At 6:15PM on a cold New Year's Eve 1997, this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648-9537.

Why not start the New Year on the right (foot)path by spending tomorrow, New Year's Day, in the Red Hill Valley. Meet John Struger at 10AM at the northwest corner of King Street and Lawrence Road.

As of Sunday night the 1997 Hamilton Christmas count species total had reached 96. Although no spectacular birds were reported, there were some good ones, including NORTHERN GOSHAWK on the North Shore Trails, SNOWY OWL at Hamilton Airport, a pair of HERMIT THRUSH at Martin's Rd., FIELD SPARROW at the McCormack Tract, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL on the South Shore Trails, PILEATED WOODPECKER, SNOW BUNTINGS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and NORTHERN SHRIKE each in two locations, female AMERICAN WIGEON at both Desjardins Canal and Christie CA, and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in three spots. Also seen at Christie C.A. were a THAYER'S GULL, an ICELAND GULL, and a dozen GLAUCOUS GULLS.

Highlights of the Niagara Falls count last Sunday were a female VARIED THRUSH last seen flying into conifers at Sunnybrook Farm Winery at 1425 Lakeshore Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE re-found at the Queenston Reservoir. Corrections to previously reported Christmas Bird Count totals are Long Point with 101 species and Blenheim, which includes Rondeau PP, at 114 species.

Seen yesterday on the N Shore of Cootes Paradise along Captain Cootes Trail below the Royal Botanical Gardens Nature Centre were a pair of TUFTED TITMOUSE, half a dozen PINE SISKINS, plus CEDAR WAXWINGS and a NORTHERN FLICKER.

A family visiting the city Christmas Day were thrilled when an adult BALD EAGLE flew out of Valley Inn and soared above them at the High Level Bridge. An immature BALD EAGLE was over the Harbour yesterday. On Saturday a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, apparently chasing something, was seen briefly sitting in the middle of a city street on the central mountain. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was over the Dundas Valley Sunday. Dozens of RED-TAILED HAWKS and one ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were near the chicken farm on 4th Line Oneida S. of Caledonia this morning, and a TURKEY VULTURE was seen near FISHER's GLEN at Lake Erie.

A BRANT returned to Spencer Smith Park on Sunday. Seen in the Gray's Rd. area in Stoney Creek in the last two days were the immature male KING EIDER, as many as 140 SURF SCOTERS, 4 female BLACK SCOTERS, many WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 1000s of Scaup and other ducks. Some of these can also be seen at Confederation Park, where a GLAUCOUS GULL was found Monday. Five GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a large flock of NORTHERN SHOVELLER were at the Pier 24 pond Monday.

Other reports include the BARRED OWL again at Bronte, more than 100 COMMON REDPOLLS off the North Service Rd. west of King Rd. in Burlington and another 30 near Binkley and Mineral Springs Rds. in Ancaster, GREAT BLUE HERON at Caistor Centre plus RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in Ancaster.

At least 9 gull species were reported on the Niagara River, with a CALIFORNIA GULL at the Sir Adam Beck Overlook again the star. The Buffalo Christmas Bird Count tallied just over 10,000 HERRING GULLS on the Niagara River. PURPLE SANDPIPERS continue to be seen above the falls. A MEW GULL was found near Buffalo on the Jamestown, NY Christmas Bird Count before Christmas.

From the home front this week come reports of a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER making its first ever visit to a feeder in Caistor Centre, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK bothering COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS at an Ancaster feeder, and a male WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in a yard on the east mountain.

A very Happy New Year to all our listeners. May 1998 bring you more Good Birding!

I have just returned from a walk this morning on the North Shore Trails at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Highlights of todays outing were a NORTHERN SAW WHET OWL and a NORTHERN SHRIKE near the entrance to the trails from York Rd. A GREAT HORNED could be seen overlooking the Hydro Pond.

Other birds seen were a flock of forty or so CEDAR WAXWINGS, good numbers of GOLDFINCH, TREE SPARROWS, JUNCOS, CHICADEES and the occasional WHITE THROATED SPARROW. Many DOWNY and HAIRY woodpeckers a NORTERN FLICKER a PILEATED and both RED and WHITE NUTHATCHES.

On the raptor scene the are three RED TAILS a SHARP SHINNED and a possible RED SHOULDERED.

Good Birding,

Gord, I saw Mark Jennings at the Niagara Falls CBC evening get together this evening and he mentioned that with several groups yet to report the Hamilton total was at 95 species. So far there has been no Ruffed Grouse reported! A Snowy Owl was found at the Mount Hope Airport.

Gord, yesterday on the Hamilton CBC I had the area west of the Hamilton Rd. in Waterdown and north of highway #5. In this inland area on a dull day and with periods of snow and ice pellets we found 42 species.

We started the day off owling with both Screech and Horned Owls. At first light a Snow Bunting flew over the Flamborough race track. On the 6th Conc. West we had 4 species of Woodpecker in one spot, Downy, Hairy, Pileated and Red-bellied. Mixed in with the Herring Gulls flying over head towards the Kitchener and Cambridge dumps was a Glaucous Gull. In the Sheltered Lane area were 4 N. Flickers.

On the 1st Conc. W. mixed in with a flock of E. Starlings on a manure pile were 2 Rusty Blackbirds. About 1/2 mile west of the where the Milgrove Rd. meets #5 highway is a short dead end subdivision rd. that goes north. At a feeder in front of a house on the west side of the rd. were 12 Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Along the 1st Conc. W. near the first north/South rd. west of the Brock Rd. a Cooper's Hawk flew by. Along this north/south road about half way to #5 in a corn field were 500 Canada Geese, 270 Mallards, a few Am. Black Ducks and a male Northern Pintail.

The redering plant's settling ponds on highway #5 just west of the Brock Rd. produced more Canada Geese, Mallards, Black Ducks, Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, a Greater Black-backed Gull and a Bufflehead.

Flying over the Hamilton Rd. north of Waterdown was a Great Blue Heron.

We closed out the day with a Northern Shrike.

At 6:45PM on Christmas Eve 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648-9537.

The Annual Hamilton Christmas Bird Count takes place on Boxing day, this Friday, December 26. Please be sure to fill your feedeers and clear them off after the snow tonight and tomorrow.

We've received some highlights of other Christmas Counts. St. Catherines totalled 80 species, including SNOWY OWL and FOX SPARROW, but the best bird was a female DICKCISSEL found with HOUSE SPARROWS on the S. Service Rd., West of 7th St. in Louth. Long Point tallied 97 species, including BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, VIRGINIA RAIL, HOUSE WREN and 17 SANDHILL CRANES. The Blenheim count, which includes Rondeau PP, reached at least 111 species, among which were EASTERN PHEOBE, PURPLE SANDPIPER and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. From South Peel comes word of 2 BELTED KINGFISHERS and a GREAT BLUE HERON on their count.

A large flock of more than 100 NORTHERN SHOVELLERS was at Tollgate Ponds. Two unusual hybrid ducks have appeared in the Gray's Rd. area in Stoney Creek - a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE/COMMON GOLDENEYE cross and, for the second winter in a row, a HOODED MERGANSER/COMMON GOLDENEYE cross. An immature male KING EIDER is at that location as well. Eleven RED-THROATED LOONS were off the end of the Welland Canal at Port Weller. More than 400 REDHEADS were in Lake Erie west of the Stelco plant.

The BARRED OWL made another brief appearance at Bronte, but has not been seen since Saturday. One LONG-EARED OWL was seen there too. A SNOWY OWL was found on Army Camp Rd. west of Cheapside Rd near Hagersville on Sunday. A group of birds mobbing a hole in a tree suggests strongly that an EASTERN SCREECH OWL is in residence near Parkside High School in Dundas.

Other reports include an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON at Van Wagner's Ponds, CAROLINA WREN, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, GLAUCOUS GULL and 50 COMMON REDPOLLS at Cootes Paradise, while 2 ICELAND GULLS and a PILEATED WOODPECKER were at Middletown Marsh and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS showed up on the 12th Con. off Reg. Rd. 70 near Townsend. NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen in Flamborough at Rock Chapel, Fallsview Rd. and Middletown Marsh. A female PEREGRINE FALCON seems to be roosting on top of the Howard Johnson's Hotel downtown, and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was seen in Copetown.

One of our listeners thought she had found the solution to the perennial problem of squirrels at feeders. Last Friday she looked out in her yard to find a Red Fox lurking in bushes hoping to get one of the squirrels under the feeders. It appears the fox had no luck, however. Another feeder report comes from Mount Hope where a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is visiting a yard on Miles Rd. between Dickenson and White Church Rds.

Remember the Christmas count on Friday. Please be sure your feeders are clear and well stocked, and report any unusual sightings on Boxing Day.

A very Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings to all our listeners. May Santa bring you more Good Birding!

At 7:00PM Thursday, December 18, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648-9537.

The Annual Hamilton Christmas Bird Count takes place on Boxing day, Friday, December 26. If you would like to take part please contact Mark Jennings at 905-335-5210.

