Hamilton Fall Bird Count 2008
by Bill Lamond

The Hamilton Fall Bird Count (HFBC) for 2008 was a decidedly mundane affair. Although the species total (133) was pretty much average there were no exciting species observed on 2 November 2008. No new species were recorded on this count and very few species were observed that one would want to drive very far to view. Nonetheless, most observers seemed pleased with their results although a few reported that birds seemed to be in short supply compared to most years. Here are some comments from some observers: “numbers of birds seemed very low compared to past years”; “disappointing given the weather”; “the day was remarkable more for the paltry number of individuals of most species”; and “on such a beautiful day I was really surprised that bird numbers were down”. Nonetheless other observers had a different view, such as: “numbers of birds were pretty good for many species. I found it to be quite lively despite the winds”.

There were few “significant species” on this years count. Significant species are defined as species seen on 20% or fewer counts, thus for a count in its 35th year, species seen on seven or fewer counts are deemed significant. Only six significant species were observed on the 2008 count. These were Cackling Goose & Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow (3rd count records); Glaucous Gull (4th count record); Common Raven (5th count record); and Sandhill Crane & Swainson’s Thrush (7th count records). Four of the above species are likely to come off this list in the near future. Common Raven is now resident in the Hamilton Study Area (HSA) and has been recorded on the last five counts and will likely be annual from here on in. Similarly Sandhill Crane has become fairly routine in the HSA as a migrant and it has been recorded on seven counts since first being recorded on the HFBC in 1992. Likewise Cackling Goose, since its elevation to full-species status, has been recorded on three of the last seven counts and now that it is being looked for, it is being found. Also, Nelson Sharp-tailed Sparrow might someday be off this list as it is now being searched for on each count in its traditional haunts in Cootes Paradise and has been recorded there in three of the last six counts.

There were other noteworthy species seen on the count such as Osprey (3 parties), Golden Eagle (3 parties), Lesser-black-backed Gull, Snowy Owl (first record since 1992), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3 parties) and Northern Rough-winged Swallow (8th count record). There were 11 species recorded in record-high totals in 2008. Not surprisingly Trumpeter Swan had its best showing and there is no reason to think that each succeeding year won’t produce a new record. Three other waterfowl species had record-high counts including Wood Duck, Canvasback, and Ruddy Duck. This is good news for the Canvasback which has has always been a concern for conservation biologists. In regards to the Ruddy Duck, it has had a steady climb in numbers on the HFBC since the early 1990s. Pileated Woodpecker numbers have more or less doubled on the count since the mid 90s. This could indicate an actual increase or it could be a function of increased party hours. This could also be the case with the Sharp-shinned Hawk although local hawk counts have also noted an increase in this species. Passerines in record numbers included Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren and Pine Siskin. Red-breasted Nuthatch record totals are probably just due to chance. Surprisingly to me was the fact that I could not find a Red-breasted Nuthatch this year despite visiting suitable habitats were they usually are. Go figure! For the Carolina Wren, it seems hard for most birders to imagine that this species was only sporadically reported on the HFBC in the late 70s and early 80s. It has been a long time since this species was very uncommon in the HSA. Lastly, the Pine Siskin had a real banner year on the fall count. This species, being a finch, always undergoes startling fluctuations in abundance. For example, it has been missed on 20% of counts and less than 10 individuals have been recorded on four other counts. However, the previous record of 560 in 1980 was shattered by the 1,505 tallied this year. Almost all parties reported Pine Siskin in 2008.

There are always misses on counts and this year was no exception. Species that were missed this year that are usually recorded included Blue-winged Teal, Northern Goshawk, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee and Eastern Meadowlark. Species missed that are seen around 50% of the time included Sanderling, White-rumped Sandpiper, Long-eared Owl, Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Eastern Phoebe and Brown Thrasher. Surprisingly, despite the brisk east winds, no “pelagic” species such as gannets, phalaropes, jaegers or kittiwakes were observed on Lake Ontario.

Once again this year there was an outstanding count-period bird observed. A Manx Shearwater was observed at Van Wagners Beach on Saturday November 1 by Dan Salisbury. Unfortunately this bird was not seen on count day as it would have been the best bird ever seen on any HFBC. We have had two other count-period birds of this nature before, these being the Eastern Kingbird (extreme date rarity) in 2006 and the American Oystercatcher in 1985.

