Pier in Oakville. Wild Turkeys were seen on Binkley Road today and have been reported frequently on York Road. An adult and an immature Black-crowned Night Heron seem to have taken up residence at the Red Hill Creek outlet. Turkey Vultures have popped up (better in warm weather) around Dundas and out toward Copetown. There is likely a roost somewhere along this stretch. A Red-shouldered Hawk was a nice surprise on Hwy 6 north (Gordon Street) just near Aberfoyle. A Rough-legged Hawk was seen near Garden Ave in Brantford, not too many of these around this winter. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were seen on Mowhawk Lake in Brantford yesterday. Snowy Owls are still around with one at Bronte Harbour yesterday. Barred Owls seem to have moved into the area with a bird in South Burlington as a one day wonder and others seen in the Dundas Valley. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker made a brief appearance at a yard bordering the Dundas Valley today in Ancaster. Common Ravens were reported by Fenwood Farms west of Ancaster, two doing a courtship display just north of Woodland Cemetery last weekend. An Eastern Towhee was found on the Peachtree count last weekend. It's in the drainage ditch that borders the north side of the North Service Rd east of Green Rd - park at the east end of Frances Ave and walk across the weedy field to the ditch. A White-crowned Sparrow was also found along with the Towhee. A Chipping Sparrow is hanging with a
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, December 31st, 2018
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. --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding report - Saturday, December 22, 2018
SLATY-BACKED GULL EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE BARRED OWL EASTERN PHOEBE FISH CROW RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER HOODED WARBLER Cackling Goose Canada Goose Northern Pintail Harlequin Duck Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Black-crowned Night-Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Merlin Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Barred Owl Northern Flicker Common Raven Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Chipping Sparrow It's winter here in the Hamilton Study Area and there are lots of great birds around to look at. The Hamilton Christmas Bird Count is Boxing Day so count day starts tomorrow. Let's start with the top of the list, there's alot to cover. The two SLATY-BACKED GULLS likely continue to visit the Brantford Dump and Mowhawk Lake. The access to the dump has now been closed but these birds are likely around and a good place to try is Mowhawk Lake where the gulls come to bathe and sit. Other gulls seen here this week include Iceland and Glaucous Gulls. On Tuesday, a keen observer saw two large square tailed doves fly into some evergreen trees behind 528 Ferguson Road in Hamilton which he suspected to be EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES. The doves were found and photographed the next morning and have been seen daily including today in the evergreens and deciduous trees surrounding this address. Sometimes the birds are sitting low and are better seen from nearby Wood Street. Please keep in mind that this is a residential neighbourhood and walking around with binoculars at this time of year can be considered sketchy so if you are questioned just let people know what you are looking for and if asked to leave please do so. Try not to overstay your welcome. Parking is best at Eastwood Park which is across Burlington Street right at Ferguson. An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen briefly at the Great Lakes Stormwater Pond off Burloak Drive on Sunday. Sightings of FISH CROW this week come from the Fiesta Mall again in Stoney Creek and from the Dundas Valley on Wednesday. Sedgewick Park continues to entertain with a third ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER being seen with the other two this week. The NASHVILLE and HOODED WARBLER continue to be seen with these ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS often travelling together and with RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. Other species seen here include Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen along the Sheldon Creek trail on the South Peel Count and on the same trail a BARRED OWL made a one day appearance. In the odds and sods this week a Cackling Goose was seen in a field of Canada Geese on 8th Road East yesterday. Another group of 6 was reported over the Urquhart Butterfly Gardens. A Northern Pintail and Pied-billed Grebe were present in the Red Hill Outlet today off Eastport Drive. A couple of days ago and adult Black-crowned Night Heron was present. Another Black-crowned Night Heron was seen at the Desjardins Canal yesterday. This morning a pleasant surprise was two Harlequin ducks sitting on the edge of one of the islands as you walk out the Bayfront Trail from Bayfront Park. Birds seen from LaSalle Marina this week include Common Loon, Horned Grebe and Red-necked Grebe. Three Red-necked Grebes were seen from Pier 4 Park yesterday. An adult Bald Eagle was seen in Cootes Paradise this morning and a juvenile was spotted flying over the high level bridge mid-day. At Bronte-creek Provincial Park east last week, Northern Harrier and Northern Flicker were highlights. On the South Peel count a Chipping Sparrow was seen on the west side of the park. Merlins were seen at Bayfront Park and Gage Park this week. A Great Horned Owl was ratted out by a group of crows at Sedgewick Park in Oakville and another seen at the woodlot off Hillview near Fifty Road. Snowy Owls continue to be seen at Tollgate Pond and one has set up shop down at Pier 4 Park at the west end of the harbour. Lastly a Common Raven was observed flying along the Stoney Creek Lakeshore near Cherry Beach a couple of days ago. This week's duty is to report sightings for the Hamilton Christmas count. Send along your sightings here so I can pass them onto the compiler. All the best this holiday season!! Thanks for a great year of sightings. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, December 15th, 2018
SLATY-BACKED GULL(S) FISH CROW RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER CAPE MABY WARBLER PINE WARBLER HOODED WARBLER Cackling Goose King Eider Harlequin Duck Wild Turkey Bald Eagle Northern Goshawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Iceland gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Great Black-backed Gull Snowy Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Winter birding in the hammer just gets better. The list is small but look at the top!!! We start out with the slam dunk of the week with not one but two SLATY-BACKED GULLS being found near or at the Brantford Landfill this week. It started with a bird sitting on the ice at Mohawk lake which borders the Brantford Dump on Greenwich Road. A keen observer noticed the bubble gum pinkish purple legs, slightly off colour mantle from a Great Black-backed Gull and similar in size to a Herring Gull. Pictures were taken and circulated and a diagnosis of Slaty-backed Gull was put out to the public. Another observer in the area saw this gull fly back to the dump and followed it there only to film and photograph another SLATY-BACKED GULL. Photographic evidence showed two distinct birds with lucky observers photographing them together at one point. The Brantford Dump is allowing people in and have set up a viewing area for birders to see the face of the active garbage dump. You must sign in at the gate and please keep in mind that they have set up barriers for a reason. Other gulls seen there include Iceland, Lesser Black-backed, Glaucous and Great Black-backed Gull. Look also at Mohawk Lake for these beasts resting on the ice. A Bald Eagle seems to be causing some grief for viewers in both locations. What better holiday tradition to start than take visiting family and friends to the Brantford dump around the holiday season to see these two awesome birds. FISH CROWS have been reported this past week in the area of Stoney Creek, travelling with American Crows. Sightings have come from Kilbourne street close to #8 and King street and at Millen and Barton. The other hot spot in the area which has been for some time now is Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Continuing this week RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (up to 3), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (2), NASHVILLE WARBLER and our star of the show HOODED WARBLER. Last week a returning CAPE MAY WARBLER made a brief appearance and a PINE WARBLER was photographed there. Other birds seen here this week include Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush. In the odds and sods this week, Cackling Geese have been seen in flocks of Canada Geese at Millen Road and in flight over Fiesta Mall in Stoney Creek. A Harlequin Duck was reported on e-bird at the Suncor Pier at South Shell Park last weekend. A search for this turned up a first year male King Eider. Wild Turkeys were seen on the driving range along Plains Road in the section that goes up to York Road. A Northern Goshawk was reported at Rock Chapel Road and Sydenham on Thursday. A Merlin was seen on London Street South near Justine. A Peregrine Falcon was seen on a lamp post at 10th Road east near the quarry. A Snowy Owl seems to be settling in for the winter at Bronte Harbour, seen several times in the past week. A Northern Shrike was seen on Downsview Road near Guelph last week and close to here a Common Raven was seen at Downsview Road and Concession 4. Common Raven sightings seem to be more frequent around the transformer area at Brant and the QEW where they nested last year. Lastly a single Eastern Bluebird was seen up on the tanks at the Sewage Treatment plant at Arkendo in Oakville and another small flock was present near the dump in Brantford seen from the rail trail to the rear of the dump. That's the news this week. The South Peel Christmas Count is today so if you are in the area of Oakville please send along your sightings here. Get out to your local patches to dig up goods for the Christmas Counts. Even if you don't participate on one, sightings from the area are still important. Good birding! 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Birding Report - Friday, Novmeber 30th, 2018
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET EASTERN PHOEBE OVENBIRD ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER HOODED WARBLER AMERICAN REDSTART NORTHERN PARULA PALM WARBLER Snow Goose Cackling Goose King Eider Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Merlin Sandhill Crane Lesser Black-backed Gull Snowy Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Tufted Titmouse Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Northern Shrike Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warbler Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Purple Finch Common Redpoll Pine Siskins Evening Grosbeak It's been another good week and a half here in the HSA, the list might not be long but it's packed with some decent birds, particularly for winter listers. Let's stop at the top of the list. The number of species of warbler that have occurred in November has been unprecedented. Eighteen species of warbler have been recorded here in the Hamilton Study Area. A few of these stragglers might make it to the winter listing period and more may turn up as people get out and scour around their local patch. Two OVENBIRDS have been reported at feeders this week one in Oakville and one in Port Credit, I doubt that these would be the same bird moving around. Sedgewick Park is the host to the long staying HOODED WARBLER and a NASHVILLE WARBLER. The HOODED WARBLER was seen early today, the NASHVILLE was seen yesterday. Three RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were seen today to add to the winter list as well. A COUPLE OF NOTES: Rhere was a large coyote present today in the area where the warbler was lurking about. It did not flinch when it saw me so I left the area. WINTER LISTERS: Please keep in mind that there is a service tomorrow at the Jehovah Witness so please keep out of that parking lot to give worshippers room to park. Please access the park off of Hixon or park at Coronation Park and walk over through the parking lot of the Jehovah Witness. They have been putting the chain across so that parking is not allowed during non worship times. It's easy to get in off the end of Hixon. Other birds seen at Sedgewick include Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and White-throated Sparrow. At South Shell Park in Oakville, ORANGE-CROWNED, PALM and Yellow-rumped Warbler were seen through the fence that leads out to the Suncor Pier last weekend. Likely these birds are still around. A couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets were also present. An AMERICAN REDSTART was a good bird found at Wilkes Dam this week. Another good find was a NORTHERN PARULA at Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was reported last weekend from Riverside Park in Cambridge, this bird could still be around. It was hanging with a group of kinglets and chickadees. An EASTERN PHOEBE was found on the Spencer Creek trail near the Canadian Tire in Dundas. The Dundas IBA occurred last weekend. Some highlights included a group approx 15 Snow Geese were seen over the Dundas Valley, a lone Cackling Goose was seen in Caroll's Bay, a Lesser Black-backed Gull was observed in Coote's Paradise, a Tufted Titmouse was seen in the Dundas Valley. Field Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird are other notables. A separate report from the Dundas Valley this week included Evening Grosbeaks at a private feeder and two Northern Shrikes at Merrick Orchard and Powerline entrance. There are still a few Pine Siskins around and a single Purple Finch. In the odds and sods this week, a first year male King Eider was seen at LaSalle Marina today. A Red-throated Loon was seen near Green Road today. A Horned Grebe was seen off Millen Road this week and 6 off LaSalle Marina today. Merlins have been seen over Bronte and Stoney Creek likely on winter territory. A flock of 25 Sandhill Cranes were seen over 8th Concession West and Westover in Flamborough. Snowy Owls were reported from Bronte Harbour and from the breakwall at Canada Centre for Inland Waters. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen at Bronte Bluffs. A flock of 25 Common Redpolls have been seen on Fallsview Road today and earlier in the week. Evening Grosbeaks have been reported in Flamborough, south of Ancaster and in the Dundas Valley over the past week. Winter listing is upon us. Please report any unusual sightings you have and get out to your local woodlots to scour around. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page
[Ontbirds] Caliope Hummingbird - YES!!