On the waterfront, the male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and immature male KING EIDER were both in the lake off Gray's Rd. in Stoney Creek on Sunday, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were at Spencer Smith Park but the Brant were not, and the HUDSONIAN GODWIT with the bad leg was at Valley Inn on Dec. 10 before the storm, although we've had no reports since.

Owl watchers have had a good time with a SHORT-EARED OWL being flushed at the Upper Ottawa St. landfill off Stonechurch Rd, SCREECH OWLS and LONG-EARED OWLS at the Vinemount Reserve on the mountain, and GREAT-HORNED OWLS in three places. The BARRED OWL which was around two weeks ago has been hiding since. Close to 30 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen in the Fisherville area on the weekend.

Other sightings include a VESPER SPARROW on the Suter Rd. 1/2km N. of Reg. Rd. 20 near Cayuga on Sunday, a CHIPPING SPARROW at Valley Inn last Saturday, COMMON REDPOLLS in several locations, TUFTED TITMOUSE at the Royal Botanical Gardens Arboretum and at Selkirk PP, NORTHERN FLICKERS in Mount Hope, BELTED KINGFISHER on Spencer Creek near Christie CA, and a confused COMMMON GRACKLE coming regularly to a feeder in Stoney Creek.

Birders have also been lucky with raptors. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was in open country near Blackheath, the Dundas MERLIN put in an appearance near Parkside School, adult BALD EAGLES were over the Dundas Valley and at Nanticoke, dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were near Christie CA and Hagersville, and COOPER'S HAWKS were seen in Dundas and on Hwy. 6 S. of Caledonia. Perhaps the best raptor report of all concerned the more than 100 RED-TAILED HAWKS in the vicinity of the chicken farms on 4th Line Oneida S. of Caledonia.

Among birds seen on the Niagara River birds were ICELAND GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, CALIFORNIA GULL and THAYER'S GULL, plus PURPLE SANDPIPERS.

Remember the Christmas count on Boxing Day. Please be sure your feeders are well stocked over Christmas, especially if there's bad weather, and be sure to report any unusual sightings on Boxing Day.

To all our listeners a very Merry Christmas and Season's
Greetings, and may Santa bring you some Good Birding!

Dear Fellow Birders

Hi, I went down to the north shore trails of Cootes Paradise on Sunday, and the highlight was a Tufted Titmouse on Captain Cootes Trail as you go down the hill from the Visitor's Center, also seen was a Mockingbird where Pinetum and Homestead meet, 36 Tundra Swans, female Northern Pintail, Hooded and Common Merganser, Black Duck, Mallards, and a Red-Tailed Hawk on the bay. On Capt. Cootes there were 3 Pine Siskins, both Nuthatches, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwings, and Tree Sparrows. A Sharp-Shinned Hawk on Grey Doe, and on Pinetum there was a Red-Tail, many Robins, Cardinals, and White-Throated Sparrows. Also seen at Spencer Smith Park were 3 Coots, Red-Breasted Merganser, Greater Scaup. And in the 16 Mile Creek in Oakville I found a Mockingbird yesterday.

Mike

P.S. Two other things of note, I have created a web site for the South Peel Naturalists Club, and the address is
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/7336/spnc.html

and also we are having our CBC on December 20, and the contact person is Lorelie Mitchell (845-1194), but it is also at our web site
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/7336/cbc.html

What a splendid day for this time of year and what a great day for birding. My morning started of with a drive along York Rd around 8:30, to my suprise sitting in someones front yard was what at first sight appeared to be a red tailed hawk however upon a closer look I was overjoyed to see a RED SHOULDERED HAWK just catching the first warmth of the sun.

Later that day while walking the Hopkins Loop area of the RBG I was treated to a male RED BELLIED WOODPECKER in the same area as three HAIRY and four DOWNY's. Further along the trail a female GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET was feeding with a group of CHICKADEES. All in all a great day for birding. Large numbers of the regular winter residents could be found along most trails.

There are at least three NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS on the Pinetum Trail along with a male NORTHERN FLICKER another flicker can be found on the Hopkins loop. A few GREAT BLUE HERONS could be found in the marsh. There appears to be quite a few RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES on all trails.

At 11:30PM Thursday, December 11, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

The Bird Study Group meets next Monday, December 15, at the Canada Centre For Inland Waters Auditorium on Eastport Drive, just beside the Skyway Bridge. This month's meeting will feature a brief talk on how the Royal Ontario Museum uses bird specimens it receives, followed by Glen Coady's presentation on Birding in the American Southwest. The meeting starts at 7:30PM. Visitors are always welcome.

A local birder who went to Van Wagner's Beach Wednesday hoping the strong east winds would bring something good was rewarded with an immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, two immature POMARINE JAEGERS right over the beach, and a PARASITIC JAEGER. Sadly, today the same birder found a NORTHERN FULMAR, the bird he really had hoped to see yesterday, dead on the beach near Lakeland Pool.

Niagara isn't the only place for gulls. A trip to the Brantford Landfill near Mohawk Park produced 2 adult GLAUCOUS GULLS, plus first winter THAYER'S GULL and ICELAND GULL. GLAUCOUS GULLS were also seen over Christie C.A. and Middletown Marsh.

Among small bird sightings were RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, WINTER WREN and EASTERN PHEOBE in the Dundas Marsh, a very late ORANGE- CROWNED WARBLER at Selkirk PP, NORTHERN FLICKERS in two places, SONG SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN CREEPER at LaSalle Park, RED CROSSBILL and an escaped EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH at Bronte Woods, 16 PINE SISKINS visiting an Ancaster feeder, COMMON REDPOLL and BROWN COWBIRD in a Parkdale area yard, and TUFTED TITMOUSE at Brantford and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Raptors in the area this week included MERLIN at Bronte and Dundas Marsh, PEREGRINE FALCON over the bay at CCIW, NORTHERN HARRIERS on Brock Rd S of Conc 4 and Hwy 20 near Mud St., RED- SHOULDERED HAWK on Conc 5, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK off Valens Rd, COOPER'S HAWK in Flamborough and Ancaster, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK at a listener's feeder. Two different NORTHERN SHRIKES were near Middletown Rd Saturday.

LaSalle Marina hosted RING-NECKED DUCK, TUNDRA SWAN, CANVASBACK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, a DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT and a few AMERICAN COOTS, and pair of BRANT remained at Spencer Smith Park into the weekend.

Niagara River birds include PURPLE SANDPIPERS above the falls and at least 9 species of gulls. Seen at Adam Beck Generating Station were ICELAND GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, as well as a CALIFORNIA GULL on the rocks. A THAYER'S GULL was at the American Falls. An adult BALD EAGLE with a green wing tag has returned to the lower river between Lewiston and Queenston for at least the ninth year.

Among out of town sightings were a rare for winter female ROSE- BREASTED GROSBEAK in a brush pile near the only house on Erie Peat Road in Wainfleet, a female HARLEQUIN DUCK at Port Ryerse, an immature or female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at 325 Barry in Tecumseh, Ontario at least as late as Saturday, and 50 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at Pinery Provincial Park.

Watch for Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks feeding on crabapples, other winter finches feeding in Manitoba Maples, and maybe even a Varied Thrush coming to a feeder somewhere.

Good birding.

Here are a few of the highlights my wife and I had on our weekly walk.

The two NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS are still in the open fields near the entrance to the Northshore Trails of York Rd. Further down the trail we were entertained by a NORTHERN SHRIKE trying to catch lunch. Good numbers of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, DARK EYED JUNCOS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH could be seen. A WHITE CROWNED and a WHITE THROATED SPARROW were on the Grey Doe Trail. There are 3 or 4 RED TAILED HAWKS setting up for the winter.

At my home on the escarpment I was fortunate enough to be in the yard when a COOPERS HAWK made an unsuccesful attempt at a not so easy meal. Later in the day while my wife and I had a drink on the deck we were treated to the daily appearance of a SHARP SHINNED hawk. Hopefully both birds will remain all winter.

Until next week.

It is a rainy overcast day, however there are always a few birds to be seen.

There are a pair of NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS in the fields near the parking lot of off York Rd also in this feed were flocks of AMERICAN ROBIN, CEDAR WAXWINGS and 9 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. RED TAILED HAWKS in the open fields and a SHARP SHINNED on the Grey Doe Trail. A small flock of PINE SISKENS on the Cap't Cootes Trail. Flocks of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and DARK EYED JUNCOS are common.

Just prior to Dusk two GREAT HORNED OWLS could be seen at the edge of the Hydro field.

Woodpeckers included HAIRY, DOWNY, PILEATED along with both RED and WHITE BREASTED NUTHATCHES. A lone BROWN CREEPER was gleaning on an old Oak.

I hope tommorow will be just as rewarding.

At 8:00PM Thursday, December 4, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648-9537.

The December Hamilton Naturalist's Club meeting will take place next Monday evening, the 8th. Guest Speaker Dr. Gard Otis will tell us about the Butterflies of Ontario. Meetings are held at 8:00PM at the Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd West, Burlington. Visitors are always welcome.