2008 RESULTS

Area Covered: Selected areas within a 40.2km radius of Dundurn Castle, Hamilton, Ontario (Hamilton Study Area-HSA) including: the Lake Ontario shoreline from Port Credit to Beamsville; the Conservation Areas of Berry, Binbrook, Burns, Christie, Felker's Falls, Fifty Point, Mountsberg, Valens, Dundas Valley, and Spencer Gorge; Islay, Puslinch, Mohawk and Dunmark Lakes; Scotch Block Reservoir; Cootes Paradise; Woodland & Holy Sepulcher Cemeteries; Kings Forest; Esquesing and Frank Tracts; Bronte, Rattray, Middletown and Van Wagners Marshes; Vanderliek Farm Pond; Courtcliff Park; Rock Chapel Sanctuary; Waterworks Park; Joe Sams Park; Shell Park; Green Lane Wetland; Brantford and Tom Howe (Hagersville) Landfills; Six Nations I.R.; Beverly Swamp; Hamilton Harbour; Windermere Basin; Mill, Milton Town & Tollgate Ponds; Smithville, Grimsby and Cainsville Sewage Ponds; Borers, Spring Valley, Stoney, Bronte, and Oakville Creek ravines; Red Hill, Dundas and Hendrie Valleys; and the Grand River from Cayuga to Cambridge.

Sunday, November 2, 2008: 12:00am-1:00am, 2:45am-5:15pm. Weather: Temperature -4 to -2 ?C at dawn increasing to a high varying from 6-8 ?C. Mostly clear skies in most areas the whole day. No precipitation. Visibility at Lake Ontario good. Winds very light at dawn, increasing to 25km/hr by mid-morning with gusts to 35km/hr from the E. Winds diminishing somewhat in the late afternoon. 127 observers in 61 parties. Total party hours: 408.8.

Species: Underlined totals represent record-high numbers, except when indicated as record-low. Numbers in brackets following underlined totals give the previous high (or low) count followed by the year(s). Underlined species require documentation for the Hamilton Bird Records Committee either as date or geographic rarities (see Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Area). Species in bold require documentation for the Ontario Bird Records Committee.

Snow Goose 1; Brant 4; Cackling Goose 4; Canada Goose 13,004; Mute Swan 159; Trumpeter Swan 95 (52-07); Tundra Swan 7; Wood Duck 110 (85-97); Gadwall 409; American Wigeon 77; American Black Duck 337; Mallard 4,716; Northern Shoveler 107; Northern Pintail 67; Green-winged Teal 575; Canvasback 308 (236-06); Redhead 148; Ring-necked Duck 405; Lesser Scaup 4,787; Greater Scaup 7,693; Surf Scoter 222; White-winged Scoter 490; Black Scoter 128; Oldsquaw (Long-tailed Duck) 26,613; Bufflehead 1,015; Common Goldeneye 768; Hooded Merganser 267; Common Merganser 124; Red-breasted Merganser 922; Ruddy Duck 948 (712-02); Ring-necked Pheasant 1; Ruffed Grouse 3; Wild Turkey 89; Red-throated Loon 12; Common Loon 16; Pied-billed Grebe 7; Horned Grebe 1 (low)(1-94); Red-necked Grebe 32; Double-crested Cormorant 258; Great Blue Heron 90; Black-crowned Night-Heron 7; Turkey Vulture 26; Osprey 3 (3-98,07); Bald Eagle 4 (4-96,05,06,07); Northern Harrier 35; Sharp-shinned Hawk 40 (38-07); Cooper's Hawk 27; Red-shouldered Hawk 4; Red-tailed Hawk 320; Rough-legged Hawk 4; Golden Eagle 3; American Kestrel 35; Merlin 5; Peregrine Falcon 4; American Coot 128; Sandhill Crane 8; Black-bellied Plover 1; Killdeer 302; Greater Yellowlegs 12; Lesser Yellowlegs 1; Least Sandpiper 4; Pectoral Sandpiper 1; Dunlin 13; Wilson's Snipe 15; American Woodcock 2; Bonaparte's Gull 9; Ring-billed Gull 13,572; Herring Gull 1,634; Lesser Black-backed Gull 1; Glaucous Gull 1; Great Black-backed Gull 27; Rock Pigeon 2,577; Mourning Dove 1,399; Eastern Screech-Owl 15; Great Horned Owl 4; Snowy Owl 1; Belted Kingfisher 16; Red-bellied Woodpecker 78; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 (2-75,78,82,06); Downy Woodpecker 283; Hairy Woodpecker 79; Northern Flicker 40; Pileated Woodpecker 13 (12-06,07); Northern Shrike 10; Blue Jay 1,027; American Crow 2,930; Common Raven 3; Horned Lark 163; Tree Swallow 21; Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1; Black-capped Chickadee 2,123; Tufted Titmouse 3; Red-breasted Nuthatch 102 (89-00,07); White-breasted Nuthatch 231; Brown Creeper 64; Carolina Wren 46 (40-07); Winter Wren 15; Golden-crowned Kinglet 198; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 31; Eastern Bluebird 194; Swainson’s Thrush 1; Hermit Thrush 5; American Robin 4,708; Gray Catbird 2; Northern Mockingbird 31; European Starling 27,486; American Pipit 419; Cedar Waxwing 2,759; Orange-crowned Warbler 1; Yellow-rumped Warbler 57; American Tree Sparrow 580; Chipping Sparrow 8; Field Sparrow 3; Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1 (RZD,CE); Fox Sparrow 82; Song Sparrow 185; Swamp Sparrow 22; White-throated Sparrow 451; White-crowned Sparrow 49; Dark-eyed Junco 1,815; Snow Bunting 3 (low) (4-97); Northern Cardinal 548; Red-winged Blackbird 13,428; Rusty Blackbird 371; Common Grackle 891; Brown-headed Cowbird 128; Purple Finch 48; House Finch 514; White-winged Crossbill 17; Common Redpoll 14; Pine Siskin 1,505 (560-80); American Goldfinch 1,902; House Sparrow 2,009.