Just got word from Deb Johnstone the neighbour that the bird is present this morning for those making the trip. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, November 17th, 2018
AMERICAN BITTERN HUDSONIAN GODWIT SWAINSON'S THRUSH NASHVILLE WARBLER NORTHERN PARULA MAGNOLIA WARBLER AMERICAN REDSTART CAPE MAY WARBLER BLACK-THROATED GRAY PINE WARBLER PALM WARBLER OVENBIRD HOODED WARBLER Snow Goose Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter King Eider Red-throated Loon Common Loon Red-shouldered Hawk Golden Eagle Sandhill Crane Dunlin Little Gull Bonaparte's Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Northern Shrike Common Raven Horned Lark Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Lapland Longspur White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak It's been an interesting week here in the Hamilton Study Area. With the changing weather patterns, birds are moving around and flocking to areas that produce bugs and a bit of warmth. The top of our list now includes late dates for migrants as we move toward winter listing. Of course we hope that these birds find their way to their wintering grounds but it's interesting to see the incredible number of species of warbler we have sticking around. Let's start with the star of the show and the most rare for the week. The BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER located at LaSalle Park was last seen November 13th. This warbler provided a good show for those who were able to get down to see it. It could still be around moving locations to other areas for protection. The stragglers list this week includes a single HUDSONIAN GODWIT remaining at Valley Inn along with two Dunlin. Sedgewick Park in Oakville has become the place to go for late warblers. Over the past week, NASHVILLE, NORTHERN PARULA, CAPE MAY (2), PINE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER (Yellow) and today a HOODED WARBLER have been seen here all this week. Down the road to the west, at Bronte Bluffs a very late MAGNOLIA, NORTHERN PARULA and another or possibly same YELLOW PALM WARBLER were seen today. Last Sunday and Monday an AMERICAN REDSTART was a good one added to the list. A late SWAINSON'S THRUSH is also present at Sedgewick along with a good number of Ruby-crowned Kinglets with up to 20 seen earlier in the week. Other notable late birds are an OVENBIRD coming to a feeder in Port Credit and NASHVILLE and PALM at South Shell Park. Another Palm was seen at Chancery Promenade in Mississauga. All nooks and crannies should be checked a Hermit Warbler in Hunstville is a mind blower but why not here? Lastly in the non-songbird department a late AMERICAN BITTERN was flushed between Bury Court and Abbott Court off Garden Ave in Brantford. A trip around the end of the lake today yielded all three species of Scoter, a King Eider at Shell Park and another at Fifty Point. Fifty Point has been host to a large feeding frenzy of gulls this week with Little, Bonaparte's Iceland, Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gull joining the hundreds of Ring-bills and Herring Gulls. Red-throated and Common Loon were also seen from this vantage. Flybys were a Lapland Longspur and White-winged Crossbills. In the odds and sods this week, seven Snow Geese were seen in a flock of Canadas on Bell School line earlier in the week. A female Harlequin Duck remains around Bronte Beach area. Sandhill Cranes are on the move with a large flock being seen Thursday over Dundas. A Golden Eagle was seen over the Dundas Valley Conservation Area on Tuesday. Horned Larks have returned to Fallsview Road, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs are sure to follow. Other birds seen at Sedgewick Park in Oakville include two Common Ravens, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping and White-throated Sparrow. Northern Shrikes were seen at Ohswekan, on 10th Road East in Saltfleet and in Glen Morris this week. Pine Siskins are still moving through. A good sighting for this time of year was a Red-shouldered Hawk in North Halton and an Evening Grosbeak was also a feeder guest up there. Evening Grosbeaks were also reported at feeders in Bronte Provincial Park, Dundas and in Flamborough this week. Common Redpolls are now on the move so keep your feeders stocked. Report your unusual sightings here and if you still have a hummingbird, let someone know! GO TICATS! 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, November 11th, 2018
PACIFIC LOON POMARINE JAEGER PARASITIC JAEGER WHITE-EYED VIREO BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER DICKCISSEL Brant Harlequin Duck Common x Barrow's Goldeneye American Bittern Osprey Golden Eagle Sandhill Crane Greater Yellowlegs Hudsonian Godwit Purple Sandpiper Dunlin Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Snowy Owl Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Common Raven Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Chestnut-sided Warbler Black=throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Purple Finch Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak The list of birds this week mostly derive from our very successful fall bird count last Sunday where 146 species of birds were tallied in various territories in the Hamilton Study area. A record 10 species of warbler were seen and other highlights included some of our goodies at the top so we will begin there. You can't get any better than having east winds on count day if you are the crew at VanWagners Beach. PACIFIC LOON seen briefly in the morning and PARASITIC and POMARINE JAEGER seen sporadically through the day made the cold watch bearable. Other birds noted here in the week were a movement of Bonaparte's Gulls and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A WHITE-EYED VIREO was reported from Rattray marsh. The Western Tanager seen the week before was a no show on count day. A good count period bird seen the day before the count was a Black-throated Blue Warbler. The star of the show this week was a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER found the day before the count and continuing at Lasalle Park in Burlington up until yesterday giving decent looks and opportunities to photograph. If you haven't been down to see it you are missing out, it seems to stay low most days and usually in the same area to easily be found. LaSalle Park is at the end of Waterdown Road in Burlington. A DICKCISSEL was found at a feeder near Bronte Creek Provincial Park, a good bird that was associating with a large flock of House Sparrows. It has since moved on. Chipping, Lincoln's and White-crowned Sparrow were also seen in this area on count day to add to the total. Other highlights from the count included the Common x Barrow's Goldeneye making a return at the west end of the lake for at least the 5th year in a row. An American Bittern was a nice find at the stormwater pond on the north service road just east of Guelph Line. Sandhill Cranes were seen in the south end of the Hamilton Study area. An Osprey was seen the day before the count at Streetsville Memorial Park. A Golden Eagle was seen near Brantford. Shorebirds on the count included quite a few Greater Yellowlegs seen in Cootes Paradise and in Streetsville, Dunlin in Windermere Basin and one of the Hudsonian Godwits hung around until last week to be counted in Cootes paradise. A Snowy Owl was seen on the Suncor Pier. There were several reports of Blue-headed Vireo including one at Sedgewick Park in Oakville which was in the company of an Eastern Phoebe, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, two Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a very late Blackburnian Warbler. Common Ravens were seen over Princess Point on count day and in Streetsville the day before the count. This species has signficantly increased in the study area over the last ten years. A Black-and-White Warbler was seen in Dundas, a first for our count. Swainson's Thrush was recorded at Shoreacres/Paletta park in Oakville on count day and in Lowville the day before the count. Orange-crowned and Nashville Warbler were seen at South Shell Park in Oakville. A Black-and-white Warbler was seen in Dundas, unbelievably our first for this count. An American Redstart was seen at Shell Park on count day. Orange-crowned and Nashville Warbler were also located in the Westdale Ravine along with three Fox Sparrows. It's not often you get a good winter finch movement on count day but this year, Purple Finch, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins were all seen in various territories. Out in Winona a group of eight Evening Grosbeaks made a yard list highlight on count day. In the odds and sods, a Brant was present up until count day on the lawn at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington. On Tuesday a female Harlequin duck was present just west of Bronte Harbour. A Purple Sandpiper made a brief appearance here the same day and was seen briefly here the next day but managed to elude most birders. Lastly a Red-eyed Vireo made a late appearance at Princess Point on Wednesday. The results of the fall count show that birds are definitely out there waiting to be found. As the weather gets colder this week remember to stock those feeders and get out and explore your local patch. Report your sightings here, winter listing is not
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, November 2nd, 2018
POMARINE JAEGER PARASITIC JAEGER WHITE-EYED VIREO WESTERN TANAGER RED CROSSBILL EVENING GROSBEAK Brant Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Red-throated Loon Common Loon Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle Merlin Virginia Rail Sora Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Hudsonian Godwit Semipalmated Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Bonaparte's Gull Snowy Owl Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Kingbird Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler American Tree Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Our fall bird count is on Sunday November 4th so please be sure to send in your sightings for the Hamilton Study area as you are out birding this weekend. It's been a busy couple of weeks with late fall migrants moving in and a big finch movement making feeders interesting around the Hamilton Study area. Add in some rarities and there is much to write about here. As is the time of year the west end of Lake Ontario is good on northeast and east winds for our pelagic species. Last Friday, an adult POMARINE JAEGER graced us with its presence but only in the morning. A PARASITIC JAEGER was also seen earlier in the day. Other birds seen during the lake watch included Surf, White-winged and Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-throated and Common Loon. A couple of Black-bellied Plovers were seen on the beach a week ago Friday and a late flock of 5 Semipalmated Plovers flew by Grays Rd. A Merlin has set up shop likely for the winter along the beach strip making a snack bar out of the numerous sparrows that move along the shore. Land birding has also been productive. Last Sunday, two WHITE-EYED VIREOS were seen, one found at Jack Darling Park in Mississauga and later that day one at Meadow Wood Park (on Apple Lane) also in Mississauga. A WESTERN TANGER was seen at Rattray Marsh the same day and has hung around until today keeping low. Earlier in the week a RED CROSSBILL was seen flying over Campbellville heading northeast on Tuesday. EVENING GROSBEAKS have invaded the area with birds showing up at many different places in the Hamilton Study Area, some staying for a day or two and others moving on. Grosbeaks have been reported from Grimsby, Hamilton, Dundas and Guelph. Stock your feeders! Shorebirds are still lingering about but rain this week made some of the spots unavailable for shorebirds. Five Hudsonian Godwits were found at Valley Inn the week before last and remained there for a week before moving to the RBG Arboretum where they were seen as of Thursday. The birds were feeding in front of the new large platform at the bottom of the Hickory Valley Trail. Other birds seen at Valley Inn included Semipalmated, White-rumped and Pectoral Sandpiper and a number of Dunlin. Another Semipalmated Sandpiper and some Dunlin were present at the Grimsby Sewage Lagoons last week. The back of Mountsberg still has low water and today a Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were present. The week before last another raptor movement pushed out a number of Turkey Vultures, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk. A couple of late Broad-winged Hawks also trickled through. A Golden Eagle made a stopover for some photographs at Woodland Cemetery and another adult was seen at Walker's Line and the QEW. A Northern Goshawk was photographed this week, these should continue to move through the area as they are later migrants. In the odds and sods, a Brant is spending some time with Canada Geese on the lawn at Spencer Smith Park, seen today. Up until last week Virginia Rail and Sora were still being seen at Kerncliffe Park in Burlington. Snowy Owls are on the move with one being seen at the Suncor Pier in Oakville and at the Burlington Ship Canal last Wednesday. A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers were seen along 11th Concession East today just west of Centre Road. Last week two separate sightings of Eastern Kingbirds provided good late records for this species, one being seen at Valley Inn and another near Sawmill Road out in Ancaster. A late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was seen at the overlook at the high level bridge a week ago. Two Orange-crowned and a Nashville Warbler were seen at South Shell Park today. Earlier in the week a late Chestnut sided Warbler was seen at Sedgewick Park with a number of Yellow-rumped Warblers, another Orange-crowned Warbler and Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. American Tree Sparrows are arriving as are Fox Sparrows in a number of locations. Two Nelson's Sparrows were seen along the creek side at Petro Canada Park in Oakville last weekend. Another suspected Nelsons was
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, October 15th, 2018
EARED GREBE RED PHALAROPE SABINE'S GULL BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE PARASITIC JAEGER CERULEAN WARBLER NELSON'S SPARROW Snow Goose Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup White-winged Scoter Surf Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Great Egret Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Merlin Virginia Rail Sora Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Dunlin Wilson's Snipe Bonaparte's Gull Common Tern Forster's Tern Yellow-billed Cuckoo Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin It's been a busy couple of weeks here in the Hamilton Study area as north winds move migrants out of the province. The action has been hot at Van Wagner's beach over the last week and a half. An winter plumaged EARED GREBE was seen briefly on the water off Lakeland on October 5th. On Thanksgiving Monday, two BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen. Last Friday, on west winds a RED PHALAROPE and two SABINE'S GULLS were seen in a mix of Bonaparte's gulls. PARASITIC JAEGERS were also seen on these occasions. The next round of east winds should bring in the Pomarine's. Other birds seen at the beach were Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, White-winged and Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Terns and a Forster's Tern. Other shorebirds included Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling and Dunlin. While walking the beach on Friday one lucky observer flushed up a NELSON'S SPARROW in the grasses near Hutches restaurant. A search yesterday did not turn it up although these should be present in traditional locations. Finishing up the rarity department a first fall female CERULEAN WARBLER was seen at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday, a late date for this species that is already unusual to the area, this may have been a bird pushed up on warm winds and returning to the south. Hawk migration was good this week with Northwest winds pushing birds along the lakeshore. Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrels and Merlins made up the bulk of it. A few straggling Broadwings were also seen. Golden Eagles were seen over a yard in St. George and over the RBG Arboretum. Shorebirds have been dwindling in numbers around the area. In addition to the birds seen at VanWagners beach, a probable American Golden Plover was seen yesterday on the islands off Eastport. Greater Yellowlegs and Dunlin were present at Windermere Basin. Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone were seen at Tollgate Pond. A Wilson's Snipe was flushed along a trail at McMaster Forest. The woodlots were full of late stragglers and typical October migrants over the last week and a half. Places reported from include Bronte Bluffs in Oakville, Paletta/Shoreacres in Burlington, Burlington Beach Strip, Woodland Cemetery, Confederation Park in Hamilton, the River and Ruins trail in Lowville, Van Wagners Ponds, McMaster Forest and Princess Point in Hamilton. Of interest was a late Great Crested Flycatcher seen in a yard in Dundas on Friday and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo near the River and Ruins trail in Lowville. Other migrants included, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets in big numbers, Gray-cheeked, Hermit and Swainson's Thrush, Eastern Bluebird, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Bay-breasted (Burlington Beach Strip), Blackpoll (Princess Point), Palm, Pine, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Chipping, Field, Song, Lincoln's, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco. In the odds and sods, two Snow Geese were present in a field at Fallsview and Sydenham last Thursday. Sora and Virginia Rails were still present in the small marsh at Kerncliffe Park late last week. Pine Siskins and Purple Finches are showing up at feeders and being heard in flight so time to stock those feeders up. Keep an eye out for any hummingbirds this time of year, it's getting late for Ruby-throated but prime for vagrants. Please report your sightings! Good birding, 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
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Monday, October 1, 2018
BLACK VULTURE BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE SABINE'S GULL PARASITIC JAEGER EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE Snow Goose Brant Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Redhead Surf Scoter Ruddy Duck Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail Sandhill Crane Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Least Sandpiper Yellow-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Warbling Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Red-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Gray Catbird Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Connecticut Warbler Song Sparrow - Lincoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow - Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch Pine Siskin It's a long list of birds for this week, there are plenty of migrants around with some goodies mixed in to keep it fresh. Let's get started with the goodies at the top A BLACK VULTURE was a welcome yard guest for a resident in Hamilton on Saturday. The bird was seen over Hamilton Cemetery and headed toward Dundas where it was seen next morning. As is this time of year, Van Wagner's Beach has not disappointed on east winds. Today a SABINE'S GULL and PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen and last week, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen as well with two being seen at the beach and one seen at Bronte Harbour a week ago today. Northeast and East winds are forecast for tomorrow morning and for the Thanksgiving weekend. First of season Surf Scoters were seen at the west end of the lake as well. Lastly a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE has been lurking about Brantford near the legion and in a local back yard. There is some discussion on this bird as to its origins but might be a pure bred wild bird. Ultimately it's up to you to decide. Shorebirds are still around but in limited numbers. Tollgate Ponds had Spotted Sandpiper (getting late), Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling and Least Sandpiper. Waterfowl species seen here include Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal and Redhead. Two adult Stilt Sandpipers were seen at Grimsby Wetlands yesterday. The woodlots have been active this week. Over the past days, reports from the Paletta/Shoreacres Park in Burlington, Sedgewick Park in Oakville, Hamilton Cemetery and Confederation Park include: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Warbling and Blue-headed Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House and Winter Wren, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's and Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Pine, Palm, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green , Connecticut (Shoreacres , east end of Confederation Park), Song, Lincolns, Swamp, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin. There are lots more migrants to come, birding should be good when this rain clears. In the odds and sods this week, a Snow Goose was seen at the large pond along Kirkwall Rd about 350m N of 5th Concession a week ago today. A Peregrine Falcon made a surprise visit over a yard in Brantford this week. Two Sandhill Cranes were seen north of St. George last Friday. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was a highlight on the OFO walk behind Van Wagner's Ponds last weekend. A late Common Nighthawk was seen passing through on Millborough Line north of Carlisle on Saturday. That's the news this week. With a long weekend coming up, extra time for birding. Send along 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, September 15th, 2018