New listeners may not have understood last week's references to Winter Listers. These are birders who challenge themselves by trying to see as many species of birds as possible in Southern Ontario between Dec. 1 and the last day of February. The current winter list record is 156 species. The first day of the season is very important because of the possibility of finding a summer straggler.

This year several birders added HUDSONIAN GODWIT to their lifetime winter lists when they found the game-leg bird with several DUNLIN and many TUNDRA SWANS at the end of the Willows on Monday. NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, GREEN-WING TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELLER, AMERICAN WIGEON, and RUDDY DUCK were all in the marsh. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Dundas Hydro Pond, and on the N shore of Cootes Paradise were a MARSH WREN near Hickory Brook and 3 RED CROSSBILLS on Hickory Brook trail, along with 25 COMMON REDPOLLS and 15 PINE SISKINS.

Also found Monday were 2 BRANT on the lawn at Spencer Smith Park, - they have apparently been there for several weeks - while at LaSalle Marina were RED-NECKED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, PIED-BILLED GREBE, COMMON LOON, many AMERICAN COOTS and CANVASBACKS and over 100 TUNDRA SWANS.

Niagara River birds include a female TUFTED DUCK and a POMARINE JAEGER at Niagara-on-the-Lake, a pair of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Queenston Reservoir, and PURPLE SANDPIPERS above the falls. It appears that two CALIFORNIA GULLS have arrived. One was near Adam Beck Generating Station and one above the falls. A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was at the base of the falls. There was an unconfirmed sighting of Black-headed Gull off Queenston sand docks. Other gulls seen were THAYER'S GULL, ICELAND GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and LITTLE GULL.

The first annual Gull Festival, inspired by international designation of the Niagara River as an Important Bird Area, includes a talk on Gull Ecology by Drs. Chip Weseloh and Richard Knapton at the Statler Towers, on Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo, this Saturday, December 6, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. At 5:00PM Saturday a 'Gulls for Children' program will be given at the Visitors Center on Goat Island in Niagara Falls, NY.
Admission to both is free.

An adult THAYER'S GULL was off Van Wagners Beach today.

On Sunday a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was in the Hendrie Valley and an immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Woodland Cemetery. A COOPER'S HAWK is keeping an eye on a north Burlington feeder this week, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visited your reporter's feeders.

Out of town, a NORTHERN HAWK-OWL turned up at Chatham municipal airport in Kent County on Tuesday. The airport is about 3 km. south of Charing Cross on the road to Cedar Springs. Three PURPLE SANDPIPERS were on Gull Island at Presqu'ile Provincial Park this morning, and two PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at Rock Point PP Sunday. A male HOARY REDPOLL was reported near Hillsburgh.

Watch for Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks feeding on crabapples, and other winter finches feeding in Manitoba Maples. We've had no Snowy Owl reports yet.

Good birding.

At 5:30PM Thursday, November 27, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

A warm welcome to the many visitors to our area during this American Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The latest report from the Niagara River includes news of the return of a CALIFORNIA GULL for at least the fourth winter in a row. It has been seen from the Adam Beck Generating Station overlook and also on the rocks upriver from the power plant outflows. Other sightings include 3 THAYER'S GULLS at Beck and Queenston, a total of 7 ICELAND GULLS and 6 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS in different locations, adult LITTLE GULLS below the falls and at Queenston, and a probable GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL/HERRING GULL hybrid at Queenston.

On the local winter finch front, a PINE GROSBEAK was at Cedar Springs last Friday, several BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were at Mountsberg C.A. Saturday, NORTHERN SHRIKES were at Middletown Rd N of Conc 4 Sunday and Conc 5 E of Middletown Rd on Monday, and a flock of 40 PINE SISKINS was along Spencer Creek in the marsh yesterday. A TUFTED TITMOUSE was at the feeders on the Captain Cootes Trail near the Royal Botanical Gardens Nature Centre.

The male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and 2 immature KING EIDERS were in the lake just east of Gray's Rd in Stoney Creek on Sunday. BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS can be found there along with lots of COMMON GOLDENEYE, GREATER SCAUP and LESSER SCAUP, and BUFFLEHEAD. AMERICAN COOTS, HORNED GREBE, DOUBLE- CRESTED CORMORANTS, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD and RING-NECKED DUCK can be found in the bay between LaSalle Marina and the Skyway Bridge. Last Friday a rare adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen briefly at Van Wagners Beach, while on Saturday a pair of PURPLE SANDPIPERS made a short stop at the same spot.

The HUDSONIAN GODWIT with the game leg and three DUNLIN were on the mud flats at the end of the Willows yesterday. Winter listers are hoping the relatively warm weather promised for the weekend will keep the Godwit around at least until shortly after dawn on Monday. TUNDRA SWANS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, MALLARD, GREEN-WING TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELLER, AMERICAN WIDGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, and RED- BREASTED MERGANSER have all been reported from the Marsh.

An adult BALD EAGLE was seen circling over Hwy. 5 west of Sydenham Road Monday. Several dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS can be found in the Hagersville-Nanticoke area, and SHORT-EARED OWLS are roosting in spruce trees on the 6th Con. north of Fisherville.

Way out of town, an Asian BROWN SHRIKE found this week in Halifax, NS has made the national news and caused a rush of birders to that city. Closer to home, Presqu'ile PP is reporting close 20 very tame PINE GROSBEAKS, plus ICELAND GULL and NORTHERN SHRIKE.

Watch for Snowy Owls arriving in our area and continue to look for winter gulls. If you see any rare bird this weekend, especially unusual summer stragglers, please phone the line by Sunday night so the Winter Listers can have a go on Monday morning.

Good birding.

There is an apparently stable Barrow's Goldeneye at the foot of Gray's Road, Stoney Creek. This is one road south(east?) of the Highway#20 exit from the QEW. It has been there for several days and was apparently there last winter as well so it may be a long stayer (lots of zebra mussels). It is in a huge flock of common goldeneye and can take some time to spot. Today there were also two first year male king eiders and all three scoters in this flock.

Here are a few highlights from my observations this past Sunday at the Royal Botanical Gardens North Shore Trails and my backyard.

On the North Shore Trails we had a male Northern Harrier, between 6 & 10 Red Tails, small flocks of Pine Siskins and White Winged Crossbills, Brown Creepers, both red & white Breasted Nuthatch, White Throated and White Crowned Sparrows, large numbers of American Tree Sparrows, and a pair of Northern Mockingbirds near the parking lot off of York Boulevard. Double Crested Cormorants were in the marsh standing on a thin layer of ice. There were also a small number of Tundra Swans.

Backyard news, Pine Siskens and Goldfinches are now comming somewhat regularly, also a White Crowned Sparrow has been around for the last week. Plus all the regular visitors DOWO, HAWO, RBNU, WBNU, BCCH, BLJA, HOSP, DEJU & CEDW.

Dear Gord:
My name is Nannette, I live on Hamilton mountain. My family and I enjoy watching and feeding birds, especially in winter. I noticed a beautiful bird I have never seen before in our bushes beside our house. The bushes have red berries on it. The birds have a crest on the head, black masks, yellow bellies, and a very bright yellow tail tip. I used the binoculars and noticed it also has a bright red wing tip. Could you please tell me what kind of bird this is and also what food I could leave out for it. I know it was a waxwing but am unsure as to which kind, bohemian or cedar. Also are they very common in this area; as I have never seen one before.

Thank-you

At this time of year, they are fairly common. They will feed in flocks on Mountain Ash, Hawthorn, and various other berry bushes. They will stay in an area until their berry supply is depleted. Enjoy them while they are in your neighborhood.

Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

At 4:45PM Thursday, November 20, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

Like it or not, winter is here and when that happens birders become gullible. Found Sunday on the Niagara River were LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS above and below the falls, ICELAND GULL at Adam Beck Generating Station, and THAYER'S GULL between Queenston and Adam Beck. On Sunday a GLAUCOUS GULL and 4 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were found at Port Weller. A winter plumaged MEW GULL was seen briefly at Nanticoke Monday, but has not been seen since.

A very late MAGNOLIA WARBLER found Sunday at Port Weller has set the winter listers thinking about strategies for a Dec. 1 Big Day. Other summer stragglers included EASTERN MEADOWLARK near Hagersville and Binbrook, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD at an Ancaster feeder, EASTERN PHOEBE above Niagara Falls and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK found dead in the city, plus a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, the HUDSONIAN GODWIT with the game leg, one DUNLIN, and two GREEN HERONS with several GREAT BLUE HERONS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, all at Dundas Marsh. GREATER YELLOWLEGS, KILLDEER and DUNLIN were along the Lake Erie shoreline.

Our lakeshore was quite productive during last Friday's snow. Seen from inside Hutch's were an immature POMARINE JAEGER, a first year ICELAND GULL, a PARASITIC JAEGER and three juvenile SABINE'S GULLS. Seen over the weekend and at least until Monday off Gray's Rd in Stoney Creek were a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, an immature KING EIDER, surprising numbers of BLACK SCOTERS, plus SURF SCOTERS and RED-THROATED LOONS. RUDDY DUCKS were at Pier 24 and in the bay were lots of AMERICAN COOTS plus HORNED GREBE, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD and RING-NECKED DUCK. A flock of 1000+ RED- BREASTED MERGANSERS with half a dozen HORNED GREBES mixed in was off Nanticoke Monday.

