[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, April 18th, 2008

[Cheryl Edgecombe]

On Friday, April 18th, 2008 this is the HNC Birding Report:

American Wigeon
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
King Eider
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Moorhen
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Upland Sandpiper
Dunlin
Wilson's Snipe
Bonaparte's Gull
Caspian Tern
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Bohemian Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin


Another positive week here in the HSA with warm temperatures and birds
trickling in through the week on southwest winds.  Although numbers have
been low, we are going for quality not quantity here.

The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has been excellent again this week for
migrating raptors and other birds.  This weeks raptors include the first big
push of Broad-winged Hawks along with Osprey, Northern Harrier,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk
and two more Golden Eagle.  I'm sure today and tomorrow will be excellent
here.  Among other birds seen here this week Common Loons in numbers,
Sandhill Crane, Upland Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, a compliment of 4
species of Swallow, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee and Fox Sparrow.
Cruising the roads around the Hawkwatch in the area known as Saltfleet,
numerous flooded fields which are now drying up produced ducks such as
American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal and
shorebirds including both species of Yellowlegs and Dunlin.  One of the best
spot is the flooded areas which can be seen from Ridge Road looking south
however a scope is necessary.  The Blue-winged Teal were on Powerline Road
close to Tapleytown where also a field of gulls produced 15 Bonaparte's'.
Sparrows are also turning up in the area with Savannah Sparrow, Vesper
Sparrow (seen along the Dofasco Trail west of 10th Road East) and Field
Sparrows up singing.  On 10th Road East, Upland Sandpipers should be there
any day now if not already.

Another hotspot this week is Rattray Marsh located at the end of Bexhill
Drive in Mississauga.  Among migrants there this week, Common Loon,
Red-necked Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Moorhen, Purple
Martin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, an early Black-throated Green Warbler, Fox,
Swamp and White-throated Sparrow and Purple Finch on their way back north.
Numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers should show at any time.

Down at Fifty Point, things were quiet yesterday with only Ruby-crowned
Kinglet and White-throated Sparrow seen. A female King Eider was seen off 50
Point on April 15th.  A Snow Bunting was seen last Sunday.  At the Grimsby
Sewage Lagoons last Friday an early Sora was flushed.

Behind VanWagners Ponds last weekend, Tree and Rough-winged Swallow, Hermit
Thrush and Chipping Sparrow were seen.

The lakeshore properties were quiet this week.  Shell Park sightings include
a bizarre spectacle of a female Wild Turkey running across the soccer field.
Migrants and residents this week included Northern Flicker, Gray Catbird,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Winter and Carolina Wren, Eastern Towhee and Fox
Sparrow.

In the odds and sods a Louisiana Waterthrush was found last Tuesday on Tuck
Creek located between Walkers and Guelph Line.  The bird was seen near
Lakeshore Road but was a one day wonder.  They should be in traditional
spots in the HSA now.  A Virginia Rail was heard in the Dundas Marsh this
morning. From Brantford sightings of Sandhill Crane, a Merlin in a display
flight, territorial Pine Warblers, Chipping Sparrow, late Common Redpolls
and Pine Siskins. Wild Turkey were seen at Valley Road close to York Road.
A late flock of Bohemian Waxwings were seen at 6th Line and Leighland in
Oakville last Friday, likely the last of the bunch.

This week promises to be a big one so keep me posted of your sightings.

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