SABINE'S GULL PARASITIC JAEGER LONG-TAILED JAEGER Blue-winged Teal Green-winged Teal White-winged Scoter Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Bairds Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gull Black Tern Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Wood Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch Veery Swainson's Thrush American Pipit Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-White Warbler American Redstart Mourning Warbler Wilson's Warbler Scarlet Tanager Grasshopper Sparrow Indigo Bunting Purple Finch Another great week here in the Hamilton Study area as migrants continue to filter through the area. The strong east winds from last weekend were a little underwhelming however, there were some good birds about in small numbers. PARASITIC and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were in order along with two SABINE'S GULLS. SABINE'S GULLS are in short supply this year but there should be more, just need another James Bay low to come through. Other birds seen at these occasions include Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Sanderling, Bonaparte's Gull and a single Black Tern. A Phalarope sp could not be identified to species. There is surely more action to come as Pomarine Jaegers have yet to arrive. The woodlots are still busy with birds which are being held back by the tropical storms to the south of us. Locations that were reported from this week include Shell Park in Oakville, Sherwood Forest Park and Shoreacres Park in Burlington, the Burlington Beach Strip, Woodland Cemetery, Hamilton Cemetery and Princess Point. Birds seen in these locations were the following: Ruby=throated Hummingbird, Eastern Wood Pewee, Yellow-bellied (Woodland) and Least Flycatcher, Yellow-throated (Woodland), Blue-headed (Woodland), Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse (Shoreacres) Red-breasted Nuthatch, Veery (Sherwood Forest), Swainson's Thrush, Tennessee, Nashville Warbler, Northern Paula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue (Sherwood Forest), Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine (Woodland), Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Wilson's Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting. Of interest was a possible Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler seen briefly at Shoreacres but not re-located subsequently. Shorebirds are still in the news with most sightings from Tollgate Pond. Here this week Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Semipalmated, Bairds and Least Sandpipers. In the odds and sods this week an American Pipit was an early sighting at a large grassy field in Grimsby. Grasshopper Sparrows were still present at the Oak Park Road Gravel Pit in Branford and three Purple Finches are guests at a feeder in St. George as of today. There is lots more to come in the next weeks, report your sightings here! Good birding, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
Re: [Ontbirds] Rondeau Great Kiskadee Monday YES
Just want to give a shout out to Steve on the list serve for keeping birders informed through Ontbirds of the presence of the Kiskadee. With a bird like this that hides for a great deal of time and would be difficult to find, the information has been most helpful to birders spending time and gas money down to see this amazing bird. Don't want to start a cascade of emails here just thought it was important to give a kudos. Please email me privately if you want, my apologies if this is inappropriate to post on a wider basis. Lots of storms upon us. Its an exciting time to be birding. Cheryl Edgecombe HNC. -Original Message- From: ONTBIRDS [mailto:birdalert-boun...@ontbirds.ca] On Behalf Of Steve Charbonneau via ONTBIRDS Sent: September 10, 2018 11:22 AM To: ontbirds Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] Rondeau Great Kiskadee Monday YES Hi again everyone, My last post today. Just a quick summary of this morning’s sighting. Around 9:50, Karl Overman heard the bird calling about 200m along the trail. This is 75m past the S curve. It was still calling when three of us got there 4 minutes later. It was giving the single “keeah” call, not the “kiskadee” call. took 6 of us almost a half hour to see it but when we did, it put on quite a show. It flew short distances, perching in the open each time. We were able to get within about 10m of it, as it perched two feet off the ground in some dead as tree branches over top of a swampy area beside the path for 5 minutes longer. It finally dropped down into the swamp area and came up with a frog. It then proceeded to eat the frog to the delight of 7 of us. A couple of birders present were able to get photos of this event in the light mist. It then flew to the east and disappeared into the thickets. The bird was in full view for 25 minutes in total. There is presently nobody there as all of us have left the area. If anyone comes, they should be advised to look past the S curve, on the east (left) side. Good luck! Steve Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 10, 2018, at 10:03 AM, Steve Charbonneau > wrote: > > > The great kiskadee just called at least 12 times. Started calling at 9:45 but > hasn’t been seen yet. There are 5 of us here looking for it. We are 50m past > the S turn, about 200m from the start of the trail. > Steve > Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, September 9, 2018
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON PARASITIC JAEGER LONG-TAILED JAEGER EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE Wood Duck American Wigeon Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal White-winged Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Common Gallinule Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Sora Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Ruddy Turnstone Red knot Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Lesser Black-backed Gull Caspian Tern Common Tern Common Nighthawk Chimney Swift Olive-sided Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Common Raven Blackpoll Warbler White-throated Sparrow Pine Siskin It's been another great late summer week here in the Hamilton Study Area. This week has focussed more on shorebirds and beach rarities than passerines but I am sure that passerine migration does continue at some level. A third YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON for the Hamilton Study Area was found in Caledonia late last week and continued to be seen at Kinsmen Park in Caledonia until at least Tuesday. The west end of the lake was productive although surprising more on Friday than Saturday as east winds began to pick up ahead of this storm from the south. Seen on Friday were PARASITIC AND LONG-TAILED JAEGER with PARASITIC JAEGERS being seen yesterday. Also present on the lake were Green-winged Teal, first of fall White-winged Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser, Sanderling, Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper, 2nd year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Caspian Tern and Common Tern. A lone and late Chimney Swift was battling its way through the winds down the beach yesterday. It's hard to tell whether birds will be moving today with strong east winds but the winds may be too much for birders and birds to fly around. Lastly in the rarity department a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE made a two day appearance at a feeder in Brantford but has not been seen since Tuesday. Shorebirds are in the news this week as several locations seem good for shorebirding. Tollgate Pond remains productive with Black-bellied, American Golden and Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Semipalmated, Least and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Red-necked Phalarope. Nearby at Windermere Basin, things have quieted down but a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper was present on Wednesday. The Red Hill Stormwater Pond located off the southbound ramp to the Red Hill Expressway had Stilt Sandpiper as well along with Semipalmated Sandpiper. Last weekend, Buff-breasted Sandpipers were present out in Mount Hope on Haldibrook Road. Four Black-bellied Plovers settled onto a field on Unity Road. Wrapping up shorebirds a juvenile Red Knot was seen last Sunday on North Island off Eastport. The bird was seen again on Monday. Another juvenile Red Knot was seen off Bronte Beach on Thursday. Another great spot for shorebirds is the Biggar Lagoons Wetlands which is just east of Fifty Point Conservation Area on Winston Road. Here this week, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated, Least, Pectoral Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope. Other birds of interest included Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal in big numbers, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule and Sora. In the odds and sods this week, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler were present at the Valley Inn. Black-crowned Night Herons were seen at the Desjardins Canal, this has been a great place for Great Egret as well. Great Egret and Green Heron were present at the Red Hill Stormwater Pond. Common Nighthawks were continuing to filter through the area with birds over Burlington, Hamilton and Dundas. Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher were seen at Shoreacres/Paletta Park in Burlington. An Eastern Kingbird was seen at Princess Point last Monday. A single Common Raven was seen at Dundas and Brant Street in Burlington. A Blackpoll Warbler was photographed at Woodland Cemetery. The first White-throated Sparrow was seen at a feeder at Rock Chapel. Probably the last of the Bobolinks was heard migrating over the Dundas Hydro Ponds last Monday. A Pine Siskin flew over the Grimsby maybe a sign of this species on the move. These storms this week might bring in some great birds, stay tuned to the weather and report your sightings here. Good Birding! 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit
[Ontbirds] Camera left at VanWagners Beach
Someone has left their camera on a chair at the beach. Please contact me via email if you are missing it! I am not there at present but someone is keeping it safe until claimed. Thanks Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, September 2, 2018
MISSISSIPPI KITE MARBLED GODWIT PARASITIC JAEGER LONG-TAILED JAEGER Greater Scaup Sandhill Crane Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Great Black-backed Gull Caspian Tern Black Tern Common Tern Common Nighthawk Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Wood Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Willow FLycatcher Least Flycatcher Great Crested FLycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Red-eyed Vireo House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Prairie Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Bobolink Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole It's been another great week here in the Hamilton Study Area. Migrants continue to filter through spiced up with a few rarities. A big highlight for a keen birder this week was the flyover of a MISSISSIPPI KITE on Wednesday, travelling high with a group of Turkey Vultures over the Hendrie Valley. Unfortunately, it was just moving through the area and didn't cooperate like the Swallow-tailed Kite in Wasaga. VanWagners Beach produced again on Thursday and Friday as jaegers started moving through. Best times to go to the beach are on East or Northeast winds, after 4 o'clock seems to be the magical hour. This week birds reported here include a juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGER, photographed as it went over the viewing platform. Also seen were an adult and juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER harassing several gulls and Caspian Terns out on the lake. Other birds of note include Greater Scaup, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, many Bonaparte's Gulls and five Black Terns. Sabine's gulls were reported but the heat shimmer was too great to call it, these should be in later this week as the front moves through. Lastly for rarities, the MARBLED GODWIT found last week at Tollgate Pond continues this week along with Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated, Least, White-rumped and Baird's Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Red-necked Phalarope. Buff-breasted Sandpipers have now entered the picture with up to 4 birds being seen yesterday afternoon in a field viewing from behind a school/church on Unity Road just west of Hwy 6. A single bird was found on Friday at the corner of Glancaster and Haldibrook Road. Three Buff-breasted Sandpipers were seen from Haldibrook Road this morning just west of Hwy 6. Some of these birds might be same or different from above, hard to tell but bottom line is birds are out there. Passerine migration continues with reports from Woodland Cemetery, Joe Sam's Park in Waterdown and the River and Ruins Trail in Lowville. Birds reported from these locations include, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Wood Pewee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Lowville), Least, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo (Joe Sams), House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Tennessee, Nashville (Joe Sams), Northern Parula (Woodland), Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Yellow-rumped, Blackburnian, Prairie Warbler (found a week ago Friday and seen briefly last Saturday), Bay-breasted, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush (Lowville), Common Yellowthroat and Canada Warbler (Lowville). In the odds and sods this week, Sandhill Cranes (2 ad, 3 Juv) were seen over York Road a couple of days ago. Common Nighthawks moved in numbers over a neighbourhood on Strathcona and were seen over Dundas. A couple moved through north and south Burlington yesterday on south winds. While out looking for Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Mount Hope area, a Bobolink could be heard over a field on Haldibrook. Birds could also be heard over Woodland Cemetery last weekend. Lastly a late record Orchard Oriole was seen in a field with Baltimore Orioles and Eastern Kingbirds on Haldibrook Road east of Mines Road last Sunday. This species usually the earliest to leave often goes undetected in the fall. That's the news for this week, it's an exciting time of year. There is lots to look for as Roseate Spoonbills continue to be seen in latitudes close to here. Get out and check your local patches and please send your sightings along here. Good birding, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting
[Ontbirds] Fwd: Swallow-tailed Kite - YES
The bird has now flown north after making a few passes over the field on Klondike road . It is likely still in the area and may return to this location as it was feeding heavily on bugs being picked off the soybeans in the field. Cheryl Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: Dan MacNeal via ONTBIRDS > Date: August 27, 2018 at 11:40:52 AM EDT > To: "birdalert@ontbirds.ca" > Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite - YES > Reply-To: Dan MacNeal > > Bird is currently perched near the same location Josh had it this morning. > North of 12 on Klondike Rd > > Dan MacNeal > 519-330-2075 *new > danmacn...@hotmail.com > > From: ONTBIRDS on behalf of Josh Vandermeulen > via ONTBIRDS > Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 9:56:59 AM > To: birdalert@ontbirds.ca > Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite - YES > > The kite just flew northeast, and disappeared over the trees. I'll report if > I see it again. > > Josh > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Aug 27, 2018, at 09:52, Josh Vandermeulen via ONTBIRDS >> wrote: >> >> I'm refound the Swallow-tailed Kite near Wasaga Beach. It's perched in a >> tree on the east side of Klondike Park Rd, 900m north of Concession 12, near >> Wasaga Beach. >> >> Good birding, >> Josh Vandermeulen >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> ___ >> ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the >> provincial birding organization. >> Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca >> For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit >> http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup >> Posting guidelines can be found at >> http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide >> Visit the OFO Facebook page >> https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists >> > > ___ > ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the > provincial birding organization. > Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca > For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit > http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup > Posting guidelines can be found at > http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide > Visit the OFO Facebook page > https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists > > ___ > ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the > provincial birding organization. > Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca > For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit > http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup > Posting guidelines can be found at > http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide > Visit the OFO Facebook page > https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists > ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, August 25, 2018
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON MARBLED GODWIT BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE SUMMER TANAGER Common Loon Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron Broad-winged Hawk Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Dunlin Stilt Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Great Black-backed Gull Black-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Willow FLycatcher Least Flycatcher Great Crested FLycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Northern Paula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Prairie Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Bobolink Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch It has been a very busy couple of weeks in the Hamilton Study Area. Rarities continue to pop up and it's that time of year when anything can happen. In the rarity department, the YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON in Cambridge was last reported on August 16th. The one at Windermere basin appears to have departed before then. A good find on Thursday was a MARBLED GODWIT at Tollgate Pond which continued on today. Shorebirding at this location has been very productive although a scope is definitely needed to see the birds along the shore here. At this location this week Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot (last Saturday), Sanderling, Semipalmated, Least, White-rumped, Baird's Sandpiper (up to 4 a couple days ago and 3 today), Short-billed Dowitcher and today 2 Red-necked Phalaropes. This is the time of year when people and birds flock to Van Wagner's Beach on east winds. Last Monday did not disappoint as on east winds a 1st Summer going into 2nd Basic BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen. Another juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was photographed on a rock near the high level bridge on the bay the same day. A distant Jaeger was seen, a probably Long-tailed Jaeger judging by the flight style. Also seen were a few Bonaparte's Gulls and a Common Loon. Passerine migration has been huge this week with a SUMMER TANAGER being seen mid-week at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area near their headquarters. The bird was not relocated but was last seen on private property. Returning to shorebirds, Windermere Basin has had a decline in numbers of shorebirds, likely due to higher waters. Today Black-bellied Plover (2 adults), Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated, Least and White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Short-billed Dowitcher were seen. Two days ago a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper was present. Another location for shorebirds is along Eastport Drive on the Northshore islands. This week, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers and an early Dunlin were seen on Wednesday. Woodland Cemetery has been the place to be this week for passerine migrants. Last weekend a Golden-winged Warbler was seen near Section 25 and yesterday a beautiful male Prairie Warbler was found in the morning and refound in the afternoon. Warblers were everywhere there this week along with other species of migrants. Birds reported from here this week include Black-billed Cuckoo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Yellow-bellied, Traill's, Willow and Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian (in numbers), Bay-breasted, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Mourning and Canada Warbler, Bobolink(flyover) and Baltimore Oriole. Joe Sam's Park in Waterdown also is a great place to bird with similar species being seen to Woodland and along the River and Ruins trail near Lowville, Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Wilson's Warbler and Bobolink were recorded. In the odds and sods, hawk migration has started with a trickle of Broad-winged Hawks moving this week. A couple of Peregrine Falcons flew high over Woodland today, their preference is to migrate on south winds. Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons continue to come into roost at Caroll's Point seen at dusk on the high level bridge. Up to 32 Great Egrets were seen here this week. This is an excellent place to check for a wayward heron. Common Nighthawks can be seen at time in migration with birds being reported from Brantford earlier in the week and nine from Dundas last night. A juvenile Purple Finch was an unexpected yard guest at a
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, August 11, 2018
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON LONG-TAILED JAEGER Wood Duck Pied-billed Grebe Ruffed Grouse Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Green Heron Merlin Common Gallinule Semipalmated Plover Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gull Nashville Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Well this has been quite the week in the Hamilton Study Area. The highlight of the week has been probably the most co-operative LONG-TAILED JAEGER ever in the province. It would be interesting to note how many got this as a life bird this week. The bird was refound last Friday, after being seen earlier in the week, on the beach at Confederation Park by the granddaughter of a Hamilton Birder. An inquisitive and perhaps budding birder of the age of 6 asked her dad what kind of bird it was as it looked different. Pictures were taken and sent to Grandpa for an identification. Lo and behold, this beautiful adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER would spend the next 6 days in various locations on the beach, in parking lots and out on the lake chasing gulls and making close flybys delighting the many people who came down for it. It was even a guest at the wedding I attended as it stunned us with gripping views as we were sipping cocktails on the patio at Lakeland. The bird was seen up until Thursday but with the change in the winds, may have moved on. Other Jaeger Sp. were seen on east winds yesterday so it's that time of year to come to Hamilton. Not to be outdone, two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS continue to be seen in the Hamilton Study Area. The bird at Windermere is a little more difficult and distant to see but was still there on Thursday. The Cambridge bird located on Beaverdale Road near the Mill Run Trail where the bridge crosses the water is giving stunningly great views as of this morning. Shorebirds are on the move. A good place if you are up in the Cambridge area is at Ellicot Landing in the village of Hespeler. Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Semipalmated, Least and Pectoral Sandpipers were all seen here last Sunday. A Stilt Sandpiper was seen up until Saturday. Another location for shorebirds (with scope) is Tollgate Pond off Eastport in Hamilton. Here Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated, Least and White-rumped Sandpiper and Sanderling were noted here. Sanderling and a Ruddy Turnstone were seen along the beach from Jaeger Watchers. Another new location checked this week was Neibauer's Marsh on Wellington Road 32 near Guelph. Here were a number of breeding pairs of Common Moorhen a bird not common here in the Hamilton Study Area. Many families of Wood Duck and Pied-billed Grebes were also found here. In the odds and sods, a count of the herons from the High Level Bridge at the roost yielded 15 Great Egrets, a number of Black-crowned Night Herons and a Green Heron. This would be a great place for another wayward heron or Spoonbill!! to come in and roost for the night. Ruffed Grouse were flushed along the River and Ruins trail (part of the Bruce Trail) near Lowville on Thursday. Also seen there were Nashville and Bay-breasted Warbler. The Bay-breasted Warbler is a definite migrant so as August progresses passerines will become more of the picture. A Merlin was a guest hawking insects over the Merrrick Orchard in the Dundas Valley and in a St. George yard on Thursday. Now is the time to be out looking in local patches and beyond for any wandering birds. There are rare herons roaming about and a Roseate Spoonbill in Quebec. Report your sightings here! Good birding, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
