Birding Hotline Report

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On Friday, March 5, 2010, this is the HNC Birding Report:

American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Merlin
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Horned Owl
Short-eared Owl
Horned Lark
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Savannah Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird

Spring is due this weekend in the Hamilton Study Area. The turning of these north winds to a southerly flow promises the infiltration of early migrants into the area. The week has been fairly quiet otherwise with the end of the winter listing season last weekend.

The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch located at Beamer Memorial Conservation area in Grimsby has started its annual watch for migrating raptors as of March 1st. Although slow with these north winds, the watch recorded a Merlin, Bald Eagle, , several Red-tailed Hawks (possible migrants) and a Red-winged Blackbird this week. I expect this picture will change over the weekend with the southerly flow and the start of Eagle migration and Red-shoulders to follow.

At LaSalle Marina on Wednesday, conditions were good for a bit of ice on the bay and a bit of open water. Iceland, Glaucous and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were of note. A young Bald Eagle sat on the ice toward Hamilton Harbour and ducks including American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Common Merganser and Ruddy Duck were noted.

Around the east end of the lake the Harlequin Ducks are still present at Port Credit Harbour and the Yellow-rumped Warblers can still be found near the gazebo at the same location.

A trip into north Oakville along the 8th Line north of Derry Road yielded Sharp-shinned Hawk, Horned Lark, Savannah Sparrow and Snow Buntings last weekend.

In Flamborough on Fallsview Road just north and west of Dundas a mixed flock of Horned Lark, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs are present. Eastern Bluebirds were seen near 455 Fallsview Ave. Not too far from here on Woodhill Road another mixed flock of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings were found with at least one Lapland Longspur in the bunch.

In the odds and sods this week of interest was a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk seen on Britannia Road inbetween Bell School Line and Appleby Line. Northern Harriers were also seen in this vicinity. Short-eared Owls seem to be in abundance with several being seen at the traditional site of 10th Road east between Ridge and Green Mountain Road. Another roost seems to be set up with an estimated 20 being seen on Stoney Creek Road near Moore Road. A Great Horned Owl was seen today at the Valley Inn bridge over Plains Road. A nice end to the winter listing period last week was the discovery of a Hermit Thrush coming into suet at a feeder on 11th Concession East near Centre Road in Flamborough. Turkey Vultures continue to be seen over Brantford and Dundas this week.

That's the news this week. Warmer temperatures will draw birds and birders out. Please let me know of your sightings!

Good Birding!
Cheryl Edgecombe
905-381-0329
HNC Hotline

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