Hamilton RBA
July 12, 2001
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 20:43:57 -0400
Reply-To: Mike Street <mikestreet@HWCN.ORG>
Sender: "National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Central)"
<BIRDCNTR@listserv.arizona.edu>
From: Mike Street <mikestreet@HWCN.ORG>
Subject: Hamilton ON Birding Hotline Report for Thursday, July 12, 2001
Comments: To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
To: BIRDCNTR@listserv.arizona.edu
At 8PM Thursday, July 12, 2001 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club
Birding Hotline report. The Hotline is revised every Thursday, and updated
during the week if an important bird shows up in the area. The telephone
number is 905-381-0329.
As we get closer to the end of July fewer birds are singing, but that
doesn't mean they are not around. Many juvenile birds have been seen in
the Hamilton area in the last week by birders doing Ontario Breeding Bird
Atlas work. Among them were: GREAT BLUE HERON, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, CLIFF
SWALLOW, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, EASTERN BLUEBIRD,
RING-NECKED PHEASANT, BROWN COWBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, OSPREY and WILD
TURKEY. A few birds were still singing, including RED-EYED VIREO, HOUSE
WREN and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.
It looks as though this fall is going to be a good year for shorebirds in
our area. Seen at Taquanyah CA this week were GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, AND LEAST
SANDPIPER. The recent renovations to the pond at Taquanyah make it look
like a good spot for shorebirds as the migration progresses. Water in the
first pond at Townsend Sewage Lagoons was totally drawn down last weekend,
also providing ideal habitat for shorebirds. Only KILLDEER, LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, LEAST SANDPIPER and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were present but
there is excellent potential for other species. Also seen at Townsend were
SORA, RUDDY DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, CANVASBACK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, LESSER
SCAUP, GREATER SCAUP, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GREEN HERON and a juvenile
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Other spots showing promise for shorebirds are
the Jarvis and Grimsby Sewage Lagoons. Seen at the Vanderliek Pond at
Bismarck were SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, NORTHERN SHOVELER, BLUE-WINGED TEAL,
HOODED MERGANSER and AMERICAN WIGEON.
At last report the RED-NECKED GREBES at Bronte Harbour were doing well,
with three nests in progress and a few chicks in view. Now comes word that
another pair of RED-NECKED GREBES is building a nest off private property
on the Burlington lakeshore. This will add another breeding species to the
Atlas square which includes Burlington.
LEAST FLYCATCHER was the best migrant found this week at Selkirk
Provincial Park. A TENNESSEE WARBLER was also seen and good numbers of
BANK SWALLOWS are moving through. While there are fairly good sand bars
and mud flats present shorebirds were not very numerous this week at
Selkirk. Also on Lake Erie, an adult Parasitic Jaeger was seen on July 3
about 1.5km southwest of Port Dover.
Recently Great Egrets were colour-banded at the colony on Nottawasaga
Island near Collingwood in southern Georgian Bay. The Canadian Wildlife
Service would appreciate it if birders would look for these birds and
report them. Since Hamilton has become a favourite stop-off point for
Great Egrets in the fall, local birders may be able to help. They carry
one coloured plastic leg band above the "knee" and the standard aluminum
leg band below. The plastic bands have two numbers and one letter, e.g.
10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, etc. If you see any of these birds, please record the
colour of the band and lettering, which leg it was on and the date,
location, and time of the sighting.
The next few days will be the peak of the southward migration of Upland
Sandpipers. Be sure to look for these birds in grassy fields, especially
recently cut ones where there may still be lots of insects. Any mud should
be checked for shorebirds.
Please be sure to report your sightings. Sightings may also be submitted
by email.
Good Birding.
Mike Street
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
mikestreet@hwcn.org