Re: [Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaegar at Lakeland Centre
Me again, final post. The bird is on the beach just past Barangas now. Cheryl -Original Message- From: ONTBIRDS [mailto:birdalert-boun...@ontbirds.ca] On Behalf Of Cheryl Edgecombe via ONTBIRDS Sent: August 8, 2018 1:01 PM To: birdalert@ontbirds.ca Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaegar at Lakeland Centre Now on the water in front of Barangas restaurant. -Original Message- From: ONTBIRDS [mailto:birdalert-boun...@ontbirds.ca] On Behalf Of Joyce Collier-Brown via ONTBIRDS Sent: August 8, 2018 11:56 AM To: birdalert@ontbirds.ca Subject: [Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaegar at Lakeland Centre Bird has been circling around harassing gulls, took a run at a Ruddy Turnstone in front of the platform, stunning close fly- by. Joyce Collier-Brown Bird was seen north of Hutches on Van Wagners beach Pecked out on my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
Re: [Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaegar at Lakeland Centre
Now on the water in front of Barangas restaurant. -Original Message- From: ONTBIRDS [mailto:birdalert-boun...@ontbirds.ca] On Behalf Of Joyce Collier-Brown via ONTBIRDS Sent: August 8, 2018 11:56 AM To: birdalert@ontbirds.ca Subject: [Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaegar at Lakeland Centre Bird has been circling around harassing gulls, took a run at a Ruddy Turnstone in front of the platform, stunning close fly- by. Joyce Collier-Brown Bird was seen north of Hutches on Van Wagners beach Pecked out on my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
Re: [Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaeger back in the lot this morning, Confederation Park Hamilton
The bird continues to be seen in the parking lot as of 10 a.m.. Cheryl -Original Message- From: ONTBIRDS [mailto:birdalert-boun...@ontbirds.ca] On Behalf Of Cheryl Edgecombe via ONTBIRDS Sent: August 8, 2018 8:12 AM To: birdalert@ontbirds.ca Subject: [Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaeger back in the lot this morning, Confederation Park Hamilton Karl Dix has texted to say that the Long-tailed Jaeger is in the lot next to the ball hockey rink at Confederation Park for those interested. Directions Qew niagara to Woodward turn right on Woodward towards Eastport and right onto vanwagners beach road. Drive past Barangas to the stop sign and make the turn right then left to the entrance of Confederation Park. Best to drive to the parking lot at Wild Waterworks. Cheers, Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaeger back in the lot this morning, Confederation Park Hamilton
Karl Dix has texted to say that the Long-tailed Jaeger is in the lot next to the ball hockey rink at Confederation Park for those interested. Directions Qew niagara to Woodward turn right on Woodward towards Eastport and right onto vanwagners beach road. Drive past Barangas to the stop sign and make the turn right then left to the entrance of Confederation Park. Best to drive to the parking lot at Wild Waterworks. Cheers, Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaeger Update -Confederation Park hamilton
I have been advised that the bird is back in the parking lot by the yellow washrooms to the west of Wild Waterworks. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaeger Update - Barangas
Right now the bird is on the water at Barangas at the Beach, located on VanWagner's Beach Road. I am not physically there but this is the last location as of 5:12 p.m.. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaeger, Confederation Park Hamilton
The bird is sitting on the beach now right at the Wild Waterworks. If you head down, please respect the bird and that other people want to see this. Keep your distance. Thanks Cheryl Edgecombe Directions: Directions Qew niagara to Woodward turn right on Woodward towards Eastport and right onto vanwagners beach road. Drive past Barangas to the stop sign and make the turn right then left to the entrance of Confederation Park. Best to drive to the parking lot at Wild Waterworks. --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Adult Long-tailed Jaeger continues at VanWagner's Beach, Hamilton
Just passing along an ebird report from 4:45 yesterday, the Long-tailed Jaeger was seen at Barangas which is east of Hutch's Restaurant along VanWagner's Beach Road. After 4:00 p.m. seems to be the magic hour this bird is seen. It is in spectacular plumage with long streamers. With last nights storms, it might not have gone anywhere. Cheers Cheryl Edgecombe Directions Qew niagara to Woodward turn right on Woodward towards Eastport and right onto vanwagners beach road. Come to Lakeland tower or east of here to Hutch's. Barangas is further down. Stationary might be best here. It seems to fly along the shoreline. --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, August 4, 2018
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON LONG-TAILED JAEGER Redhead Greater Scaup Black-crowned Night Heron Merlin Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Upland Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Northern Saw-whet Owl Least Flycatcher Things are ramping up here in the Hamilton Study Area. A very quiet July was ended by not one but two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS in the area. Last Friday a juvenile was seen and identified at Windermere Basin. The bird has been a bit frustrating for some with multiple trips out for many. The best time to see it is early morning but it spends some times cryptic in the reeds or hops over to the Pier 24 pond which is out of bounds. Patience and scope is mandatory for this beast. A second juvenile bird was photographed along the Hespeler Mill run trail near the roundabout at Beaverdale road. This offers a much closer view of this species but it is a big stretch so patience may be needed here too. Last Tuesday an adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER was a pleasant surprise for a birder located at Hutch's Restaurant. The bird made two passes and was not relocated. Last night however this bird landed on the beach at Confederation Park for a gripping photo opportunity. This is just the start of the season for us in the Hammer, more to come for sure so stay tuned. Windermere Basin is still the hotspot here with good shorebird habitat providing a good variety. Tollgate Pond down the way also has offered shorebird habitat although a little challenging looking along the shoreline. Birds seen at these locations include Black-bellied and Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling (Tollgate), Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Wilson's Phalarope. A non-breeding Bonaparte's Gull has been hanging out at Tollgate Pond. Another shorebird spot in the north of the HSA is where the Yellow-crowned Night Heron is. Ellicott Landing in the old village of Hespeler offers good viewing from the lookout. A Stilt Sandpiper has been here for some time and there is good habitat for birds to drop in. Of interest this week have been two reports of migrating Upland Sandpiper. One occurred just a short time ago near the Fiesta Mall on Highridge Road and the other over a yard in Brantford last Monday. Upland Sandpipers successfully bred at South Grimsby Road 15 and Mud Street up on the mountain. In the odds and sods, the family of Redheads can still be seen at Windermere Basin. A ratty Greater Scaup was present at Tollgate Pond. Merlins seem to be urban birds these days with reports of birds along Mountain Park Drive in Hamilton and near Bronte Harbour. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was heard tooting in an urban location of Guelph this week. A Least Flycatcher was a first of fall migrant in Stoney Creek last weekend. Look for passerine migration to pick up in the next couple of weeks. That's the news for this week, keep your sightings coming. There are goods worth writing about now! 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Yellow-crowned Night Heron not visible, Windermere Basin.
Sorry for the ad-nauseum updates to this bird but as of 10:28 a.m., the bird flew back toward the small pond located off Strathearne which is in the Port Authority property. It likely has gone there to snooze as it did yesterday. Perhaps later in the day will be better for those interested. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Windermere Basin
Just received a text from Kevin McLaughlin that the Yellow-crowned night heron is still at the basin. It was out but now has gone a little into the rushes. It is at this time, paritially in view. Patience and a scope are needed! Windermere Basin is located off Eastport Drive in Hamilton Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Yellow-crowned Night Heron , Windermere Basin Hamilton
The bird found yesterday by Barry Cherriere continues to be seen from the lookout at Windermere Basin. Windermere Basin is off Eastport Drive in Hamilton Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, June 29, 2018
BLACK VULTURE ACADIAN FLYCATCHER FISH CROW American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Redhead Greater Scaup Ruddy Duck Red-necked Grebe Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Merlin Peregrine Falcon Lesser Yellowlegs Semipalmated Sandpiper American Woodcock Bonaparte's Gull Black Tern Snowy Owl Grasshopper Sparrow Orchard Oriole Its been a quiet few weeks but thought I would put an update out so people don't think I've packed it in. This week a BLACK VULTURE has resurfaced with one being seen yesterday over Bayfront Park and eventually circling toward Cootes Paradise with a number of Turkey Vultures. Last week the same or another bird was seen over Valley Inn. ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS seem to have had an influx this year with two being seen/heard in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area in the last two weeks and yesterday one tickling the north of the HSA border calling in the open forest at the intersection of the Bruce trail and the van der klerk side trail north of 17th sideroad east of regional road 25 south on Acton, north of 401. Lastly, FISH CROWS are still around, not as vocal as they once were but yesterday one was seen in the company of three American Crows at Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Another one was seen last week over East Hamilton. Not capitalized but a great bird of note is a lingering/summering Snowy Owl, seen near Windermere Basin and then flying over the highway from Confederation Park on Sunday/Monday. Windermere Basin is always a good place to go in the summer for some variety. The first "fall migrant" shorebirds showed up this past week with a Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpiper dropping in. A Black Tern was a one day wonder on Monday. Other birds noted here were American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron and Bonaparte's Gull. Baby news in the Hamilton Study area includes two Red-necked Grebe chicks at Bronte Harbour and three American Woodcock chicks seen with an adult at Cityview Park in Burlington. There are three Peregrine Chicks at the Sheraton in Hamilton (one was lost to a vehicle hit) and two chicks at the Burlington Lift Bridge. In the odds and sods, Great Egrets seem to be more abundant this year with up to 7 being seen a week and a half ago at the stormwater pond on the North Service Road between Guelph Line and Brant in Hamilton and another good gathering spot at the overflow pond at the West Lincoln Fairgrounds in Smithville. There were 7 seen there on June 18th. Lastly on the Blue Circle Trail at the end of Oak Park Road in Brantford, Grasshopper Sparrows and Orchard Orioles seem to be successfully nesting here in numbers. Take care in this heat this weekend but look out for any southern specialties coming with the southerly flow. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, June 3rd, 2018
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
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, May 19th, 2018
SNOWY EGRET CATTLE EGRET FISH CROW WHITE-EYED VIREO YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER KIRTLAND'S WARBLER YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT DICKCISSEL Northern Shoveler Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup White-winged Scoter Long-tailed Duck Red-breasted Merganser Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Green Heron American Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Solitary Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Short-billed Dowitcher Black-billed Cuckoo Snowy Owl Common Nighthawk Oliver-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Acadian Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Ruby-crowned Kinglet Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Palm Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Rusty Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch Pine Siskin Migration was in its peak this past week in the Hamilton Study Area. A huge wave of migrants arrived mid-week sprinkled with some amazing rarities. To start at the top, a SNOWY EGRET was found last Sunday at Windermere Basin where it stayed for at least two days. Two CATTLE EGRETS were seen at a horse paddock inside the Hamilton Study area in Brant County at Big Creek Stables. They were a one day wonder unfortunately. While looking for the two egrets a consolation prize of a male DICKSISSEL was found working its way around the paddock. FISH CROW sightings were up this week with a loose flock being seen past Bronte two days ago and two birds being seen at Paletta/Shoreacres a short while after. On Wednesday, a fallout of passerine migrants occurred and the woodlots particularly around the edge of the lake. At Sherwood Forest Park in Burlington a WHITE-EYED VIREO was found amongst the many birds there. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was reported at Shell Park mid morning on Thursday but not refound. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was a nice surprise near the River and Ruins Trail along the Bruce Trail in Lowville but was again a one day wonder. The mind blower of the week was a photograph of a male KIRTLAND'S WARBLER seen in a back yard in Brantford on Tuesday, subsequent attempts to relocate even later in the day proved futile. Arrivals this week were counted in a number of locations, Lakeside Park in Mississauga, Sedgewick Park and Bronte Bluffs in Oakville, Sherwood Forest and Paletta/Shoreacres in Burlington, River & Ruins trail (Lowville), Millgrove Loam Pits (Flamborough), Trenholme Park (Hamilton), Sassafrass Point (Hamilton), Joe Sams Park (Waterdown), Edgelake (Stoney Creek) and 40 mile Creek (Grimsby). Migrants reported include Black-billed Cuckoo (Millgrove), Olive-sided Flycatcher (Lowville), Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Shoreacres), Acadian Flycatcher (Lakeside, Edgelake), Willow, Least, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo (Shoreacres), Blue-headed, Warbling, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush (Sherwood), Swainson's Thrush, Tennessee, Orange-crowned (Lowville, Trenholme), Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll (Bronte Bluffs, 40 mile creek) Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler (Edgelake, Lowville), Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's and Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Lincoln's, White-crowned Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Rusty Blackbird (Sherwood Forest), and Baltimore Oriole. Not often seen in spring, Common Nighthawks were seen this week roosting on Patterson Road and one very accommodating bird at Edgelake Park on Thursday. Shorebirds are still in the news with numbers that should be increasing as time goes on. At Windermere Basin, American Golden and Semipalmated Plover, Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers were seen this week. On 5th Road East, a Solitary Sandpiper was seen earlier in the week, Lesser Yellowlegs and a number of Least Sandpipers were seen there two days ago. Yesterday at a flooded area where Haldibrook Road meets Sawmill Road opposite Glancaster Road, a number of Least Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and a few Dunlin were present. Whimbrel should be moving in the next days, a good place to watch from is Saddington Park in Mississauga. In the odds and sods this week, people doing Birdathons might like to know that at Windermere Basin, Northern Shoveler,
[Ontbirds] Snowy Egret - Windermere Basin
Received a text from Barry Cherriere to advise of a Snowy Egret at Windermere Basin. At present the bird has gone up one of the channels and is not visible but it will likely come back out at some point. Windermere Basin is off Eastport Drive in Hamilton. Scope is useful but there should be others out there with one. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, May 13th, 2018
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN BLACK VULTURE WHIP-POOR-WILL WHITE-EYED VIREO SUMMER TANAGER CERULEAN WARBLER Blue-winged Teal Ruffed Grouse Common Loon American Bittern Least Bittern Green Heron Virginia Rail Sora American Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Wilson's Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Snowy Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Willow FLycatcher Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo House Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Veery Swainson's Thrush Wood Thrush Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Palm Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Clay-colored Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White=crowned Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Although the numbers still arent there for migrants, a nice variety of migrants have passed through the area this week. Starting out with birds at the top, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN made a flyover at Cootes Paradise on May 8th but not relocated, should be more to come. Two BLACK VULTURES passed over a yard in Stoney Creek on Friday adding a decent addition to a birders yard list. Hard to say if they were just passing through but they were travelling in a southwest direction and could surface again. Yesterday, a WHIP-POOR-WILL was seen at Edgelake Park and stayed on a log for at least the morning allowing photographs. Another WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard singing behind Mohawk College last Monday. A WHITE-EYED VIREO was found along the trail running through Riverview Park along Bronte Creek on Friday. Unfortunately, the bird was flushed by a mower and could not be relocated. A SUMMER TANGER was seen at Ruthven Park on the 7th and then banded on the 9th. Finally, three CERULEAN Warblers have been reported this week, one on private property in Lowville, a female at Sedgewick Park in Oakville and today one singing on 6th Concession just west of Valens Road today. The woodlots have been a little slow this week probably due to changing weather and cold temperatures. Reported from this week were Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek, Sherwood Forest Park in Oakville, the South Shore of Cootes Paradise the Cartwright Sanctuary, Martin's Road in Ancaster and Trenholme Park in Hamilton. Birds seen in these locations include, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Willow, least and Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Swainson's and Wood Thrush, Golden-winged (Sedgewick), Tennessee, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Bay-breasted (Cartwright), Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded (Trenholme Park/Martin's Road), Wilson's (Edgelake), Canada Warbler (Trenholme Park), Scarlet Tanager, Lincoln's and White-crowned Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Orchard (Cootes Paradise) and Baltimore Oriole. Shorebirds are in the news now as numbers have signficantly increased and every day there seems to be a new variety. A nice find this week was a Wilson's Phalarope at 5th Road East. The bird was seen Thursday and Friday but not yesterday. Other shorebirds found there include Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper (10) and Dunlin. Other spots to check include 8th Line and Green Mountain Road (Pectoral Sandpiper seen here) and a small wet area on Green Mountain between 6th and 8th. Yesterday at Windermere Basin, a basic plumaged American Golden Plover was found, a nice sighting for this area for spring. In addition 50 Dunlin were also present. Bonaparte's Gulls are still lurking about with 11 seen yesterday. The Common and Caspian Tern colonies are developing nicely. Another shorebird spot was at the end of Stoney Creek Road where it meets the Grand River. Semipalmated Plover and Dunlin were present there. In the odds and sods this week, a pair of Blue-winged Teal remain on 5th Road East in the wet area. Across the road from the wet field, Sora and Virginia Rail can be heard calling. Ruffed Grouse were flushed along the Bruce Trail in the Lowville Area. Common Loons continue on their migration with birds seen over Sedgewick and Lowville this week. An American Bittern was present at the Rona Wetland in Waterdown for Sunday and Monday. Least Bittern was heard at Safari Marsh this morning. Marsh Wrens and Virginia Rail were also heard at this
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, May 6th, 2018 (FINALLY!!!)