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found in a most unusual location - the tires in the water at LaSalle Marina. A PURPLE SANDPIPER remained at Valley Inn as late as Saturday afternoon. A NORTHERN SHRIKE and a WINTER WREN were near the Grindstone Creek boardwalk Tuesday. SNOW BUNTINGS were reported in several areas. A TUFTED TITMOUSE was at the feeders on the Captain Cootes Trail near the Royal Botanical Gardens Nature Centre.

Visitors to Dundas Marsh spotted HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, BROWN CREEPER, AMERICAN TREE-SPARROW, RUBY- CROWNED KINGLET and EASTERN BLUEBIRD. PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED- BELLIED WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, and NORTHERN FLICKER were seen at different times. In the water were TUNDRA SWANS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, MALLARD, GREEN-WING TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELLER, AMERICAN WIDGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.

One lucky listener saw an immature GOLDEN EAGLE near McMaster Sunday and again Tuesday. Other raptor reports include as many as a dozen RED-TAILED HAWKS over the Marsh Sunday, a COOPER'S HAWK, a SHARP-SHINED HAWK, a dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCONS downtown and over Eastport Drive, and a MERLIN in Dundas. NORTHERN HARRRIERS were over Woodland Cemetery and around the Hwy 401/Hwy. 25 interchange. SHORT-EARED OWLS are roosting in spruce trees on the 6th Con. north of Fisherville.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS have joined the list of birds seen at area feeders. PINE SISKINS, EVENING GROSBEAKS, FOX SPARROW and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are also turning up. One or two COMMON REDPOLLS were at feeders in Burlington and Kilbride, while flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS are reported in Dundas, Flamborough, Stoney Creek and at Fifty Point CA.

Out of town, our fellow hotline compiler at Sault Ste. Marie advises that the dark phase GYRFALCON has returned for another winter, along with ICELAND GULL and THAYER'S GULL. SNOWY OWLS have begun to make an appearance in the Soo area, but Boreal and Northern Hawk-owls are not being found yet.

Watch for Snowy Owls arriving in our area and look for winter gulls.

Good birding.

At 5:15PM Thursday, November 13, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

As our ninth year of Hotline operation gets under way I'd like to thank all the people who leave reports on the machine and send them by email. Special thanks to Rob Dobos and John Olmsted who help make sure that we are plugged into the latest sightings both in the immediate area and across the province. We aren't always first with the news, but we are usually timely and try very hard to be accurate so our listeners don't waste time and money on fruitless chases.

This Sunday, November 16 join Bob Curry for a Hamilton to Niagara Birding trip. Bring a lunch and search for late fall migrants. Meet at Van Wagner's Beach at 8AM.

The Bird Study Group meeting next Monday, November 17, will feature a presentation by Richard Knapton on Birding Cambridge Bay in the Northwest Territories. Meetings are held at the Canada Centre For Inland Waters on Eastport Drive just beside the Skyway Bridge and start at 7:30PM. Visitors are always welcome.

This has been a good week for special birds. Found on the mud at Valley Inn Sunday were two PURPLE SANDPIPERS. We understand that there are no previous Hamilton records of this species on mud flats, and two at once is also unusual. The HUDSONIAN GODWIT with the bad leg, and about 100 DUNLIN were also at Valley Inn. The grass-feeding BRANT remained at Bronte Harbour until Tuesday. Despite reports elsewhere, the unusual Loon near Shell Pier was finally identified as a COMMON LOON.

Two summer stragglers turned up. On Sunday a female BLACK- THROATED BLUE WARBLER was at the Hyde Tract, while an immature male BALTIMORE ORIOLE was found Monday at Christie C.A.

A flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS was in pine and spruce trees in Shell Park as late as Monday. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was nearby. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at Kirkwall Rd N of Safari Rd on Tuesday. SNOW BUNTINGS were reported in several areas. A pair of LONG- EARED OWLS was found at Selkirk PP.

A birder had an interesting experience at the Dundas Marsh Sunday when he saw PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, and NORTHERN FLICKER all in one small area within about 2 minutes. Also in the trees were RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, plus HOUSE WREN, CAROLINA WREN and WINTER WREN, while in the water were NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, MALLARD, GREEN-WING TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELLER and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. A flock of 30 TUNDRA SWANS was in the marsh Tuesday.

Sunday reports from the lakefront include an immature male KING EIDER and three BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES including a posible adult off Grays Rd, and an immature ICELAND GULL off Venture Inn. On Monday between Grays Rd and Millen Rd there were 1000s of diving ducks, mostly GREATER SCAUP and COMMON GOLDENEYE, with some BUFFLEHEAD, REDHEADS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and OLDSQUAW, plus 45 BLACK SCOTERS including an adult male, an adult male SURF SCOTER, and two RED-THROATED LOONS. Seen today on the lake were 2 distant unidentified Jaegers and a pair of HORNED GREBES. Several LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and many more BONAPARTE'S GULLS are on the Niagara River.

Feederwatchers in Flamborough, Ancaster and near McMaster report PINE SISKINS and EVENING GROSBEAKS today. A Stoney Creek feeder has hosted 30 COMMON REDPOLLS for almost a week.

Out of town, birds seen at Algonquin Park last weekend included PINE GROSBEAK, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, EVENING GROSBEAK, SPRUCE GROUSE, and GREY JAYS in many locations. Two GYRFALCONS were seen south of Detroit on Sunday by the Southern Michigan Raptor Research group. A ROSS' GOOSE was found in Ajax last Friday.

The heavy snow warning in effect for tonight suggests making sure that your feeders are full and clear of the white stuff tomorrow. The sharp change in temperature should bring the annual flood of winter gulls to the area.

Good birding.

Here are a few highlights of the past weekend Nov. 8th & 9th.

While walking through the fields just south of York Boulevard in Dundas we encountered flocks of between 5 and 30 eastern bluebirds along with severn red tailed hawks and a northern harrier. Further to the south on the other side of the railroad tracks we had fox, white throated and crowned sparrows, cedar waxwings and a small flock of about six pine siskens in the pine plantations.

Back home we had some exiting action at our feeders with the visit of a coopers hawk in the morning and a sharp shinned just after lunch, this took care of most of the feeding for the lunch crowd.(chickadees, red and white breasted nuthatches, juncos, house sparrows, cardinals and rock doves)Red tails were circling overhead for most of the day.

Later on Sunday afternoon I watched a junco trying to drive of the flock of cedar waxings that visited the yard. He chased one waxwing at a time from there high perches. Is this common behavior?

I would also be interested to know if eastern screech owls call all year long?

The update concerns several good birds which made themselves easily available to area birders this afternoon. Found on the mud at Valley Inn were two PURPLE SANDPIPERS and the HUDSONIAN GODWIT with the bad leg, and about 100 DUNLIN. From York Blvd. near the Royal Botanical Gardens take Valley Inn Rd. down to the mouth of Grindstone Creek. The other good bird is a BRANT which could easily be found on the grass at the new Bronte Harbour. The possible Pacific Loon was near Shell Pier again today.

At 8:30PM Thursday, November 6, 1997 this is the first report of the ninth year of Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

We are really pleased to advise that Hotline listeners contributed just over $1650 to the Baillie Birdathon this year. The money will help the efforts of the Long Point Bird Observatory and the Naturalists' Club. The total would have been higher but some pledges were not honored.

The Bird Study Group will meet in ten days, on Monday, November 17, at its new location, the Canada Centre For Inland Waters on Eastport Drive just beside the Skyway Bridge. This month's meeting will feature a presentation by Richard Knapton on Birding Cambridge Bay in the Northwest Territories. The meeting starts at 7:30PM. Visitors are always welcome.

Highlights from last Sunday's annual Hamilton Area Fall Bird Count include a BOHEMIAN WAXWING in a large flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS near the Dundas Valley Trail Center, a PURPLE SANDPIPER on the mud at the Willows, an immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and a RED PHALAROPE at Van Wagner's Beach, a NORTHERN SHRIKE off Mulligan Rd. south of Ancaster, a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO at Dundas Marsh, and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in many locations.

A possible Pacific Loon was off Bronte Harbour yesterday. Also on the lake this week were RED-NECKED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, OLDSQUAW, RED-THROATED LOON, SURF SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER, and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. A probable Parasitic Jaeger was found dead in Stoney Creek on Sunday, and 27 TUNDRA SWANS flew over Dundas yesterday. Several LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and many more BONAPARTE'S GULLS are on the Niagara River.

Another good find was a flock of 30-35 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in the tall pines beside the baseball diamond in Shell Park. SNOW BUNTINGS were at Bronte Harbour while EASTERN PHOEBE and CAROLINA WRENS were at the Willows.

Other reports from the Fall Count included HORNED GREBE, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, WOOD DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, CANVASBACK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, RUDDY DUCKS and AMERICAN COOTS at the Hagersville Quarries, lots of AMERICAN PIPITS, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, several RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, plus VESPER SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.

