[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, November 23rd, 2007

[Cheryl Edgecombe]

On Friday, November 23rd, 2007 this is the HNC Birding Report:

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE
PACIFIC LOON
NORTHERN GANNET
PURPLE SANDPIPER
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
PINE WARBLER
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
PINE GROSBEAK

Brant
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Common x Barrow's Goldeneye
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Goshawk
Golden Eagle
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin

Another great week on the lake watch here in Hamilton.  The three NORTHERN
GANNETS seem to be traveling around the west end of the lake from feeding
frenzy to frenzy with the birders traveling along with them.  This week they
were seen from Rattray Marsh, Guelph Line in Burlington, off the Burlington
Ship Canal, off of Van Wagner's Beach and off of Gray's Road most recently.
While viewing one of these feeding frenzy's this week, a numbers of Loons
were spotted including Common, Red-throated and one PACIFIC LOON last
Monday.  Another PACIFIC LOON was seen off of Arkendo Park in Oakville last
Sunday.  Other birds viewed on the lake this week were a couple of flybys of
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, last weekend when winds were northeast, flyby of
KING EIDER, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE off of Grays Road along with the Common x
Barrow's Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, all three scoters, Long-tailed Duck, and
Common Goldeneye. A Horned Grebe was seen out in the masses on Monday.
Gulls are starting to come in for the winter.  A few Bonaparte's Gulls were
seen yesterday in the gale, but Iceland and Glaucous Gull have also been
reported this week.  Our first PURPLE SANDPIPER was reported on the rocks at
Fifty Point last Saturday but only stayed for a couple of hours.

Scattered along the lakeshore other waterfowl have been noted such as
Red-necked Grebes at Paletta/Shoreacres, a Brant down at the end of West
River Road, a female HARLEQUIN DUCK at the same location off of Bronte
Bluffs Park and further east a pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the end
of Mississauga Road and Saddington Park in Mississauga.

Winter finches and other wanderers are about too.  Up to a dozen PINE
GROSBEAKS were seen last weekend at Hyde Tract located on Safari Road just
east of Kirkwall Road.  Unfortunately hunters and dogs seem to be there on
the weekend so be cautious.  Up at the Guelph Arboretum, PINE GROSBEAKS and
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have both been seen in the crab apple trees there however
a good spot for them seems to be the Conifer Collection where they are
feasting on juniper berries.  Single BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were reported from
Millgrove Side Road and flying over the Valley Inn this week.  A small flock
of Pine Siskins were seen in Flamborough this week and at the Arboretum.
A female Purple Finch as seen at a feeder in the 16 mile creek/Upper Middle
Road area in Oakville.  Common Redpolls seem to be moving in this week as
well. Although only a few feeder reports, along the lake on Monday sizable
flocks of 17 and 30 were seen.

Northern Shrikes seem to be on the move in numbers with reports from Rock
Chapel, Dundas, Carlisle and Flamborough this week.

In odds and sods, a couple late birds potential highlights for a winter
list, a PINE WARBLER was seen briefly east of Fiddler's Green Rd. near Hwy.
403, Ancaster.  A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen again at Burloak Park.
Common Raven and a Northern Goshawk were also reported from Guelph
Arboretum.  A Northern Goshawk was seen at the Westfield Heritage Centre on
Kirkwall Road.  A Golden Eagle was spotted on the north side of Glen Morris
yesterday.  Lesser Black-backed Gulls were reported from Lakeshore Park and
from a field at Peter's Corners (Hwy 5 & 52)this week.

Winter listing starts next weekend, please report your sightings of rarities
but also date late! birds.


Good birding
Cheryl Edgecombe
HNC Hotline
905-381-0329