EARED GREBE AMERICAN AVOCET CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW Ruffed Grouse Common Loon Horned Grebe American Bittern Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Broad-winged Hawk Virginia Rail Sora Common Moorhen Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Upland Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Wilson's Snipe Bonaparte's Gull Forster's Tern Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Wood-Pewee Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Purple Martin House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher American Pipit Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow-warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Scarlet Tanager Clay-colored Sparrow Field Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Rusty Blackbird Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch Pine Siskin It's been a very busy week here in the Hamilton Study Area! Up until 3 hours ago I had no power from Friday due to that horrific wind storm so NO POWER = NO REPORT. Back on track now. This week has seen the best migration so far with a few surprises and a number of migrants trickling/flooding into the Hamilton Study Area. Early in the week an EARED GREBE was reported along the Burlington Lakeshore mixed in with Horned Grebes. The bird was not seen subsequently. Today, much to the delight of a stalwart Windermere Basin birder a group of AMERICAN AVOCETS arrived into the basin for a rest and a feed. About an hour later another 10 joined them. Can't say enough about the beauty of these birds in spring, what a treat. Earlier this morning, a group of 16 were counted flying by Caroll's Point. On Friday before the wind storm in thick fog, a night jar identified as a CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW was flushed and refound sitting on a hill side at Bronte Bluffs in Oakville. The bird sat all day even getting blown off its perch at one point before the tree it was sitting under snapped and got caught in the crux of another at which point the bird moved over three feet. There has been some discussion about this night jar. Chuck-wills-Widow and Whip-poor-will are very similar in alot of ways. Most people don't see them in the field. The field guides, Sibley and Nat Geo (in my opinion) don't justify the complexity of each species and it takes advanced field guides to decipher the differences in size, head shape, tail patterns/coloration and other key features. With this bird, many pictures at different angles, different light, different sitting positions were taken and should be submitted to the OBRC for review. There are those who stand by the original identification and those who differ. Ultimately, it's your list !!! but if you have photos and/or can write a report about the defining features (either way) I encourage you to do so. Photo's can also be submitted to me privately and I will ensure that the OBRC gets them if you are not willing to submit a report. This is why we have a review committee and there are many excellent birders/photographers who can contribute. There are so many arrivals this week it would take a few pages to go over when and where they were seen so I will just summarize best I can. The following locations were reported from this week: Lakeside and Arkendo Park in Mississauga, Bronte Bluffs and Sedgewick in Oakville, Sherwood Forest and Shoreacres in Burlington, Globe Park, Edgelake, Confederation and Hunter Estates in Stoney Creek, Fifty Point Conservation Area and 40 Mile Creek in Grimsby, the RBG Arboretum and the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. Birds seen include Green Heron, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Fifty Point), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sherwood), Eastern Wood-Pewee (Dundas Valley, Sedgewick), Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird (Globe Park, RBG Arboretum), Yellow-throated Vireo (Sherwood), Blue-headed, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, Purple Martin, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Swainson's, Hermit and Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler (Edgelake), Tennessee (Sherwood), Nashville, Northern Parula (Hunter Estates), Yellow, Chestnut-sided (Sedgewick), Magnolia (Edgelake), Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian (50 Point, Sherwood), Pine, Palm, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager (Sherwood), Clay-colored Sparrow (Shoreacres), Field, White-crowned Sparrow,
[Ontbirds] American Avocets Windermere Basin Hamilton
Barry Cherriere has just advised that 20 American Avocets have just flown into Windermere Basin. Windermere Basin is off Eastport Drive in Hamilton Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, April 29th, 2018
FISH CROW PALM WARBLER (YELLOW, EASTERN) Harlequin Duck Ruffed Grouse Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe American Bittern Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Osprey Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Virginia Rail Sora Common Moorhen Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Upland Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Common Tern Snowy Owl Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Brown Creeper House Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Brown Thrasher Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler (Yellow) Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Rusty Blackbirds Purple Finch Pine Siskin. I think we can safely say the word spring now here in the Hamilton Study area. This week has been more productive than the last and according to sources south, the warblers have now reached the upper states and are just a day or two away from getting here so saddle up people. This week our FISH CROW sightings still go on with birds exhibiting nesting and courting behaviour in several locations around the lake. Two crows were seen in courtship behaviour at La Salle Park, birds have been reported around Canada Centre for inland waters, near Walkers Line and Lakeshore in Burlington and one very skulky crow was moving through the forest checking out trees at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Many of these birds called only briefly, I think trying not to draw attention from American Crows who last time we had a nesting scenario raided the nest of the FISH CROW. Nonetheless there are still birds around. A nice find last Sunday was a "Yellow" Palm Warbler which hung out at Bronte Bluffs for the day. New arrivals this week include Sora and Common Moorhen heard along with Virginia Rail in the Safari Road Marsh last Sunday morning. At Kerncliffe Park a lucky individual flushed an American Bittern and managed to capture a photo, another one was seen over a park in Stoney Creek and still another was heard briefly at the marsh at 11th Road East in Saltfleet. Bittern seems to be a tough bird to get in these parts A Black-bellied Plover was a new arrival at the field on 5th Road East just south of Powerline Road. Yesterday up to 21 Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were present here. A Solitary Sandpiper was seen at the flooded field at 8th line and Britannia in North Oakville/Milton. Not far from there a Pectoral Sandpiper was seen with Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs on James Snow Parkway in a flooded field. Spotted Sandpiper and five Dunlin have been present at Windermere Basin all week last being seen yesterday. Upland Sandpipers have returned to their traditional nesting site on South Grimsby Road 15 just south of Mud street. Patience is necessary as they blend into the field and are quite often seen at the field back behind the barn located there. Common Terns are now back at Windermere Basin in force. Blue-headed Vireo, was reported from Sedgewick Park in Oakville, from Bronte Bluffs and from Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek in the last day. Cliff Swallows are new to arrive with birds being seen at Canada Centre for Inland Waters and Windermere Basin. Tree, Northern Rough-winged and Barn Swallows are here in numbers. A Wood Thrush was a welcome sighting at a back yard in Burlington this week. Brown Thrasher and Eastern Towhee numbers sightings grew this week with birds being reported coming into feeders in a few places. Migrants yesterday at Edgelake Park in Stoney Creek include House Wren, Yellow-rumped, Pine, Palm and Black-and-White Warbler. At Sedgewick Park in Oakville, Pine warblers could be heard singing and a Palm Warbler was a new arrival. Pine Warblers were also reported from LaSalle Park in Burlington, from Arkendo in Mississauga and one very bright individual coming into suet on 11th Concession East in Flamborough. A Common Yellowthroat was a new arrival at Shoreacres Park in Burlington a few days ago. A pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were reported from Sedgewick Park in Oakville from a week ago. Ten Rusty Blackbirds were seen and heard at Lakeside Park in Mississauga. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch season at Beamer is winding down with the Broadwings coming through at a steady pace last week. Other raptors include Osprey, Bald Eagle and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Sandhill Cranes seem to be seen with more regularity at this location. In the odds and sods this week, a female Harlequin Duck has returned to the waters just east of the Burlington Ship Canal where it was hanging out with a number of Long-tailed Ducks. Blue-winged Teal were present at the flooded field on 8th Road East just south of Ridge Road yesterday in Saltfleet. Ruffed Grouse
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, April 21, 2018
FISH CROW Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal King Eider Wild Turkey Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe American Bittern Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Virginia Rail Sandhill Crane Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Pectoral Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Bonaparte's Gull Little Gull Caspian Tern Common Tern Forster's Tern Snowy Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Common Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Brown Creeper Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur Rusty Blackbird Pine Siskin What a wild and whacky weather week we have had here in the Hamilton Study Area. High winds, snow, sleet and heavy rain drove birds into unfamiliar places and displaced already nesting birds. There were a few migrants that arrived despite the conditions but I think we have turned the corner and can expect a surge of migrants over the next few days. The weeks notable was another sighting of FISH CROW from Ben Machree Park in Mississauga and from LaSalle Park in Burlington. New arrivals this week include American Bittern seen today at Kortwright Hills Park in Guelph. Great Egrets were reported with great regularity this week. Virginia Rails have returned to traditional spots such as Kerncliffe Park in Burlington and the Rona Wetlands in Waterdown. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are now here comfortably with 7 Greaters and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs seen today on 5th Road East. Three Greater Yellowlegs were seen yesterday at Fairchild Creek on 5th Concession West in Flamborough. Yesterday, 15 Wilson's Snipe were flushed from along the field on 5th Road East, today they were up winnowing. Midweek, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers made a brief stop on Green Mountain Road near 6th Road East. Caspian Terns are here in numbers. Common Terns were noted at Bronte Harbour and in Port Credit and a single Forster's Tern stopped briefly at LaSalle Marina on Thursday. More swallows arrived with a lone Bank Swallow being seen near the Suncor Pier trying to find shelter. Tree, Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallow all saw higher numbers. Purple Martins are checking out their nest houses on 10th Road East at Ridge Road. Woodlot migrants this week reported from various locations include, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Fox Sparrow. An Eastern Towhee was a guest at a yard on Strathcona in Hamilton just after the storm. Vesper Sparrows were seen on 8th Road East, near Fern Hill School in Burlington and today on 11th Road East at Highland. A field Sparrow was happily singing along the Dofasco trail at 10th Road East today. Savannah Sparrows are here in numbers now! A dozen Lapland Longspurs were seen near 11th Road and Highland today. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has had a tough week given weather but the last two days have seen more numbers. Larger numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks are now going through. This week should be the height of the Broad-winged migration. Other raptors seen here include a steady stream of Turkey Vultures as well as a few Northern Harriers, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks. Still in the raptor department a juvenile Northern Goshawk was seen along the Nipegon Trail, which runs just east of Sixth Line, between Upper Middle Road and River Oaks Boulevard in Oakville. In the odds and sods this week, 5 pair of Wood Ducks were seen at a pond on Inksetter Road near Dundas. Three Blue-winged Teal were seen on 5th Road East in the flooded field on Wednesday. Today at the flooded area south of Ridge Road between 8th and 10th Road East, Northern Shoveler and 72 Green-winged Teal were noted. A near adult King Eider was seen from the end of 50 Road this morning, a high powered scope is necessary for the identification. Two Wild Turkeys were seen along the woodlot on 8th Road East on the west side. The bay and points along the lake from Burlington to Mississauga have seen good numbers of Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Pied-billed Grebe and Horned Grebe. With the storm, some of these birds ended up on smaller bodies of water inland and a loon had to be rescued as it was in a place where it would never be able to take off. Many Ospreys have returned to their nesting locations. On Thursday in high winds one was seen carrying a large stick to the cell tower at the Aldershot Go Station. Three Sandhill Cranes cruised along the shore of Stoney Creek this morning. Bonaparte's Gulls and an adult Little Gull were seen at Oakville Harbour during the storm. Snowy Owls continue to be seen although with less regularity. Today
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, April 14th, 2018
WESTERN GREBE FISH CROW Blue-winged Teal Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp=shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Virginia Rail Sandhill Crane Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Wilson's Snipe Little Gull Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Caspian Tern Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Common Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Pipit Eastern Towhee Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur Rose-breasted Grosbeak Eastern Meadowlark Pine Siskin As you can see by the list, despite the wretched weather birds are arriving albeit in small numbers at present. Sometimes you just can't wait. Our notable birds this week started with WESTERN GREBE last Saturday, seen off Saddington Park in Mississauga. This is likely a returning bird as one has been seen yearly at this location for at least 4 or 5 years now. It was however a one day wonder but could be out on the lake. FISH CROWS are in the news again with birds being seen at Bronte Harbour last weekend and on and off through the week. A group of 4 FISH CROWS flew past Canada Centre for Inland Waters mid week. Arrivals this week include Blue-winged Teal (Grass Lake, 10th Road East), American Bittern (Grass Lake), Virginia Rail (one heard on April 8 th Grass Lake and heard since), Great Egrets (multiple locations), Black-crowned Night Herons (Desjardins Canal), Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (10th Road East), Wilson's Snipe (5th Road East, Grass Lake), Caspian Tern (multiple locations), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Grimsby, Eramosa Karst, Sedgewick Park Oakville), Eastern Phoebe (Sedgewick Park Oakville), Purple Martin, Tree and Barn Swallow (see Beamer below), American Pipit (East Hamilton), Golden-crowned Kinglets (Beamer and Sedgewick Park Oakville) Eastern Towhee (5th Road East), Vesper and Savannah Sparrow (Paris Plains Church Road). The two earliest migrant arrivals this week were a House Wren at the Beamer Hawkwatch and a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen 3 km west of Brant rd 22 on Baptist Church Rd on Thursday. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area has had a good couple of days this week. Turkey Vultures continue to travel in numbers but numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks have been seen along with the first Broad-winged Hawks. Other raptors noted this week were Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawk. Non raptor sightings include Common Loons, Great Blue Heron, Sandhill Crane, Bonaparte's Gull, Pileated Woodpecker, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow and a very early House Wren. The west end of the harbour was productive this week for Loons and Grebes with Common and Red-throated Loon, Pied-billed, Horned and Red-necked Grebes being noted from the Leander Boat Club and Bayfront Park last Sunday. Another worthwhile stop in the HSA is Bronte Harbour. Along with Fish Crows this week, an adult Little Gull was present yesterday along with Bonaparte's Gull, a Snowy Owl was still present. A group of Tree and Barn Swallows with a probable Rough-winged Swallow was seen yesterday. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was a nice find last Sunday. In the odds and sods this week, two different Glaucous Gulls were seen, one adult past Canada Centre for Inland Waters and a immature on the Burlington Beach strip. Snowy Owls are still being seen in the area with one at the QEW and Centennial Parkway last night. Another sat on a post on Green Mountain Road at house number 615 on Thursday. A Short-eared Owl was seen hunting the fields earlier in the week on Winston Churchill just north of Lakeshore Road on the border between Oakville and Mississauga. Northern Shrikes were seen in Saltfleet and on the McCormick Trail in the Dundas Valley, keep your eyes open for Loggerheads, it's that time of year! The Common Ravens were putting on a show on 10th Road East coming up over the cliff of the quarry to bath in the culvert. Winter Wren and White-throated Sparrow were likely overwintering birds at Sedgewick. Five White-crowned Sparrows were seen on 10th Road East, these would be likely overwintering birds. Eastern Meadowlarks have returned to Gates of Heaven Cemetery. Finally a group of 150 Lapland Longspurs were present yesterday on Plains Church Road near Paris. If it weren't so windy it would be worth a check for other Longspur species. These winds could provide some interesting birds getting tossed around. Keep those feeders stocked. Spring will be here eventually. Good birding, Cheryl