Also on the mud flats at the Willows were 450 DUNLIN, the HUDSONIAN GODWIT with a bad leg and 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANPIPERS. The pond near Hewitt's Dairy north of Hagersville had 23 DUNLIN, a COMMON SNIPE and 13 GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Water birds at Cootes Paradise included 2 GREAT EGRETS, 600 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, close to 100 each of NORTHERN SHOVELLER and RUDDY DUCK, plus GADWALL and AMERICAN WIGEON.

On the raptor front, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew across the McMaster Campus this morning. A group doing the Fall Count had 35 TURKEY VULTURES in a flock along the MacKenzie Rd, and 82 Vultures in all. MERLINS were found in Dundas and off Baptist Church Rd., COOPERS HAWKS in Burlington and near the Grand River, and at least two PEREGRINE FALCONS were perched together on a downtown building.

An Ancaster feederwatcher was very pleased to find a beautiful FOX SPARROW at her feeder yesterday, and even happier today when it came back for a bath in her back yard pond.

Out of town, a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH has turned up at Thunder Bay, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at Point Pelee National Park, a HARLEQUIN DUCK in the St. Clair River above Sombra, and a dark phase POMARINE JAEGER at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.

In the next week continue to look for Golden Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks and Tundra Swans, and keep an eye out for Sandhill Cranes.

Good birding.

Dear Fellow Birders

Hi, this report concerns a Pacific Loon. I was down to the Shell Park area (which is in Oakville on Lakeshore between Bronte Rd and Burloak Rd) on Tuesday and at South Shell Park there was a possible Pacific Loon out on the lake, just to the east of S. Shell Park. The bird was in winter plumage, and had a small chinstrap. I wasn't given the best look but I could say for sure it had a dark back, the gray and white areas on the neck also seemed fairly straight, and it was fairly small. I was down to the area the next day and found it off of Bronte Harbour, but it was well offshore, so I still couldn't give a definite ID, but I was made aware today that it was seen again and it was almost definately identified.

Also at Shell Park, there were 30-35 White-Winged Crossbills both days, also many White & Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Fox Sparrows, a Cooper's Hawk, and Hermit Thrushes. And on the lake on Tuesday there was a Red-Necked Grebe off of S. Shell Park, and a winter plumage Horned Grebe off of Burloak the next day, there were also Oldsquaw, Red-Breasted Merganser, C. Goldeneye, and Bufflehead in the area.

Hi,
My name is Gavin Wells my wife and I have been birding for about five years. We recently moved from Oakville to Dundas, where we are exploring all the local conservation areas.

Here are a few of the sightings we made today.

American Tree Sparrow on the north shore trails near york road this was the first for us this fall.

Purple finches and pine siskens on the north shore trails a pair of mocking birds near york road on the north shore trails.

Great Egret on an island in Cootes Paradise.

Red Bellied Woodpecker on the south shore trails eating wild grapes.

At 9:45PM Thursday, October 30, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

Join Dean Gugler for a Fall Wildflower Walk this Saturday, November 1. Meet at the old rifle range parking lot on Paddy Green Road off Jerseyville Rd. in Ancaster at 1PM.

The 24th annual Hamilton Area Fall Bird Count is this weekend. Please note that the date in the Wood Duck was incorrect. The count will take place as usual Sunday, November 2. Regulars doing their areas again and birders wishing to help out are asked to call Bill Lamond at 519-756-9546.

The November Hamilton Naturalists' Club meeting this Monday, Nov. 3 will feature a presentation on Eastern Spiny Soft Shells by Michelle Fletcher. Meetings are held at 8:00PM at the Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd West, Burlington. Visitors are always welcome.

There was lots of activity on the lakeshore between Van Wagner's Beach and Fifty Point last weekend. RED-THROATED LOONS, including one flock of 30, were seen, as were 4 blue morph SNOW GEESE, an imm. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, SURF SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER, several jaegers and at least two small groups of BRANT. GREATER SCAUP, OLDSQUAW, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER can easily be found on the lake now. Seen today at noon at Van Wagners Beach were an adult LITTLE GULL, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR and 9 SNOW BUNTINGS.

Found at Cootes Paradise this week were 3 GREAT EGRETS and 8 GREAT BLUE HERONS, plus RUDDY DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, NORTHERN SHOVELLER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL and 75 AMERICAN COOTS. At Bronte Harbour only 2 adult RED-NECKED GREBES remain. We hope that the youngsters went south safely. Waterfowl at Toll Gate ponds included RUDDY DUCK, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK and LESSER SCAUP.

A HUDSONIAN GODWIT with a bad leg has been seen at both Windermere basin and on the mud at the end of the Willows. Other shorebirds at the Willows and Valley Inn were BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN and PECTORAL SANDPIPER.

The two best raptor sighting came from the lakeshore, where 3 GOLDEN EAGLES were seen off FIFTY POINT Tuesday and 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS were circling far out off Van WAGNER'S BEACH today. An imm. BALD EAGLE flew over the QEW at Bronte Rd, an imm. NORTHERN GOSHAWK passed by Valley Inn, and the first ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK of the season appeared in Flamborough. A PEREGRINE FALCON disturbed 200 DUNLIN at the Willows and was mobbed by a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in return.

The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW for the fall and 20 EVENING GROSBEAKS turned up at Middletown Marsh, and 2 SNOW BUNTINGS were on Kirkwall Rd. north of Safari Rd. A pair of TUFTED TITMOUSE are visiting feeders at the RBG Nature Centre. Another TUFTED TITMOUSE and 3 COMMON REDPOLLS were at Fifty Point. Large flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS were over Dundas. A late FIELD SPARROW was at Woodland Cemetery, and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW at the RBG. A RED- BELLIED WOODPECKER turned up at the Willows.

More listeners are reporting winter birds at their feeders. DARK- EYED JUNCOS, PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES seem to be most common.

Out of town, PINE GROSBEAKS and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have been spotted at Whitefish Point in Upper Michigan, Presqu'ile PP reports lot of activity including HUDSONIAN GODWIT, LESSER BLACK- BACKED GULL, 150 HORNED GREBES and a pair of SNOW BUNTINGS, and a rare for the area HUDSONIAN GODWIT turned up near Buffalo.

In the next week look for Golden Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks and Tundra Swans migrating south, and possibly large flocks of American Pipits in fields in our area.

Good birding.

Dear Fellow Birders

Hi, I have a report for Cootes Paradise on Saturday and Van Wagner's Beach & Windermere Basin on Monday. At Cootes Paradise (north shore) there was a Great Egret, which has been around for a long time, since at least the begining of the month, there even used to be another one but I guess the other one smartened up and headed for more warmer weather. There was also Gadwall, Green-Wigned Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveller, also many Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck, Hooded Merganser, and 75 American Coots, Pine Siskin, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Amer. Tree-Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and White-Throated Sparrow. At Van Wagners there were many Black Scoters, at least 1 Surf Scoter (but no White-Winged), Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-Breasted Merganser, Scaup, Cormorant, 5 Dunlin, American Kestrel, Great Black-Backed, Herring, 1 Bonapart's, and R-B Gulls. At Van Wagner Ponds there was a Dunlin, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Belted Kingfisher. At Windermere Basin there was a Great Blue Heron, Lesser Scaup, Black Ducks, Gadwall, and Northern Pintail.

Hi Gord,

I had a couple of hours to spend in Hamilton on Saturday, and checked out a few of the hotspots. The highlight of the day was a Great Egret on the north shore of Cootes Paradise, easily visible from Princess Point. I was also surprised at the numbers of waterfowl, both along the east side of Hamilton Harbour, and in Cootes Paradise. Highlights included ~80 Ruddy Ducks, 6 Canvasback, 4 Redhead, 2 Pintail, and several hundred scaup. North of Princess Point, there were also ~50 Bufflehead and 2 Horned Grebes.

I looked for the Tufted Titmice at the RBG Arboretum, but found only RW Blackbirds, WB Nuthatches, and WT Sparrows. Similarly, I had no luck with the Black-throated Gray Warbler at the Rose Garden, however I did see a flock of 15 Cedar Waxwings there. In both cases, I didn't have much time to look around, so the titmice and warbler may still be there.

Good birding,

At 8:00PM Thursday, October 23, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

The Fall Wildflower Walk with Dean Gugler publicized for this weekend was in error. The walk will take place next Saturday, November 1. Meet at the old rifle range parking lot on Paddy Green Road off Jerseyville Rd. in Ancaster at 1PM.

The 24th annual Hamilton Area Fall Bird Count will take place as usual on November 2. Regulars doing their areas again and birders wishing to help out are asked to call Bill Lamond at 519-756- 9546.

As sometimes happens when things get dull in local birding, a rare species arrives to shake us up. This happened yesterday when an adult male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at the Royal Botanical Gardens. The bird was seen again around noon today. As the weather is warming up a bit, it might stay on for the weekend. >From the RBG Visitors' Centre cross Plains Rd. With your back to the Visitors' Centre go right or east through the Rose Garden. Look for the bird from the east side of the Rose Garden to the homes on the east side of the adjacent Womens' Auxiliary Garden.

