ROSS'S GOOSE WESTERN GREBE
Greater White-fronted Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal King Eider Harlequin Duck Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Sandhill Crane Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Wilson's Snipe Glaucous Gull Eastern Phoebe Common Raven Tree Swallow Eastern Towhee Fox Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch Common Redpoll Pine Siskin It's been an interesting two weeks here in the Hamilton Study Area, a whoosh of warm air followed by a late winter storm has made it tough for the migrants that took a chance to move through. Nonetheless, migration seems to happen anyway and some good birds have showed up in the area to give us hope that things will get better. Although seen over a week ago a ROSS'S GOOSE was a rare sight on the Grand River seen in Brantford (March 17) just upriver from the Lorne Bridge. Today a great find was a WESTERN GREBE seen from the east end of Saddington Park in Mississauga. The bird was showing well as of an hour ago but sometimes disappears behind the barge. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has been active over the past two weeks. Raptors seen here have been mostly Turkey Vultures, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed Hawks but also seen moving through in smaller numbers were Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Coopers Hawk, and Merlin. Non raptors seen include Wood Duck, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Common Raven and Purple Finch. The next two days of better winds should get things going again. Up in Saltfleet, flooded fields are still good for ducks. Areas reported from include 5th Road East, 8th Road East and in the Quarry Ponds on 10th Road East and Green Mountain Road. Species reported include Greater White-fronted Goose (Vinemount Quarry, March 12th), Tundra Swans moving through week before last, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, first of season Blue-winged Teal today, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal. Wilson's Snipe have been in the field up at 5th Road East for a week although hard to find today in cold winds. Rusty Blackbirds were also here up at the Snipe field last weekend. A Common Raven was seen on 5th Road East and Green Mountain Road. A great find on March 15th was of our first Greater Yellowlegs in the flooded field off Ridge Road between 8th and 10th Road East. Eastern Meadowlarks are growing in numbers but the most reliable spot seems to be near the tracks on 10th Road East. In the odds and sods King Eiders were still being seen at the end of Jones Road on the lake. Tundra Swans were seen over Woodland Cemetery, and in fields in Flamborough week before last, the majority of them have moved through. Three Harlequin Ducks were a super rarity in Brantford, seen March 16th at the intake canal for the Brantford Water Treatment Plant at Wilkes Dam. Another pair of Harlequin Ducks have been fairly reliable at Gairloch Gardens in Oakville over the past week. A Red-throated Loon flew past Canada Centre for Inland Waters, they should be arriving in numbers shortly. Common Loons and Horned Grebes were seen at LaSalle Marina. A Pied-billed Grebe was present at Windermere Basin, today a Horned Grebe took its place. Red-necked Grebes were present at Saddington Park today, more were seen at Bronte Harbour. An early Osprey was seen today over Woodland Cemetery. Sandhill Cranes are back at Grass Lake in Glen Morris, more Eastern Meadowlarks can be seen and heard in the field across from here. Glaucous Gulls are still around, a 1st year and an adult were seen today on the berm at Windermere Basin. Eastern Phoebe's have been reported in the Hendrie Valley, at Crooks Hollow and at the McMaster Forest. Tree Swallows are scarce still but a sizable flock was seen in the Hendrie Valley in the week. More birds were present at Windermere Basin a few days ago but have sought shelter elsewhere during the cold. A Fox Sparrow was seen near the Lakeside Pavilion at Confederation Park last week, perhaps an early migrant. An Eastern Meadowlark was heard singing at Concession 4 west of Middletown Road last weekend. Another Purple Finch was a flyover at Crooks Hollow along with 2 Pine Siskins. Purple Finches and Pine Siskins have been regular guests at a feeder on 11th Concession East in Flamborough. For the closer, two Common Redpolls were seen briefly this morning at a front yard in Brantford, perhaps a few more will return over the next days. The next two days should be better than today. Get out and scan your local patch for some birds. Report your sightings here!!! Happy Easter! Cheryl Edgecombe HNC. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. 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