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, April 14th, 2018
WESTERN GREBE FISH CROW Blue-winged Teal Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp=shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Virginia Rail Sandhill Crane Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Wilson's Snipe Little Gull Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Caspian Tern Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Common Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Pipit Eastern Towhee Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur Rose-breasted Grosbeak Eastern Meadowlark Pine Siskin As you can see by the list, despite the wretched weather birds are arriving albeit in small numbers at present. Sometimes you just can't wait. Our notable birds this week started with WESTERN GREBE last Saturday, seen off Saddington Park in Mississauga. This is likely a returning bird as one has been seen yearly at this location for at least 4 or 5 years now. It was however a one day wonder but could be out on the lake. FISH CROWS are in the news again with birds being seen at Bronte Harbour last weekend and on and off through the week. A group of 4 FISH CROWS flew past Canada Centre for Inland Waters mid week. Arrivals this week include Blue-winged Teal (Grass Lake, 10th Road East), American Bittern (Grass Lake), Virginia Rail (one heard on April 8 th Grass Lake and heard since), Great Egrets (multiple locations), Black-crowned Night Herons (Desjardins Canal), Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (10th Road East), Wilson's Snipe (5th Road East, Grass Lake), Caspian Tern (multiple locations), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Grimsby, Eramosa Karst, Sedgewick Park Oakville), Eastern Phoebe (Sedgewick Park Oakville), Purple Martin, Tree and Barn Swallow (see Beamer below), American Pipit (East Hamilton), Golden-crowned Kinglets (Beamer and Sedgewick Park Oakville) Eastern Towhee (5th Road East), Vesper and Savannah Sparrow (Paris Plains Church Road). The two earliest migrant arrivals this week were a House Wren at the Beamer Hawkwatch and a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen 3 km west of Brant rd 22 on Baptist Church Rd on Thursday. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area has had a good couple of days this week. Turkey Vultures continue to travel in numbers but numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks have been seen along with the first Broad-winged Hawks. Other raptors noted this week were Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawk. Non raptor sightings include Common Loons, Great Blue Heron, Sandhill Crane, Bonaparte's Gull, Pileated Woodpecker, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow and a very early House Wren. The west end of the harbour was productive this week for Loons and Grebes with Common and Red-throated Loon, Pied-billed, Horned and Red-necked Grebes being noted from the Leander Boat Club and Bayfront Park last Sunday. Another worthwhile stop in the HSA is Bronte Harbour. Along with Fish Crows this week, an adult Little Gull was present yesterday along with Bonaparte's Gull, a Snowy Owl was still present. A group of Tree and Barn Swallows with a probable Rough-winged Swallow was seen yesterday. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was a nice find last Sunday. In the odds and sods this week, two different Glaucous Gulls were seen, one adult past Canada Centre for Inland Waters and a immature on the Burlington Beach strip. Snowy Owls are still being seen in the area with one at the QEW and Centennial Parkway last night. Another sat on a post on Green Mountain Road at house number 615 on Thursday. A Short-eared Owl was seen hunting the fields earlier in the week on Winston Churchill just north of Lakeshore Road on the border between Oakville and Mississauga. Northern Shrikes were seen in Saltfleet and on the McCormick Trail in the Dundas Valley, keep your eyes open for Loggerheads, it's that time of year! The Common Ravens were putting on a show on 10th Road East coming up over the cliff of the quarry to bath in the culvert. Winter Wren and White-throated Sparrow were likely overwintering birds at Sedgewick. Five White-crowned Sparrows were seen on 10th Road East, these would be likely overwintering birds. Eastern Meadowlarks have returned to Gates of Heaven Cemetery. Finally a group of 150 Lapland Longspurs were present yesterday on Plains Church Road near Paris. If it weren't so windy it would be worth a check for other Longspur species. These winds could provide some interesting birds getting tossed around. Keep those feeders stocked. Spring will be here eventually. Good birding, Cheryl
[Ontbirds] Recall: Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, April 1st, 2018
Cheryl Edgecombe would like to recall the message, "Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, April 1st, 2018". --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, April 1st, 2018
BLACK VULTURE Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Snow Goose x Ross's Goose Blue-winged Teal Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk Sandhill Crane Killdeer American Woodcock Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Northern Flicker Northern Shrike Tree Swallow Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin Spring sure could get here a little faster in my opinion. Slowly early migrants are starting to creep in but cold temperatures and the wrong winds are not helping the cause. Nonetheless, we soldier on with the sightings. This week another BLACK VULTURE was seen over the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, its been a banner year for sightings of this species perhaps indicating their movement into the province permanently. Also seen and heard this week was another FISH CROW, this time in East Hamilton at Edinburgh and Park Road. There has not been much movement in the way of migrants this week. Two Blue-winged Teal were a good find yesterday on Green Mountain Road and 6th Road East. Numbers of Red-necked Grebes were at around 50 on Tuesday out near Saddington Park, time for that Western to show up again. Reports of migrating Great Blue Herons have come in from several locations. Northern Flicker numbers seem to be more numerous with birds coming into feeders near Brantford and a pair seen up on 5th Road East. American Woodcock continue to move in or be active in the area, with birds heard peenting on King Road on a warmer Tuesday night last week. Perhaps the best spring migrant we have had all week was a lone Tree Swallow seen yesterday over the south pasture swamp pond in the Hendrie Valley. Two Purple Finch were heard singing in the Beverly Swamp yesterday, first reports of these in some time and Rusty Blackbirds are being reported now amongst the blackbird flocks in the area. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has had some moderately successful days this week with mostly Turkey Vultures floating through but also a good number of Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks. Other birds in smaller numbers include Blad Eagle, Sharp-shinned and Rough-legged Hawk. Other notables over the watch include a number of migrating Sandhill Cranes, Killdeer and Common Raven. In the odds and sods, just out of the area, Greater White-fronted Geese and Snow Geese have been reported a couple of times this past week at Townsend Sewage Lagoons. What looks to be a Ross x Cackling Goose was also there for a short time. A Ross x Snow Goose combination was seen in a group of Canada Geese on Lynden Road just north of 4th Concession Road West in Flamborough last Saturday. Red-necked Grebes are back calling at Bronte Harbour. Grass Lake near Glen Morris is the place to go for Sandhill Cranes that are on the ground. Two were seen right at Grass Lake with another 4 seen on West River Road South. Three Sandhill Cranes were seen circling around 5th Road East and Green Mountain on Saturday. A dozen Sandhill Cranes were a nice sighting on east side of the Mount Hope Bypass, feeding in the field bordering the road. A Glaucous Gull has been seen periodically from Canada Centre for Inland Waters along with a Snowy Owl sitting out on the docks. Snowy Owl sightings continue in the area with one heavily barred individual at Millen Road and another couple of sightings near 50 Road and the QEW and the Costco Plaza near Casablanca Road. Northern Shrikes were seen on 10th Road East in Saltfleet and on Valens Road south of Concession 8 in Flamborough. Common Raven sightings continue to grow with two birds setting up shop again on Valens Road south of Concession 8. A Tufted Titmouse was seen in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area this week. Overwintering Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen near McMaster University and at Sedgewick this week. Eastern Meadowlarks seem to feel its spring with two singing on 10th Road East. A flock of about 25 Lapland Longspurs were seen last Saturday on Paris Plains Church Road. Pine Siskins seem to be everywhere, likely on the move north but reported in several locations in Dundas Valley and Flamborough. That's the news for this week. Think warm. We need some south winds to get things going again. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, March 24th, 208
BLACK VULTURE FISH CROW Ross's Goose Tundra Swan King Eider Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle Sandhill Crane Killdeer Iceland Gull Snowy Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Lapland Longspur Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Pine Siskin It's been relatively quiet here in the Hamilton Study Area but this coming week warmer temperatures and south winds should get the party started. That said however, the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has had some good results with an influx of BLACK VULTURES this week, two being seen on March 22 and three on March 23rd. Hard to tell if these are any of the same birds but this is a record number for the watch already. Other raptor migrants this week include Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, an ample supply of Red-shouldered Hawks and many Red-tailed Hawks including a dark morph yesterday. The week before a couple of Golden Eagles made their passage through. On the non-raptor side, counters have noted Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer and Common Ravens. Our other rarity of the week seems to return to the same location every year with a FISH CROW being seen down near Bronte Harbour yesterday. The coming days should be good for additional birds or for scouting out the one with the funny call. In the odds and sods, a Ross's Goose was noted at Hespeler Mill Pond yesterday. A small flock of Tundra Swans flew over Breadlebane Ave in Hamilton on Tuesday. A King Eider was still being seen off Green Road. A Horned Grebe in breeding plumage was seen from LaSalle Marina yesterday. An early report of an Osprey came from two sources, both from the high level bridge in Hamilton. A Sandhill Crane was heard over the Merrick Orchard in the Dundas Valley yesterday. Birds have returned to Glen Morris as well. Snowy Owl reports came from Bronte Harbour and up in Milton. A Northern Shrike was seen at Cityview Park in Burlington yesterday, soon time to consider both shrikes in migration. Common Ravens have been seen at the Brant Street and 403 junction where a nest has been found on the hydro towers. Another pair appears to be nesting in the Vinemount Quarry up on 10th road east. A Tufted Titmouse was seen at Puslinch Lake. A group of 30 Lapland Longspurs were seen on Plains Church Road just north of Paris, they were seen at this location last year. Earlier in the week with cold temperatures it seemed as if things were reversing a bit with large flocks of blackbirds heading south. A group of Rusty Blackbirds and an Eastern Meadowlark were seen over Stoney Creek, hopefully they have returned. That's it for now, this week has promise. Please send your sightings along 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Confusion over roads at Barnacle goose
The correct address that google will pick up is 6665 19th sideroad schomberg. Sorry for the confusion it is a difficult intersection to figure out. Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Further info on barnacle goose
The road changes at this intersection where the goose is. The physical address on the house number is 6665 little rebel road It's a large house on a hill. Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Barnacle Goose relocated
The goose is in a flock on a lawn across fromNo 16 19th sideroad , south west of the Trisan centre. It is on private property. Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Barnacle Goose still present schomberg
Being seen now off the viewing deck at the Trisan Centre in schomberg. Roads are slick drive carefully! Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding report - Sunday, March 4th, 2018
On Sunday, March 4th, 2018, this is the HNC Birding Report: TUFTED DUCK BLACK VULTURE Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Canvasback x Redhead King Eider Harlequin Duck Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Killdeer American Woodcock Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird March came in a like a lion a couple of days ago but prior to this, many migrants flooded into the Hamilton Study Area starting the first spring push which was refreshingly welcome. Up at the top of the list, our TUFTED DUCK made another brief appearance off the platform at Windermere Basin last Sunday but has not been seen since. A BLACK VULTURE first reported on e-bird last week was refound down at the edge of the Hamilton Study Area just south of Smithville in a group of Turkey Vultures. It is likely this bird is still around. A good place to start looking is along Port Davidson Road. Perhaps the most spectacular sight of the week were the thousands of Tundra Swans reported on Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the area. This is always one of my favourites of the spring to hear them first and then see the massive flocks moving through. Geese were on the move and there were various sites to see them. Bronte Harbour had another immature (possible hybrid) Ross's Goose. Another Ross's goose was seen at the Great Lakes Stormwater Pond. In Salfleet, there were a few reports of Snow Geese around, a good number of Cackling Geese reported (most of them at 5th Road East and Powerline Road) and at least three small flocks of Greater-white fronted Geese. Canada Geese were numerous in the fields in Saltfleet and up in Flamborough across from Flamborough Downs. Along with the geese in these locations were Wood Duck, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Gadwall and Northern Pintail. Other migrants this week include Killdeer, now seen in a number of locations. Double-crested Cormorants, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls arrived in numbers last week. American Woodcock are being found in the traditional areas (Hopkins Tract, Bronte Campground East). Double Crested Cormorants are moving back into the nesting areas in the harbour along with hundreds of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Rusty Blackbirds were seen at the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. Large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbirds are being seen at various locations. An Eastern Meadowlark was singing up on 10th Road East yesterday. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has started at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby. This week migrants coming through include, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk. Other migrants seen here this week include, Killdeer, Rusty Blackbirds along with flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. On Wednesday a group of 10 Bald Eagles were seen over the 403 near Waterdown Road. A Red-shouldered Hawk was a likely migrant over Bronte-creek Provincial Park, yesterday. Last Sunday a number of Red-tailed Hawks were moving through south of Smithville. In the odds and sods, a group of 16 King Eiders were seen from Gray's Road. This group was first found mid-week, a good number for this time of year mostly young males and moreso female type birds. The Harlequin duck seems to have moved from the Hamilton Beach Canal to Gray's Road where it has been seen as of yesterday. The Canvasback x Redhead Hybrid was back again at LaSalle Marina. Four Red-throated Loons and Horned Grebes were seen from LaSalle Marina yesterday. A Red-necked Grebe was an arrival down at Bronte Harbour. Two Bald Eagles have been seen a few times near the stormwater ponds on the 407, perhaps a nesting situation. A first year Glaucous Gull was seen on the harbour from Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Snowy Owls are still being seen, with birds reported in Milton, along the QEW Niagara corridor and at Bronte Harbour. Up on 10th Road East, up to 6 Short-eared Owls are still present. Northern Shrike reports came from 10th Road east and from the parking lot at Bronte Creek Provincial Park on the east side. Common Ravens are nesting in the quarry on 10th Road East. A Yellow-rumped Warbler is still hanging in at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Pine Siskins are still being reported at feeders. During these changing weather conditions its good to have the feeders stocked. It seems like we have turned the corner and are on our way to spring. Keep your sightings coming. Good Birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