The mild weather last weekend did not bring rare gulls or much else to the lakeshore, but a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and several COMMON LOONS were seen from Van Wagner's Beach. The nearby Ponds produced a juvenile SORA which was a life bird for many visitors on the Ontario Field Ornithologists' trip. Found at the quarry at 10th Rd E and Green Mountain Rd were RUSTY BLACKBIRD, HOODED MERGANSER, AMERICAN COOT and PIED-BILLED GREBE.

A birder who stopped at the High Level Bridge just before noon Tuesday was well rewarded when a pair of adult GOLDEN EAGLES flew over. Other raptor species seen in the area this week include SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, RED- TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, PEREGRINE FALCON and MERLIN. One listener watched a RED-TAILED HAWK catch a mouse and retire to a pole to eat it, only to lose the mouse to another Red-tail which muscled in. Another listener reported a RED-TAILED HAWK soaring behind a soybean reaper looking for mice disturbed by the machine.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and several DUNLIN were at Windermere on the weekend, and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT was found in the Pier 24 pond there today. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, KILLDEER, DUNLIN and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were on the mud at the WILLOWS.

At least one NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was still present in the Dundas Marsh Sunday. At least one TUFTED TITMOUSE pair and possibly more have returned to the feeders at the RBG Nature Centre at the arboretum. The Bronte Woods produced two ORANGE- CROWNED WARBLERS and half a dozen EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were also in evidence down St. Catharines way.

More winter finch reports have been received. A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL flew over Van Wagner's Beach yesterday. A listener on Parkdale had the first ever PINE SISKINS at his feeders, while an Ancaster listener had the first ever EVENING GROSBEAK turn up in her yard. The same caller was washing all her feeders when two PINE SISKINS landed nearby and called as though to tell her to finish up and feed them. SISKINS, EVENING GROSBEAKS and PURPLE FINCHES have been reported all over the area, from Millgrove to Vanessa.

Last week we forgot to report that a flock of 5 plegadis Ibis was seen over Long Point's Big Creek Marsh.

The forecast calls for east winds Sunday or Monday, so check the lake for flocks of Brant geese, rare gulls and jaegers, and keep an eye out for migrating Short-eared Owls coming across. Long- eared Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls are also on the move during the night at this time. The next three weeks are the normal peak of Golden Eagle migration through our area.

Good birding.

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

The update concerns an adult male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER found this morning and as recently as 2:15 at the Royal Botanical Gardens. From the RBG Visitors' Centre cross Plains Rd to the Rose Garden. With your back to the Visitors' Centre go right or east through the Rose Garden into the Womens' Auxiliary Garden. Look for the bird in the vicinity of a brown wooden shed.

At 5:20PM Thursday, October 16, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648-9537.

There haven't been too many bird sightings reported this week. Fortunately we have several interesting announcements to fill the void.

Raptor Expert Bill Clark will give lectures in London at 8PM this Friday and Saturday evenings at the London Regional Art Gallery. Tickets are $12 per evening.

Members of the Naturalists' Club are invited to the Ontario Field Ornithologists annual meeting this Saturday Oct. 18 at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, starting at 9:00 AM. Speakers are Chip Weseloh on the colonial waterbirds of Georgian Bay, and Ron Tozer on the birds of Algonquin. Tickets are available at the door. Members are also welcome to join the OFO outing on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Van Wagners Beach at 8:00 AM.

Also on the calendar this Sunday - you can help with trail maintenance at the Club's Spooky Hollow Sanctuary. Bring a lunch. Meet John Fischer at South Hamilton Mall, corner of Upper James and Rymal, near Kelsey's at 9AM.

The Bird Study Group will meet next Monday, October 18, at its new location, the Canada Centre For Inland Waters on Eastport Drive, just beside the Skyway Bridge. This month's meeting will feature a presentation on Birding in the Southern US by Wilf Yusek and an ID session on Golden Eagles. The meeting starts at 7:30PM. Visitors are always welcome.

Some birds are still confused. This morning an AMERCIAN ROBIN was singing cheerily in Winona, your reporter's SONG SPARROW is still sounding off at dawn, and a listener in Stoney Creek reports a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD going through the whole songsheet for great lengths of time for four days straight. It's colder north of us, however. Reports of WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER and RED-THROATED LOON at Whitefish Point on Lake Michigan, and NORTHERN SHRIKE near Sauble beach on the Bruce Peninsula suggest things to come.

Things were pretty quiet in the Dundas Marsh last weekend, but at least one NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was still present, as were some WOOD DUCKS and what seemed to be the entire world population of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

For the first time in a while a TUFTED TITMOUSE has been reported in the Burlington area. Continuing a trend, EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at Woodland Cemetery and Middletown Marsh, and two PINE SISKINS flew over your reporter yesterday. There seem to be lots of DARK-EYED JUNCOS around.

Five Jaegers were off Van Wagners Beach on Saturday. Seen at Valley Inn on Tuesday were good numbers of DUNLIN, PECTORAL SANDPIPER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, one WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and a COMMON SNIPE. Five GREATER YELLOWLEGS were at Van Wagner's Ponds this morning.

Look for small flocks of migrating Common Snipe inland and larger flocks of Brant geese on the lake. Today's north winds are predicted to continue into the weekend. Although not as good as those from the east, north winds are better than the west and southerlies we've had for the past month, and could bring rare gulls and jaegers to the lakeshore this weekend. Keep an eye out for migrating Short-eared Owls coming across the lake. If things get cold in the Hudson Bay/Labrador region, Golden Eagle migration through our area should start near the end of next week.

Good birding.

At 8:30PM Thursday, October 9, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648-9537.

Members of the Naturalists' Club are invited to the Ontario Field Ornithologists annual meeting on Sat. Oct. 18 at CCIW, starting at 9:00 AM. Speakers are Chip Weseloh on the colonial waterbirds of Georgian Bay, and Ron Tozer on the birds of Algonquin. Tickets are available at the door. Members are also welcome to join the OFO outing on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Van Wagners Beach at 8:00 AM.

Well, the weather so far this fall certainly has the birds confused. Lots of warblers and other summmer species are still around, yet there have been many reports of birds which don't normally turn up until December or so. On the way to the car yesterday morning your reporter was serenaded by a SONG SPARROW singing as though it was April, while hawkwatchers down Windsor way are still waiting for the Turkey Vultures, which are usually well into migration by now.

For the second week in a row the Dundas Marsh was the most productive spot around. Among 75 species found in the marsh during the South Peel Naturalists field trip last Sunday were 2 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, GOLDEN EAGLE, BALD EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON, MERLIN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, DUNLIN, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, WOOD DUCK, RUDDY DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELLER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, BELTED KINGFISHER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, MARSH WREN, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, AND PALM WARBLERS, ROSE- BREASTED GROSBEAK, SWAMP SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, AND WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. Also seen at the marsh Sunday were an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, an AMERICAN BITTERN and a second immature BALD EAGLE. Another listener reported a dozen BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERONS flying past Princess Point just at dusk.

Somewhat puzzling from a timing point of view are the early reports of EVENING GROSBEAK at Bronte and Vineland, PINE SISKIN at Bronte and at VAnessa, and PURPLE FINCH at Bronte, all seen last Sunday.

The RED-NECKED GREBE family is still at Bronte Harbour and 3 COMMON LOONS were seen far offshore from there. A GREAT EGRET was at Christie CA, while from 50 Point CA come reports of FOX SPARROW, EASTERN TOWHEE, BROWN CREEPER and 5 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS. Seen at Windermere Basin were 8 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. Seen Monday at LaSalle Park were NASHVILLE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, an unprecedented four (4) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, plus AMERICAN REDSTART, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, HERMIT THRUSH, INDIGO BUNTING and 80 AMERICAN COOT.

Out of town, Presqu'ile PP reports PARASITIC JAEGER, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, WESTERN SANDPIPER, breeding-plumaged AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and RED PHALAROPE. The only place to report good numbers of migrating PEREGRINE FALCONS this fall is Cape May New Jersey, where 291 Peregrines were counted on Tuesday.

On this holiday weekend watch out for small flocks of migrating Common Snipe, and keep looking for Turkey Vultures heading west toward Windsor. Red-tailed Hawks will be moving soon too. Don't forget to head for the lakeshore for rare gulls and jaegers if east winds develop.

Good birding.

At 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 2, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648-9537.

The program at the Naturalists' Club this Monday, October 6, is the Annual General Meeting and Member's Night, with slides of nature trips and activities. Meetings are held at 8:00PM at the Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd West, Burlington. Visitors are always welcome.

The Dundas Marsh was the most productive spot around last weekend. Found in the trees were 12 species of warbler, including: BLACK & WHITE WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and AMERICAN REDSTART, not to mention PHILADELPHIA VIREO, BLUE-HEADED VIREO and RED-EYED VIREO. The mud flats at the end of the Willows produced four plovers - AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and KILLDEER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, plus a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Waterfowl at the marsh included at least 150 WOOD DUCKS of all ages, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELLER. In the waterbird category were a GREAT EGRET, a juvenile COMMON MOORHEN and a juvenile VIRGINIA RAIL which looked as though it still had not completely fledged. The reeds also hosted 18 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and several MARSH WRENS. Yesterday at the marsh three NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and an AMERICAN BITTERN TURNED UP.

