RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET GRAY CATBIRD BROWN THRASHER PAINTED BUNTING American Wigeon Harlequin Duck Ruffed Grouse Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Coot Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Snowy Owl Short-eared Owl Pileated Woodpecker Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Snow Bunting Yellow-rumped Warbler Purple Finch Common Redpoll
It's been a quiet winter week here in the Hamilton Study Area but perhaps this weekend people will get out and see some birds while the temperatures are warm and the winds have died down. This week saw some of the rarities continue and a couple newer ones crop up. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET continued to survive cold temperatures and was reported as of last weekend at Sedgewick Park in Oakville. Sadly the other rarities here have perished due to the cold. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Golden-crowned Kinglets continue to be seen here. A BROWN THRASHER appeared for a day at a feeder near Lynden mid-week, no reports since. A GRAY CATBIRD continues to make appearances on 11th Concession East in Flamborough at a feeder. The PAINTED BUNTING was reported yesterday, it's been a tough week for this bird but the feeder near the ravine is a good place to start. Food is always welcomed for the feeder. Location is on Arkendo Road in Oakville which is one road west of Winston Churchill, south of Lakeshore Road. The winter waterfowl count was last weekend. Most of our wintering ducks were seen at locations mostly on the west end of Lake Ontario as the bay froze over the night before. Highlights include a pair of American Wigeon at the Desjardins Canal in Dundas and three Harlequin Ducks, a first winter male at Bronte Harbour and a pair found at Gairloch Gardens in Oakville. There seem to be a good number of American Coots wintering this year. Other observations made on the count include Iceland and Glaucous Gull and up to 10 Bald Eagles sitting on the ice out on the bay. In the odds and sods this week, there has been quite a stir at Olympic Woods in Dundas as an interesting looking Yellow-rumped Warbler that may show signs of hybridization with an Audubon's Warbler was seen with a couple other Yellow-rumps at the suet put out on the trail there. A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers have also been seen at this locale. Ruffed Grouse continue to visit at a feeder in Flamborough on Westover Road north of Concession 8 West. A Great Blue Heron was photographed along the shore at VanWagners Beach in the week along with two Glaucous Gulls. Tenth Road East in Saltfleet is a traditional spot for Short-eared Owls and this week up to four have been seen flying over the quarry. Northern Harrier, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawk and Common Raven are birds reported in this vicinity. It seems like the number of Rough-legged Hawks have increased over the month with reports in Flamborough and in Saltfleet. Up to six Tufted Titmice are coming in to the feeders at Ruthven Conservation Area in the south of the circle. Eastern Bluebirds were seen yesterday along Locust Lane in Grimsby. A small flock of Snow Buntings were seen on First Road East and Highland on Thursday. A female type Purple Finch was a good find actively coming to a feeder right at the intersection of Pinetum/Hopkins trails accessed off York Rd (park on the road)at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Finally a small flock of Common Redpolls were seen in some alders at the Northshore Trails at the Royal Botanical Gardens and two were flyovers at the Windermere Basin last weekend. That's the news for this week, keep your sightings coming. This warm up could move some birds around. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