[Ontbirds] Tufted Duck, Windermere Basin Hamilton
Barry Cherriere called to advise that the Tufted Duck is sitting just left of the viewing platform at Windermere Basin now. Quite close. Windermere Basin is located off Eastport Drive in Hamilton Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, Feburary 23rd, 2018
TUFTED DUCK YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon American Black Duck Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Canvasback Greater Scaup King Eider Harlequin Duck Common x Barrow's Goldeneye Red-throated Loon Common Loon Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Merlin Killdeer American Woodcock Snowy Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Eastern Bluebird Lapland Longspur Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Pine Siskin Alas spring is finally in the air or at least hope of spring. Warmer temperatures have brought in migrating waterfowl, Killdeer, American Woodcock and Blackbirds. Let's start at the top though. The TUFTED DUCK that has been around for the last couple of weeks was last seen at Windermere Basin last Saturday with no reports since. It is likely still in the area but with the Hamilton Harbour opening up to ice, it could be tricky to find but large flocks of Greater Scaup are a good place to start. A surprise sighting two days ago was of a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD on the very edge of the HSA near Smithville. The bird was photographed at 2060 Port Davidson Road, about 3 km south of Smithville. A search yesterday did not relocate the bird. The warm weather has brought in a boat load of waterfowl. As of this evening, 11 Greater White-fronted Geese were seen on 8th Road East at dusk along with 18 Cackling Geese seen on 5th Road East. Other waterfowl seen up here in Saltfleet include, Snow Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Black Duck, Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal and in the odd department a pair of Common Goldeneye. Tundra Swans have also started to move with 17 being seen on Glancaster Road just south of Fiddler's Green. I expect more will move over the weekend as fields south of here are reporting large flocks of Tundra's. A single Killdeer was seen on Wyecroft Road in Oakville. Last night, probably one of the earliest records on file of American Woodcock was reported from the traditional site on York Road (Hopkins Tract). Large groups of blackbirds including Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbirds came in on Tuesday but have since receded a bit. In the odds and sods this week, a Ross's Goose and 2 Snow Geese were seen at Bronte Harbour. Another Snow Goose was seen up near Milton on James Snow parkway between Louis St Laurent and Britannia. A good sized group of Canvasbacks were seen off Bayshore Park in Burlington, there have been very few reports this winter so likely migrants. King Eider has been seen along the west end of the lake and one was nicely photographed at 40 mile Creek in Grimsby. The female Harlequin duck continues to be seen west of the Burlington side of the Ship Canal where it has been for some weeks. The Common x Barrow's Goldeneye continues to hang out near Confederation Park. A truly significant number of Red-throated Loons (11) and Common Loons (2) were seen off LaSalle Marina last Sunday. A Turkey Vulture was seen near Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Out on the Hamilton Harbour, any floating island of ice seems to have a Bald Eagle on it. A Merlin was seen terrorizing starlings at Elfrida. Snowy Owls are still in the area with birds being seen in the Saltfleet area and three down in the vicinity of Bronte Harbour and the Suncor Pier in Oakville. Northern Shrikes were reported from Peter's Corners in Flamborough, on Green Mountain and Sixth Road East and on 10th Road East in Saltfleet. Common Ravens are likely nesters in the quarry on 10th Road East. Eastern Bluebirds are actively checking out boxes near Sawmill Road in Ancaster. A Fox Sparrow is frequenting a feeder in the same location with a group of White-crowned Sparrows. Lapland Longspurs are on the move, several smaller flocks were seen along the lakeshore with the warm weather. Pine Siskins are also on the move with a large flock of over 100 seen near 11 Concession East in Flamborough, several other flocks have been reported throughout the area including Dundas Valley. Look for a change in the landscape as temperatures rise this weekend. Get out and check the flooded fields around the area and your local patch. Eurasian Wigeon and Yellow-headed Blackbird are reachable goals. Report your sightings here. Good birding, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, January 27th, 2018
ROSS'S GOOSE TUFTED DUCK HARLEQUIN DUCK Greater Scaup King Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Common Loon Turkey Vulture Iceland Gull Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Common Raven American Pipit Yellow-rumped Warbler White-crowned Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Pine Siskin This past two weeks has been relatively quiet here in the Hamilton Study Area. The days are getting longer and there are some injections of warmer temperatures moving birds around so it's still a good time to get out and see what's new. This week's highlights include two ROSS'S GEESE that were seen last Saturday on Oakes Road in Grimsby. There was some discussion about a few characteristics of hybridism in the two birds but for the most part they are a decent enough percentage to be deemed ROSS'S GEESE. It was an interesting study and experts in the province say that there are fewer and fewer pure ROSS'S in the province each year due to interbreeding with Snow Goose. A highlight yesterday was a TUFTED DUCK in the beach canal on the harbour side. This duck appears to have more of a tuft than the one in Mississauga but it could be that moult has had a factor in the size of the tuft of the Mississauga bird over the past couple of weeks. Nonetheless, one or two birds, both good finds. It flew off from this location but is likely still on the bay somewhere. Perhaps it will return today to the same location. The harbour side of the beach canal can now be accessed from the Hamilton side of the Lift Bridge. While there on the Burlington side of the lift bridge the female Harlequin duck continues to be seen as of yesterday. Parking to see this bird is on the Burlington side of the lift bridge on Lakeshore Road just before the bend in the road that will take you under the skyway. The bird has been hanging tight in the cove near the north side of the pier but quite often can't be seen from the pier. Access to the lakeshore trail will give different views. To continue on our theme of ducks, King Eiders have been seen at various locations along the west end of the lake. Last weekend four females and a young male were present at Green Road. Mid-week, one female was seen from Sayer's Park in Stoney Creek. All three scoter species are also present at various access points. In the odds and sods this week a Common Loon flew over Canada Centre for Inland Waters. There had been one off the Burlington side of the lift bridge. A Turkey Vulture was a hopeful sighting of warmer times flying over downtown Burlington on Thursday. A first cycle Iceland Gull and an adult Iceland Gull have been hanging around the Burlington Beach this week. The adult Iceland Gull was sitting further down yesterday from where it was first seen near the first lot that can be accessed on Lakeshore Road by Joseph Brant Hospital. There was another count of 27 Bald Eagles that came from the rapidly disappearing ice on the bay side of the Hamilton Harbour. Snowy Owls continue to be present in the area. One was seen on the ice off the pier where the Tufted Duck was seen yesterday. Short-eared Owls continue to fly at dusk on 10th Road East near the tracks between Ridge Road and Green Mountain Road. Two Northern Shrikes were present in this vicinity last weekend as well an Eastern Meadowlark was heard calling on 11th Road East. A Pileated Woodpecker was a nice surprise at Iroquois C.A. this week. Common Raven sightings continue to increase in the area with birds starting to set up shop for nesting, this week seen over Cootes Paradise and last week a pair seen over the Hamilton Harbour. A nice winter bird for listers is an American Pipit still present as of yesterday at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. A Yellow-rumped Warbler has also been seen here. White-crowned Sparrows seem more plentiful than White-throated Sparrows with birds this week being reported from two locations in Ancaster. Pine Siskins still moving about in various location, keep those feeders stocked. That's the news for this week, will post updates of the TUFTED DUCK as I get them today. Good Birding, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, January 13th, 2018
ROSS'S GOOSE KILLDEER Tundra Swan Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Harlequin Duck Ruffed Grouse Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Merlin Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Shrike Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush White-crowned Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Pine Siskin Common Redpoll There weren't too much in the way of rarities these past couple of weeks. Two ROSS'S GEESE were photographed a week ago Friday in the Stoney Creek Area but not since. Wild and wacky weather this week brought in early spring migrants who have likely turned around and high tailed it out of here again. On Thursday during the warm spell a KILLDEER was seen up in Saltfleet and two groups of Northern Pintail were seen, one at LaSalle and another group on 8th Road East in Saltfleet. A Tundra Swan was seen from the beach canal toward the Burlington Lakeshore. Unusual this time of year but it's happened before. As is always the case here, the western end of Lake Ontario is good for a variety of ducks but over the past two weeks, the bay has been frozen and even the shores along the lake edge were starting to freeze. A nice find this past week was a female Harlequin Duck which was seen again today on the Hamilton side of the lift bridge on the lake side. Two Pied-billed Grebes were in the Red Hill Outlet last week along with a Green-winged Teal. Only one Pied-billed Grebe was seen today. A Horned Grebe was diving close to shore on Thursday near the ship canal on the Hamilton Side. A Red-necked Grebe was seen on the Winter Waterfowl Census but location is unknown at this time. One interesting note about the bay being frozen, along with both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls a total of 27 Bald Eagles were sitting on the ice this past week. In the odds and sods, an unusual sighting of a Ruffed Grouse came from North Burlington where one was photographed coming to a feeder. Three Great Blue Herons were seen looking fairly miserable in the Red Hill Creek Outlet off Eastport Drive. A lone Turkey Vulture seems to be hanging out at the 403 near Garden Ave. There seem to be a number of wintering Merlins around this year with reports from Oakville, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and one seen near the Steam Museum in Hamilton. Snowy Owl reports are still coming in with birds reported along the QEW Niagara corridor, at Tollgate Pond and Bronte Harbour. A Snowy Owl was seen today at an odd location on a chimney at Ottawa and Cannon. Up to 6 Short-eared Owls have been seen on 10th Road East between Ridge and Green Mountain Road, flying at dusk near the railway tracks. Four Eastern Bluebirds and a Northern Shrike were also birds seen in this area. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker continues along the trail at Spencer Creek which goes into the McMaster University property. A Hermit Thrush was seen at Merrick Orchard in the Dundas Valley on the 5th. A great find last week was a flock of 4 Eastern Meadowlarks on Onondaga Townline just south of Baptist Church road. A White-crowned Sparrow was also coming into the side of the road here. A group of 15 Pine Siskins visited a backyard in Dundas today. Nearby in the Dundas Valley, more Pine Siskins along with one Common Redpoll were seen. That's the news for this week, don't give up on birding! The weather is supposed to warm up this week. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Sunday, December 17th, 2017
TUFTED DUCK NORTHERN GANNET GYRFALCON BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE NASHVILLE WARBLER YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) BALTIMORE ORIOLE Snow Goose Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Redhead Greater Scaup King Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Horned Grebe Turkey Vulture Golden Eagle Merlin Sandhill Crane Killdeer Snowy Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Horned Lark Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Brown Thrasher Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) White-throated Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Fox Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Evening Grosbeak It may be cold outside but the action is hot here in the Hamilton Study Area for winter birding. Let's start at the top. Yesterday on the Peel Christmas Bird Count a keen eye picked out a TUFTED DUCK in a sea of Greater Scaup just off the Lorne Park Estates in Mississauga. The group eventually moved down to Ben Machree Park and then were flushed by two Great Black-backed Gulls. The TUFTED DUCK eventually settled just outside the HSA at the end of Elmwood Drive but this morning returned to Ben Machree Park where it has spent the day. The NORTHERN GANNET made another appearance last weekend as it cruised the shoreline of Lake Ontario, being seen anywhere from Grimsby to Burlington. It also visited Hamilton Harbour briefly. It has not been reported since last weekend but could still be around. On Thursday, a dark GYRFALCON was seen terrorizing Rock Pigeons in the Southdown Road/QEW area. It was seen a few times in the afternoon but has not been seen since. Last Wednesday, a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE made a flypast at Canada Centre for Inland Waters where it continued in a southerly direction. This bird could still be on the lake. Two were photographed in the water at Hutches Restaurant around the first of the month. Sedgewick Park in Oakville continues to be a hotspot although the number of birds seem to be dropping and there is a chance that some have perished in this cold. Seen this week were the two NASHVILLE WARBLERS, AUDUBON'S YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET along with Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, and White-throated Sparrows Lastly, on December 2nd a BALTIMORE ORIOLE was still present along the trail at Bayfront Park. Any further updates on this bird would be appreciated. The Hamilton Study area is always a great place for a variety of waterfowl this time of year. A Snow Goose made a brief visit to LaSalle Park and then scooted over to Bayfront Park for a visit. Up to 12 Cackling Geese were seen at Bronte Harbour on Thursday. A group of Tundra Swans moving through were seen over downtown Hamilton last Monday. Two male Wood Ducks are among the masses of ducks at LaSalle Marina. Waterfowl seen while looking for the TUFTED DUCK at Ben Machree Park included American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler and Redhead. A second year male King Eider was seen off Fifty Point on December 9th. All three scoter species can be seen peppered along the west end of the lake. A Horned Grebe was also seen briefly off Fifty Point. In the odds and sods this week a Turkey Vulture was seen over Mowhawk Road at the 403. There is usually a winter roost somewhere out in the this area. If you find it, let us know where it's at. A couple of interesting sightings of adult Golden Eagle came from Weir's Lane in the Dundas Valley and from Concession 4 west and Highway 6. A Merlin has set up winter territory again in the Strathcona neighbourhood of Hamilton at Peter and Napier. Two Sandhill Crane were seen up near Scotch Block which is at the northeast extremity of the Hamilton Study Area. A Killdeer was a good one day wonder down at Bronte Beach on Wednesday. Snowy Owl reports continue with birds being seen on the ramp to the Red Hill Expressway, on Eastport Drive and on the rocks at Van Wagner's Beach. Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are present at a feeder in Ancaster. Northern Flicker and Pileated Woodpecker were two unexpected species on the Dofasco trail west of 8th Road East in Saltfleet. Northern Shrikes are slowly moving into the area with birds seen out near Ben Machree Park and in Waterdown this week. Common Raven was also heard near Ben Machree Park. Tufted Titmice were seen near the Hermitage in the Dundas Valley. A good spot for a winter visit is Fallsview Road in Flamborough. Here today were Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and four Lapland Longspurs. A Brown Thrasher has been reported a few times from Preservation Park in Guelph. A Fox Sparrow was an unexpected guest at a feeder in South Burlington today, keep those feeders stocked. A single Red-winged Blackbird was feeding at the Guelph Arboretum and a dozen or so were seen mid-week at a feeder near Burloak and Upper Middle in Burlington. A Common
