On Friday January 4th, 2008 this is the HNC birding report: NORTHERN HAWK OWL BOHEMIAN WAXWING HOARY REDPOLL
Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup King Eider Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Gray Partridge Ring-necked Pheasant Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Red-throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Red-necked Grebe Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk American Coot Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Great Horned Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Northern Shrike Common Raven Horned Lark Tufted Titmouse Yellow-rumped Warbler White-crowned Sparrow Pine Grosbeak Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Happy New Year to all! January 1st brings all new birds, new lists and new adventures in 2008. There are still some rarities kicking around the HSA this week to start the New Year. The NORTHERN HAWK OWL is still about on 10th Road East. Some sleuthing may be required as this owl has taken to hiding in the trees that hug the railroad tracks to the west of 10th Road East. The best way to find it, if not visible from the road, is to walk down the trail to the west. Please stay clear of the tracks as the occasional train comes this way and railway officials have warned of a fine for trespassing. The Northern Hawk Owl was seen today. Up at the Guelph Arboretum BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still being reported although not in the great numbers that were present a short time ago. Today at the Nature Centre a small flock of 7 came into some Juniper trees near the Nature Centre. This observer missed the birds by 3/4 of an hour hence the reason why this report is late today, sorry. A small flock was seen earlier in the week at the Gosling Garden in the Arboretum. Pine Grosbeaks are still on campus as well but again, searching must be done as there are many trees with fruit. The Gray Partridge at the Brantford Airport have been fairly reliable of late (don't want to jinx anyone) but there seems to be two groups of them a small group of three or four found on airport property near the old DC 3 engines on York Road and another group of 6 visible near 55 Green Road as of today. If you are going to view these birds, I suggest the next day or so before the melt as these birds blend into the grass quite nicely and temperatures are supposed to rise in the next few days. A Northern Shrike was seen on December 31st on York Road and a small flock of Horned Lark were also seen on the property. The northwest corner of the HSA seems to be quite active lately. In addition to the Partridge, a Turkey Vulture has been reported twice this week at the 403/Garden Ave intersection of Branford. Up near East River Road in Brant Co., Pine Siskins were seen at a feeder today. In Branchton, just south of Cambridge, a HOARY REDPOLL was seen just before we rang in the New Year. There are many feeders up in this little town so it might be good to just cruise the area. Of course, these little Redpolls tend to move around like gypsies. Also near St. George yesterday 7 Eastern Bluebirds and 2 possibly 3 Turkey Vultures were seen near Harrisburg today. A small kettle of Turkey Vultures (6) were seen near the Brantford Dump today. Down at LaSalle Park on January 1st, some noteworthy waterfowl are still on the bay. Several Red-necked Grebes along with three Red-throated Loons were viewed off LaSalle Marina. Other ducks there include Greater Scaup, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded, Common and Red-breasted Merganser, White-winged Scoter and American Coot. On the bay, viewed from this and other areas a few Bald Eagles are making winter territories on the bay. Around the bend at Pier 4/Bayshore Park both Iceland, Glaucous Gulls and a Nelson's Gull have been seen during the week. Another good spot for waterfowl and other goodies this week was Windermere Basin. In the basin were Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal and Ruddy Duck. Overwintering Double-crested Cormorants are also here. Noteworthy birds onshore include the discovery of a Yellow-rumped Warbler. It was near the Red Hill Outlet on the south side of the park here gleaning insects off of some roof scrap in the outlet and hanging with some White-crowned Sparrows in the weedy areas of this park accessed off Eastport Drive. The White-crowned Sparrows were seen today along with a Short-eared Owl which was flushed from the weeds today. Continuing on the duck theme, a couple of reports of King Eider have come from Fruitland Road and Green Road this week. A female was seen at Fruitland Road today and yesterday and a first year male was seen from Green Road yesterday. Down at LP Sayers Park, an Iceland Gull was seen earlier in the week and a Long-eared Owl was being harrased at the park too. There are many birds to report in the odds and sods this week. Good views of Pine Grosbeak at 4250 Walkers Line, a dozen were present today. Red-shouldered Hawk was seen in two areas this week, one on Campbellville Road west of Guelph Line and one in the Westover Road and Concession 8 Area. Two Ring-necked Pheasant were present at Felkers Falls Conservation Area. A Pied-billed Grebe is still present in the Desjardins Canal. A flock of 41 Wild Turkey were present at Hwy 52 and Hwy 2 today. A Tufted Titmouse is being seen with some regularity with a flock of chickadees at Shoreacres/Paletta Park in Burlington. That's the news for the week. With temperatures rising, who knows what will be found! Have a great week. Good birding! Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. 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