The RED-NECKED GREBE family remained at Bronte Harbour through the end of last week. On Sunday a FORSTER'S TERN was at the NE Shore Islands, good numbers of RUDDY DUCK, LESSER SCAUP and REDHEAD were at Tollgate Ponds, and a Jaeger was off Fifty Point. Species seen at Christie C.A. on Monday were GREAT EGRET, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SCARLET TANAGER and INDIGO BUNTING. A GREAT EGRET was in the drainage ditch just north of Clappison's Corners this afternoon.

Late migrants found this week included RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and BARN SWALLOW. The cold weather brought to the area lots more DARK-EYED JUNCO, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, as well as EASTERN PHOEBE, WINTER WREN, HERMIT THRUSH, LINCOLN'S SPARROW and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.

On the home front, a young listener reports that it took quite some time to get a very startled OVENBIRD out of the family garage.

Out of town, Presqu'ile PP recorded its first ever POMARINE JAEGERS last weekend. Your reporter happened to be at Point Pelee NP yesterday morning when an EVENING GROSBEAK and a PURPLE FINCH flew over and landed in a nearby tree. The people at Holiday Beach Migration Observatory near Amherstburg count everything that moves past their site, not just raptors. Two weekends ago they tallied over 12,000 Monarch Butterflies, and last weekend more than 160,000 BLUE JAYS were counted.

The following is a 'Way-out-of-town' report. Hawkwatchers in Ontario and the Northeastern United States who have been concerned by the very low numbers of Broad-winged Hawks seen this spring and fall have received some welcome news - last Saturday, Sunday and Monday counters at Hazel Bazemore Park in Corpus Christie, TX counted a phenomenal 700,000 Broad-wings!

Continue to look for migrating Peregrine Falcons. The next week will also see thousands of Turkey Vultures streaming west toward Windsor, and the migration of Red-tailed Hawks will begin. Don't forget to head for the lakeshore for rare gulls and jaegers if east winds develop.

Good birding.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

This Saturday, September 27, join Hazel Broker for a walk to see ferns, goldenrod and asters at the Hamilton Naturalists' Club's Short Hills Sanctuary. Meet at the Battlefield Square Mall on Queenston Rd. east of Hwy. 20 in Stoney Creek at 9:30AM.

A trip to the mud flats at the Willows in Dundas Marsh yesterday produced 6 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT, plus AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. The birders who reported these got a bonus when they found a NELSON'S SHARP- TAILED SPARROW in the reeds.

Seen Saturday at Windermere Basin's Pier 24 Pond were LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, RED KNOT and a juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, as well as DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Close to 20 juvenile LESSER YELLOWLEGS were in the Sandusk Creek this afternoon.

Lots more birds are migrating. Any one out and about last weekend couldn't miss the thousands of BLUE JAYS streaming west. DARK- EYED JUNCO, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, RUBY- CROWNED KINGLET, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, PALM WARBLER and RED- BREASTED NUTHATCH are around in numbers now. In the last few days a RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 3 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, the new name for Solitary Vireo, were at Middletown Marsh. Late migrants reported this week included RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER and BARN SWALLOW.

Seen at noon today at the Burlington Beach Canal were YELLOW -BELLIED SAPSUCKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, BROWN THRASHER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

Two juvenile SABINE'S GULLS were off Van Wagner's Beach on Sunday, and several distant Jaegers were seen from there Saturday. At Niagara Falls, NY an adult CALIFORNIA GULL was found Saturday at the Lewiston Reservoir State Park among a large flock of gulls feeding on the lawn at Witmer and Military Roads. Also on Saturday a pair of FRANKLIN'S GULLS were on the small beach near the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie.

Close to 2000 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were seen in our area Sunday, along with 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS. A steady flow of OSPREY and BALD EAGLES also has been noted by our young hawkwatcher in Dundas.

A pair of BELTED KINGFISHERS and a GREEN HERON were seen in the Red HIll Valley.

Out of town reports include a light phase PARASITIC JAEGER which circled the watchers at Hawk Cliff near Port Stanley on Sunday, and almost 50,000 BROAD-WING HAWKS at Detroit on Monday.

Sept. 28 through Oct. 2 is normally the time when most Peregrine Falcons migrate through our area. Strong winds from the southwest seem to bring them closer to the ground and make them easier to see. Because Peregrines often follow shorelines, the High Level Bridge can be a good place to watch for them. Watch also for a buildup of Turkey Vultures, which normally hit their migration peak the week after next.

Good birding.

At 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

This Saturday, September 20, join Jim Pringle of the Royal Botanical Gardens on an autumn wildflower walk. Meet at at 9:30 a.m. at the RBG parking area off York Road.

There are two bird outings this Sunday, September 21. Join Kevin McLaughlin to look for warblers, shorebirds, jaegers and rare gulls. Bring a lunch. Meet Kevin at Dundurn Castle for car pooling at 8AM. Or join Jim Pringle of the Royal Botanical Gardens and look for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and other species on the shores of Cootes Paradise. Meet at the Nature Interpretive Centre in the Arboretum at 8AM.

Mountsberg C.A. had lots to offer last weekend, with hundreds of waterfowl including WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIDGEON, GREEN-WING TEAL, BLUE-WING TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL and over 75 PIED-BILLED GREBES. Also at Mountsberg were many shorebirds, including DUNLIN, STILT SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, and SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were on the mud at the Willows in the Dundas Marsh. There was an unconfirmed report of a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER on Airport Rd. in Mt. Hope. This afternoon your reporter watched juvenile LESSER YELLOWLEGS catching and eating minnows in the Sandusk Creek near Cheapside.

Although 2400 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were seen in our area Sunday, the expected major Broad-wing migration has not yet developed. Also seen Sunday were at least one SWAINSON'S HAWK, 4 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 11 OSPREY, 3 MERLIN and 2 PEREGRINE FALCON. At noon today three BALD EAGLES were over Dundas, while at the Beach Canal a very tame juvenile BALD EAGLE allowed a birder to approach within 25 feet! A PEREGRINE FALCON may have taken up residence at the Mississauga Executive Centre near the Square One shopping centre.

Five PARASITIC JAEGERS, including an adult light morph in fairly close, were off the PetroCanada Pier at Bronte Wednesday. Gulls are returning to the Niagara River early. A juvenile SABINE'S GULL was at Adam Beck Overlook Tuesday and a 1st year FRANKLIN'S GULL has been seen near the Peace Bridge and on the Fort Erie beaches since Sunday. An adult LITTLE GULL was also near the Peace Bridge Sunday.

Seen at the Burlington Beach were SWAINSON'S THRUSH, WINTER WREN and WILSON'S WARBLER, while LINCOLN'S SPARROW and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were at Middletown Marsh. NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER, BLACK- AND-WHITE WARBLER and BLACKPOLL WARBLER were at Beamer CA in Grimsby. Found at 50 Point CA were BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER and BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS and CHIMNEY SWIFTS were migrating past the High Level Bridge.

About a dozen PURPLE FINCH are continuously at a 5th Con. Flamborough home, and several more are hanging about an Ancaster yard. A BROWN THRASHER and several RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS visited a Powerline Rd. home, while a Dundas listener had a CAROLINA WREN in the yard and three SCARLET TANAGERS in a single tree behind his house.

Other reports include about 60 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS over Ivor Wynn Stadium, a dozen early AMERICAN PIPITS at Martindale Ponds in St. Catharines, and large groups of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and AMERICAN ROBINS in Dundas.

Out of our area, Presqu'ile PP reports 19 species of shorebird last weekend. Found among a group of female AMERICAN WIDGEON at Point Pelee's Hillman Marsh last Saturday was a CINNAMON TEAL. Also at Hillman was a grove of trees with about 20 Great Egrets sitting in them.

Good birding.

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED AS OF APRIL 7, 1997

At 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 11, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report. Thanks very much to Rob Dobos for looking after the line for the last two weeks while we've been away.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

The Bird Study Group will meet next Monday, September 15, at its new location, the Auditorium of the Canada Centre For Inland Waters on Eastport Drive, just beside the Skyway Bridge. Please note that there has been a change in the published program. This month's meeting will feature a presentation on Birding in Costa Rica by Lois Evans. The meeting starts at 7:30PM. Visitors are always welcome.

This Saturday, September 13, join Jim Pringle of the Royal Botanical Gardens on an autumn wildflower walk to see native asters, goldenrods and other plants in flower and fruit. Meet at at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Park and Bond Streets, Dundas.

The first and so far only BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER reported in our area this season turned up on the beach at 50 Point CA yesterday afternoon. A careful look at the Hwy. 6 sod farms this afternoon failed to produce any more of this hard to find species. What did turn up today was a large number of KILLDEER - if you saw one there would be another six or a dozen close by. Aside from LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS at the pond near Hewitt's Dairy on Hwy. 6 N. of Hagersville today, we have no other shorebird reports.