[Ontbirds] Tufted Duck still being seen from Elmwood Drive, Mississauga
Luc Fazio called to say they are still looking at the Tufted duck, seen with a scope looking east from the south end of Elmwood Drive which is east of Hurontario. Its diving quite a bit. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Tufted Duck Refound, east of Hurontario
Nancy McPherson has relocated the Tufted Duck in a group of Scaup viewed from the end of Elwood Drive, at a Parkette called Tall Oaks Park. Posting just in case Garth Riley's post didn't come through the Ontbirds listserve. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Tufted Duck, Ben Machree Park, Mississauga
This morning around 11 a.m. Luc Fazio found a Tufted Duck while doing the South Peel Christmas Count . At this time, the bird was only being seen off Lorne Park Estates which is a gated community and private property. The bird was re found off Ben Machree Park in a raft of three hundred or so scaup and then was flushed by two Great Black-backed Gulls which put the whole flock up seconds after finding it. The scaup eventually settled back into the same location which was just west of Ben Machree. You can walk along the shore at the lake. There is also an access to the Rhododendron Gardens down Godfrey Lane that will take you to this location. Take QEW to Royal Windsor Drive, Royal Windsor will turn into Lakeshore Road after Ford Drive. Continue down Lakeshore Road to just past the Rhododendron Gardens (well east of Southdown Road and west of Mississauga Road). You can access Ben Machree Park form Godfrey Lane which is on the east side of the Gardens where it meets the lake. Walk along the shoreline to the west and the scaup were in the bay there. https://www.bing.com/search?q=ben+Machree+Park,+Mississauga=IE10TR= IE10TR=EUPP_HPDTDFJS Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Northern Gannet is back
Richard Poort just called to advise that he just had the Northern Gannet fly past him at Hutches, heading toward the Lift Bridge. Just wanted to let people know that its still in the area. Good Winter Bird! Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report Saturday, December 2nd, 2017
PACIFIC LOON NORTHERN GANNET BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE WHITE-EYED VIREO RED-EYED VIREO BLUE-HEADED VIREO RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET NASHVILLE WARBLER YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) PALM WARBLER BALTIMORE ORIOLE Ross's Goose Canada Goose Cackling Goose Cackling x Greater White-fronted Goose Wood Duck King Eider Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Snowy Owl Winter Wren Hermit Thrush American Pipit Pine Siskin There is alot to talk about in the Hamilton Study Area now that winter listing season is here. Let's get to our rarities first though. Last weekend and again yesterday and today a PACIFIC LOON was seen well from Beachway Park in Burlington. This particular individual seen yesterday was a juvenile but there is a possibility that another bird may be present at this end of the lake. The NORTHERN GANNET was last seen on Monday in Hamilton Harbour invited to a feeding frenzy there. Today a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen on the water with some gulls in front of Hutches Restaurant at VanWagners Beach around 2:30 today. The WHITE-EYED VIREO seen for some days this week, made its exit with the RED-EYED VIREO, both were last seen on Wednesday at Shoreacres/Paletta Park in Burlington. Although not yet a separate species, a nice surprise for this birder was the discovery of an AUDUBON'S YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, seen around the sewage tanks with a group of Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers at our favourite winter warbler spot Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Comments welcome privately on this bird, most I have received deem it a pure Audubons but on the fence about being a hatch year male or female. Now that its December winter listing has started for some and there are some choice birds for the taking for winter listers here. Besides the birds mentioned above, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, NASHVILLE AND PALM WARBLER are all present at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was reported last Tuesday and could resurface once temperatures drop mid-week. Another great winter bird is a BALTIMORE ORIOLE seen along the waterfront trail accessed at Bayfront Park. The bird has been hanging around the 1600 m mark. Other notable winter birds include a male Wood Duck at LaSalle Park in Burlington, a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron seen yesterday along the creek at Shoreacres/Paletta Park, a Winter Wren was singing at Shoreacres today, Hermit Thrush, one in Sedgewick Park and three in Hyde Tract in Flamborough and a group of three American Pipits seen in McMaster Forest today. In the odds and sods, geese are in the news. A selection of goose species has been seen at the Hagersville Quarry Ponds with Ross's, Snow, Cackling and a Hybrid (Cackling x White-front) present there mid week. Two Blue-morph Snow Geese were seen at the pond just east of William Dam Seeds on old Highway 8 west of Greensville. Other Snow Geese were seen near Hwy #8 and Glover rd in Stoney Creek and on Shellard rd just south of old Beverly rd. A female King Eider was seen at the end of Green Road yesterday. In addition to the PACIFIC LOON, Red-throated and Common Loons still seem to be around. Snowy Owls are still very much in the news with birds seen on the QEW at Casablanca, two seen at QEW and 50 Road, one seen at Burlington St, one on the berm at Tollgate Pond today, two at Canada Centre for Inland Waters on Thursday and one at the end of the Burlington Pier. Although most have moved through, a single Pine Siskin has been hanging with the American Goldfinches at Shoreacres/Paletta in Burlington. We are doing a Hamilton Winter Bird List for this season here in the Hammer. Kindly email in your sightings here so we can put them on the list to see how our winter fares. Happy Winter Listing, 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, Novmeber 25, 2017
PACIFIC LOON NORTHERN GANNET RED PHALAROPE RED-EYED VIREO FISH CROW RUBY-CROWNED KNGLET TENNESSEE WARBLER PALM WARBLER BALTIMORE ORIOLE King Eider Common x Barrow's Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Common Loon Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Sandhill Crane Glaucous Gull Iceland Gull Snowy Owl Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Siskin Well it's been a busy week here in the Hammer. The list looks a little different this week as I adapt it for the Winter Listers to also highlight rarer date species that people may want to include on the winter list. The Winter listing period goes from Dec 1st to Feb 28th. It get's people out when it's cold, helps with finding rarities for the CBC's and is fun to try even just once. Let's start with the rarities though. On Monday, a NORTHERN GANNET was first spotted at Fifty Point Conservation Area and then moved down the shoreline spending most of its time that day off Confederation Park. Since then it seems to have settled into various feeding frenzies off Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, occasionally taking a fly down to Lakeland Centre and yesterday a fly over to the Hamilton Harbour. For the most part, it can be seen resting with the Red-breasted Mergansers and Gulls out on the water. It was present yesterday, I expect it will be around again today. While out looking for the Gannet, a PACIFIC LOON was spotted first on Monday off the Burlington pier at a great distance. Observers in following days were able to see it from the Beachway Park in Burlington and from Spencer Smith Park. It was loosely associating with Common and Red-throated Loons as a good comparison. FISH CROWS are in the news again as two of them were being chased by three American Crows over Waterdown on Tuesday. Keep your ears open these birds were all calling giving the id. Another interesting sight over Waterdown later in the week was a group of 8 Common Ravens soaring around, a good number for this species. Yesterday two phalaropes (I'm presuming RED PHALAROPE) were seen near the pier in Oakville, getting up off the water and flying east. Good date for this species. The other highlighted rarities are what I would consider good WINTER BIRDS. Whether they hang around or not would be another thing but the temps are supposed to be warm this week. Of course, the hope is that they will migrate and find a safe haven over the winter. Some have successfully overwintered here. A RED-EYED VIREO was an unexpected surprise on Wednesday, working its way around the tanks at the famous winter haven Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Along with this bird, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, PALM WARBLER and a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen. The Vireo was not present yesterday but it was warmer and probably went further afield as there were many insects flying around. A TENNESSEE WARBLER was seen at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area yesterday at Merrick Orchard along with another RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. Lastly a BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen again along the Bayfront Trail at indicator 1600 m on the trail. Through the week any updates to these birds would be greatly appreciated. Last Sunday saw a final push of raptors migrating through the area. Species noted include Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and many Red-tailed Hawks. Also on a push this week were Sandhill Cranes. They seem to fly through the Dundas Valley area with a few flocks being noted early in the week, expect more to come once the weather turns cold again. The Snowy Owl phenomenon is still on. Up to four were seen on the Suncor Pier in Oakville on Thursday. Tollgate Pond had 5 last Saturday and there have been various reports of birds along the water including birds sitting on the pier at the lift bridge. Another one sadly met its demise along Eastport. These birds are young birds who don't know traffic and people so be cautious driving at night in this area. In the odds and sods, a female King Eider has been hanging out at the Burlington Canal in the raft of ducks pooled there. The Common x Barrow's Goldeneye was seen with a female Common Goldeneye between Confederation and Nash Road on Thursday. Turkey Vultures were reported in several locations. At this time of year they may be moving through or may be joining the regular wintering bunch that we always seem to get in the Brantford area. Bald Eagles seen over Cootes Paradise could be the locals hunting. They seem to become more visible this time of year. A Glaucous Gull was a fixture on the breakwall a couple of days this week at Canada Centre for Inland Waters. An Iceland Gull was seen out flying with the frenzy on Tuesday. Lastly, Pine Siskins still seem to be moving with several reported from the Dundas Valley yesterday. That's the news for this week. As the week progresses, please send your sightings along so I
[Ontbirds] Northern Gannet is back - Burlington Life Bridge
David Pryor is looking at the Northern Gannet fllying around in a feeding frenzy off the parking lot on south side of the Burlington Lift Bridge Directions: Take the QEW to Eastport Drive and over the lift bridge and park in the lot. I am sure that there are other points of view along there. Cheryl --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] northern Gannet, van wagners beach
Seen now from the Lakeland centre in van wagners beach road it is diving off confederation park. Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, November 18th, 2017
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE WHITE-EYED VIREO NORTHERN PARULA BALTIMORE ORIOLE Greater White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose Cackling Goose King Eider Horned Grebe Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle Killdeer Sanderling White-rumped Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Dunlin Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Common Raven Marsh Wren Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow It's been a quiet two weeks here but there are still birds about but I expect that as this weather moves in and brings snow up north that there may be some shift in the birds as we have seen this week with Snowy Owls. Let's start at the top. Last weekend east winds on the lake brought in an immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE on Saturday and Sunday. Other interesting birds seen there were Iceland and Glaucous Gull. Another immature Glaucous gull was seen at 40 mile creek. Today a WHITE-EYED VIREO was found in the tangles southeast of the tanks at the Water Treatment Plant located at Arkendo in Oakville. The bird was seen briefly but was not able to be located. West of here at Sedgewick Park in Oakville a NORTHERN PARULA was present a week ago Friday along with four Yellow-rumped Warblers. A pleasant surprise was a BALTIMORE ORIOLE found eating berries along the trail where the Black-throated Gray Warbler was seen a few years ago at Bayfront Park. Another late bird was a Marsh Wren seen the week before last along the VanWagners Pond trail. Winter listers will be interested in these lingering birds as December 1st comes closer so please send along your sightings. The big story of the week has been the large eruption of Snowy Owls. Today, five were seen at Tollgate Pond off Eastport Drive in Hamilton. Other reports of birds come from Canada Centre for inland Waters, at the end of Jones Road in Stoney Creek and the RioCan Centre off Burloak at the QEW. Unfortunately two birds have met their demise with road kills near the Burlington Lift Bridge and near Tollgate Pond earlier in the week. Late shorebirds are in the news, Killdeer, White-rumped Sandpiper and Dunlin have all been reported from the Red Hill Stormwater Pond. Numbers vary by the day but it is possible these birds move over to Windermere Basin. A good find was a Purple Sandpiper at the end of Fruitland Road seen working along the rocks. Sanderling were reported along the Burlington Beach and at Fifty Point in the past two weeks which is a late date for them. In the odds and sods,12 Cackling Geese and a Greater White-fronted x Canada Goose were seen at the NW quarry in Hagersville on Thursday. An adult male King Eider was seen a couple days at the end of Fruitland Road. A female was also seen here, they seem to be moving about with the thousands of ducks that have now moved into the area. Horned Grebes can still be seen along the lakeshore as they move through. A Golden Eagle was seen last Saturday along the 403 in Brantford. A Common Raven was seen in pursuit of a Red-tailed Hawk along Highway 6 around Concession 5 West. A lateish Chipping Sparrow was a guest at a feeder in Dundas. There are rare birds all around us and the weather is nuts so get out there and scour your local patch to turn up something HSA style. Report your sightings here. Good birding. 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Warning for travellers going to hummingbird from Toronto
The eastbound lanes of the 401 are closed at exit 599 Odessa. It is backed up for many Kms . Find alternate routes. Weather is dicey up near the hummingbird. Icy Cheryl Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Townsends Warbler, rondeau
Gripping looks at this bird still at the intersection of second st and centre. Look in the junipers. Cheryl edgecombe Sent from my iPhone ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
[Ontbirds] Pomarine Jaeger - Van Wagner's Beach
There was another sighting of the juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake and a juvenile Pomarine Jaeger just flew by. Several Brant have been seen. Dress warm, not there but looks cold! Cheryl Directions Qew niagara to Woodward turn right on Woodward towards Eastport and right onto vanwagners beach road. Come to Lakeland tower. Another option is Hutches Restaurant which may provide cover from the rain but the sight lines are not as good. --- 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. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
