Dear Fellow Birders, Today while on the Mid-winter Waterfowl Count I came across an apparent Bufflehead x Hooded Merganser hybrid at the east side of Bronte Harbour. It was seen for about 40 minutes immediately east of the harbour in with a flock of Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, and Bufflehead. The bird had a blackish head that came to a crest, similar to a Hooded Merganser, but had a oval white spot behind the eye (which was black), the breast was white, the back grayish, and the sides whitish-gray, with what looked like a bit of white on the leading each of the wing. I unfortunately did not have a camera at the time, so no pictures were taken. I am interested to hear how often this hybrid has been seen in Ontario. Also seen today was a Red-throated Loon off of Coronation Park, and NO Harlequin Ducks were found in the Port Credit area.
Directions: Take the QEW west from Toronto to Oakville and exit at Bronte Rd and follow this south to the lake. Park along the road and walk to the open lake east of the harbour. Coronation Park - Exit the QEW at Third Line and follow this down towards the lake, turn left at Lakeshore Rd and then right into the park. Port Credit - Exit the QEW at Mississauga Rd and follow this south to the lake, it dead ends at Saddington Park which provides lake access. Sincerely, Mike Boyd Oakville, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
