On Friday, December 07, 2012 this is the HNC Birding Report: PURPLE SANDPIPER CAVE SWALLOW RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET BOHEMIAN WAXWING COMMON YELLOWTHROAT FIELD SPARROW HOARY REDPOLL
Snow Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan American Wigeon King Eider Harlequin Duck Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Golden Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Sandhill Crane Thayer's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Northern Shrike Winter Wren Eastern Bluebird Northern Mockingbird Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak Winter listing began last Saturday and so far only one mega rarity but some other good birds have been found with more showing every day. I have highlighted good winter birds at the top with the rarity this week being CAVE SWALLOW. Last week the warm push on Wednesday may have prompted a movement of swallows with two Swallow sp (presumed Caves) being seen near Green Road in Stoney Creek. On Thursday, a single CAVE SWALLOW was seen in flight at Bronte Harbour but continued heading west not to be relocated. Other good winter birds seen this week include a PURPLE SANDPIPER found on the beach at Bronte Harbour on December 1st. It was a one day wonder. Today a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was seen at Sedgewick Park at the end of Hixon Road in Oakville. A single BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen at Shell Park last Saturday near the houses up the pipeline that leads to Rebecca. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was seen today at Rattray Marsh. A FIELD SPARROW was seen last Saturday along the Dofasco Trail in Saltfleet near 8th Road East. Lastly a few HOARY REDPOLLS have been seen this week in flocks of Common Redpolls, one in Brantford, one and possible two at a feeder in Flamborough and one in a weedy field near the Gryphon soccer pitch at University of Guelph. As always waterfowl is a big part of winter listing here in the Hamilton Area. This week, a Snow Goose was seen with a group of Canada's up at the quarry on Green Road between 10th and 11th Road East last Saturday. A Cackling Goose was seen at Van Wagner's beach in a group of Canada's during strong east winds. A total of 149 Tundra Swans were seen out in the Dundas Marsh, five were seen at LaSalle Marina. American Wigeon were present at the Purple Sandpiper site Bronte Beach. The Harlequin Ducks at least two males and a female continue to be seen at the end of Arkendo in Oakville. Two immature King Eiders were still being seen from Sayers Park in Stoney Creek. Two Red-throated Loons were present mid-week at the west end of the harbour from Valley Inn and again from Princess Point. Common Loons flew past the Suncor Pier in Oakville Saturday and both species of loons were seen on strong east winds at VanWagners Beach. A Pied-billed Grebe has set up winter shop at the Desjardins Canal again. Another one was diving at the east end of LaSalle Park on Sunday. A Red-necked Grebe or two were seen in Bronte Harbour. Winter finches are still about with White-winged Crossbills being seen up in Guelph at Preservation Park, at a feeder in Oakville near Royal Albert Court and in the Hendrie Valley. Common Redpoll flocks seem to be growing in numbers with a sizable flock being seen up until Thursday in South Burlington in the Walkers Line and New Street Area and another group of 70 near Middletown Road and 5th Concession West in Flamborough. Pine Siskins are still being seen at feeders in Flamborough and Ancaster. A single Evening Grosbeak was a December 1st highlight near Slote Road. In the odds and sods, Great Blue Herons (4) were seen in the Dundas Marsh. At least 8 Black-crowned Night Herons were seen in the Red Hill Outlet off Eastport. A Turkey Vulture was seen at the side of the road at 403 near Highway 6. Two adult Bald Eagles flew over the restaurant at Puslinch Lake earlier in the week. A Northern Harrier was seen over Bronte Campground East today. An immature Northern Goshawk bombed through at King Street and Nash Road in Stoney Creek. A Golden Eagle was seen on East River Road in Paris on Tuesday. A Merlin was found in Woodland Cemetery last Saturday with another one being seen at the QEW and Christie exit in Grimsby. Peregrine Falcons have been seen quite a bit over the last week at the lift bridge and along the west end of the lake and on the wave tower. A Glaucous Gull was seen flying past Canada Centre For Inland Waters and another at Bronte Harbour. At Puslinch Lake the ice has come in and gulls there include Glaucous, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Thayer's Gull. Sandhill Cranes were on the move last Wednesday and Thursday with a flock of 50 being seen over the Lilac Dell at the RBG on Wednesday and another large flock being seen over Aberfoyle on Thursday. A Northern Shrike was seen chasing a Northern Mockingbird today in Bronte Campground. A Winter Wren was scolding away at the end of Arkendo. Eastern Bluebirds have been reported in several places including the RBG Arboretum and on Calfass Road in Morristown. Swamp and White-throated Sparrows are at the Valley Inn. Now is the time to scout out the nooks and crannies of your local patch to look for winter goodies. Pick a new place each time you go out! Report your sightings here. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