Total: 133 species; 152,654 individuals.

Count Period Birds (seen day before or day after count but not on count day): Manx Shearwater, Blackpoll Warbler, Purple Sandpiper, Red Phalarope, Black-legged Kittiwake.

Observers: Brian Ahara, Don Barnet, Glenn Barnett, Glenn Barrett, Graham Barrett, Kim Barrett, Mary Ann Bastien, John Bennett, Jim Biggar, Peter Booker, Jason Bracey, Duane Brown, Fran Bullock, Wayne Bullock, Jim Burrell, Ken Burrell, Mike Burrell, Mike Cadman, Jerry Chapple, Nina Chapple, Barb Charlton, Michael Clark, Mark Cranford, Bill Crins, Carol Croke, Tom Crooks, Martin Daly, Sandy Darling, Rob Dobos, Jennifer Draper, Mark Draper, Dave Don, Jim Dowall, Ben Edgecombe, Cheryl Edgecombe, Gavin Edmonstone, Lois Evans, Luc Fazio, Janice Forster, Randy Fowler, Brett Fried, Becky Gaunt, Denys Gardiner, Jeff Gilbreath, Alex Gray, Andy Hampton, John Hannah, Liam Hannah, Jim Heslop, Brandon Holden, George Holland, Frank Horvath, Sandra Horvath, Jean Iron, Mark Jennings, Tim King, Shirley Klement, Bill Lamond (Compiler), Joyce Lechasseur, Gord Lewer, Dennis Lewington, Gwen Lewington, Joyce Litster, Rick Ludkin, Ron Luft, Jill Marshall, Greg Mayne, Arlene McCaw, Jim McCaw, Sheldon McGregor, Bill McIlveen, Kevin McLaughlin, Don McLean, Gerard McNaughton, Diane McSpurren, Anthony Meaney, Anthony Miller, Dolores Mishell, Brian Mishell, Frank Morley, George Naylor, Brad Novoselac, Owen Novoselac, Dan Olech, Karen Olech, Ron Pittaway, Brian Pomfret, Mary Pomfret, Norm Pomfret, Jim Pringle, Lauren Rae, Bill Read, Kayo Roy, Dan Salisbury, Alf Senior, Elaine Serena, Donna Sheppard, Josh Shea, George Sims, Bill Smith, Paul Smith, Bob Stamp, Larry Staniforth, Andy Steinberg, Chris Street, Mike Street, Neil Taylor, Tys Theysmyer, Tom Thomas, Aaron Thompson, Ashley Thompson, Kristen Thompson, Marina van Twest, Rohan van Twest, Rob Waldhuber, Phil Walker, Scott Watson, Jim Watt, Reinder Westerhoff, Angie Williams, Ken Williams, Don Wills, Bill Wilson, Dave Wood, Eleanor Wood, Brett Woodman, Brian Wylie. (Hamilton Naturalists' Club, Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists, South-Peel Naturalists' Club, Guelph Field Naturalists).

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