The fall seabird parade continued Sunday with a SABINE'S GULL and three PARASITIC JAEGERS off Van Wagner's Beach, while seen from Shoreacres were 2 adult Parasitics and an unidentified Jaeger. Two PARASITIC JAEGERS were at Van Wagner's Monday.

The Eared Grebe was not seen this week, but 4 HORNED GREBES and 28 RED-NECKED GREBES were in the lake off Shoreacres. The two juvenile RED-NECKED GREBES at Bronte Harbour have grown so big that only one of them at a time can fit on Momma's back.

The only new passerine migrants reported were a PHILADELPHIA VIREO and a RED-BELLIED SAPSUCKER seen Sunday at Valley Inn. Many of the warblers which arrived in the area last week are probably still around.

While the weather has not been as good for fall hawk migration this week there has still been some raptor activity. On Saturday an immature PEREGRINE FALCON was happily terrorizing ducks and shorebirds at Windermere Basin. The MERLIN and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were over Dundas this afternoon. Seen this afternoon on the Cheapside Rd. south of Hagersville were a female COOPER'S HAWK making a pass at a flock of KILLDEER, unusual prey for a Cooper's, and a male NORTHERN HARRIER.

The next seven days are normally the peak of the fall Broad- winged Hawk migration. If there are winds with a northerly component and some cloud for contrast, good numbers of Broad- wings should be visible from Woodland Cemetery or the High Level Bridge. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks are also moving, as are Bald Eagles and Osprey. Continue to watch for warblers, especially if there's a cold snap, and look for large numbers of Common Loons on the lake towards the end of next week. Easterly winds are the best time to look for Jaegers and other pelagic species.

Good birding.

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED AS OF APRIL 7, 1997

At 6:00PM Thursday, August 21, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

The last Wednesday Night walk of the summer will feature a visit to a Reconstructed Prairie Community at Christie CA. Join Leader Bruce Duncan at 6:30PM on August 27 at the entrance to Christie Conservation Area off Hwy 5 for a short excursion to a remnant of Ontario's natural prairie.

The 20 or 21 species of shorebird seen locally last weekend has made this one of the best fall shorebird migrations in years. Special birds included WHIMBREL, WILLET, RED KNOT, two RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, two WILSON'S PHALAROPE, a probable LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, at least two WESTERN SANDPIPERS and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Also seen were AMERICAN WOODCOCK, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. In case you're counting the other four species were KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER and both Yellowlegs. Anywhere there is mud seems to be good, especially Windermere Basin, Tollgate Ponds, the pond near Hewitt's Dairy on Hwy. 6 N of Hagersville, Lake Niapenco at Binbrook CA, the Willows and the Martindale Pond in St. Catharines.

Birds seen at Middletown Marsh in the past few days include PURPLE FINCH, up to seven PINE WARBLERS in two broods, AMERICAN REDSTART, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, while reported at 16 Mile Creek near 6th Line and Upper Middle Road in Oakville were GREEN HERON, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and BELTED KINGFISHER. A family of four BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHERS entertained a birder at Hendrie Valley, and a female AMERICAN REDSTART feeding a youngster was on the South Shore of Cootes Paradise. Both YELLOW WARBLERS and CANADA WARBLERS were in a yard on Powerline Rd. A caller who did not leave any other details mentioned 7 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and two escaped Parakeets at Bronte Park.

Reports from the waterfronts include the female REDHEAD with 3 chicks at Tollgate Ponds, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WING TEAL and BLUE-WING TEAL plus newly arrived LESSER SCAUP. The RED-NECKED GREBE family at Bronte Harbour continues to do well. A listener in Ancaster got home from work this afternoon to find 70 CANADA GEESE in her pond which weren't there this morning.

A migrant juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and a local adult COOPER'S HAWK at Middletown Marsh, the immature BALD EAGLE near CCIW, and an OSPREY with a fish in its talons over Hendrie Valley were the only raptors reported.

Next to the spring rush in May, this is probably the best period of the year for bird watching in our area as all kinds of birds are making their way south. Look for large flocks of COMMON NIGHT-HAWKS, sometimes mixed with lots of gulls, swallows gathering on telephone wires, and blackbirds everywhere. Keep an eye on the sky for a post-breeding dispersal of immature RED- TAILED HAWKS moving east along the south shore of Lake Ontario, Osprey along bodies of water, and the first Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks. Hang out your sweet water feeder to catch the Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration which peaks right around Labour Day. After getting this report on the hotline your reporter is going out to look for Buff-breasted Sandpipers, which should be arriving at sod-farms and short grass fields any second. And don't forget the returning warblers, which should be abundant late next week. It's a great opportunity to learn how to distinguish fall warblers.

Good birding.

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED AS OF APRIL 7, 1997

While visiting a friend in Ancaster, Ontario, near Hamilton's "mountain", the escarpment above Lake Ontario, I saw and heard an owl I was unable to identify. The first clue was the single catlike call repeated several times a minute after dark. My friend said that she had heard the call continue all night in recent weeks. I thought it could be a cat, and thought of a catbird, but the call was delivered in a firm monotone, with very little descending whine.

From the backyard deck, I felt the sound may be coming from two places, a mature hedge-row beyond the mowed field, and from evergreens at the right side of the house. That made me think that more than one bird was involved, perhaps young owls learning to hunt in their home territory. One time, I felt that a bird was calling in flight, since the calls moved from left to right across the field.

I slept, but was awakened by the calls at night, and trained my Swift Ultralite 10x42 bins out the window. The owl perched at the top of a utility pole near the garage. The light was too dim to detect markings or ear tufts, but I'd say the bird was mottled or dark in appearance, not the bright white of a mature barn owl. I estimate the size between 16 and 20 inches. The bird went on calling occasionally, and turning its head. My feeble flashlight shed no light through the window glass, and I didn't want to disturb the owl by going outside to get closer.

My Peterson LP recordings of bird songs give the calls of adults, but very few young owls. The recorded call of the immature Great Horned Owl matched my memory most closely. Other birders suggested that I may have heard Short-eared owls, Long-eared owls, or Barn owls.

The habitat is agricultural land about a half mile west of Hamilton mountain's newest subdivisions. I'd appreciate the advice of local Southern Ontario birders on the possible identify of the owl(s) that gave me such a thrill at 11:00 pm on August 5. I wish I'd remembered the full name and address of Rose of Ancaster!

Thanks.

Dear Fellow Birders

Hi, I was down to the South Shore Trails on Friday, and the North Shore Trails, in Cootes Paradise. The highlights were a N. Mockingbird, several Eastern Bluebirds, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, a family of Sora, Catbirds, Field, Song, and Chirping Sparrows, B-C Night Heron, Northern Oriole, and a Yellow Warbler. From the South Shore Trails, the highlight was a female Redstart feeding a baby, also seen were a Solitary Sandpiper, a Greater Yellowlegs, Catbirds, and Wood Ducks.

At 9:40PM Thursday, August 14, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

On the August 20 Wednesday Night walk join Leader Terry Stortz for a look at the James Street Stairs Naturalization. Come out to learn about and participate in the Club's important project in the centre of the city. If you want to help, bring gardening gloves, pruning shears and garbage bags. Park at Scout House at 6:30 p.m.

A pair of SNOWY EGRETS was at Strawberry Island on the Niagara River and 4 GREAT EGRETS were also nearby on Motor Island. Completing the egret trio, the Presqu'ile CATTLE EGRET was rediscovered Satruday on Sebastopol Point on Gull Island. A SANDHILL CRANE flew over the Townsend lagoons and landed in a field on Tuesday. Farther afield, a PIPING PLOVER was at the tip of Point Pelee briefly Saturday, and four juvenile WILLETS were at Erieau Sunday.

At Fort Erie on the weekend were a near breeding plumaged BLACK- BELLIED PLOVER at Windmill Point and a WESTERN SANDPIPER on the beach west of Stone Mill Road. There's a new shorebird spot in the area. In order to accomodate the 1999 World Rowing Championships in St Catharines, Martindale Pond has been dredged and the silt spread in new containment areas. On Sunday 150 to 200 shorebirds of 5 species were present. From the QEW take the Martindale exit head north toward the lake, go right onto Main Street, follow the signs to Henley Island and look for the silt ponds at the N end of the island.

Locally, a female REDHEAD with three downy chicks a few days old at Tollgate Ponds is a first breeding record for the Hamilton area! A few male and female Redheads have hung around the harbour area all summer so this is not totally unexpected. A second baby RED-NECKED GREBE has made its appearance at Bronte Harbour. Discreet reconnaissance by rubber dinghy revealed no sign of the other two eggs. Also summering in the area this year have been a male COMMON GOLDENEYE and two male LESSER SCAUP.

Shorebirds continue to be good here too. A WILLET was on the south side of Tollgate Ponds near the tern raft at noon today. On Sunday a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was in the pond off Pier 24 at Windermere Basin. LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, a juvenile SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and both LESSER YELLOWLEGS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS have also been reported. With the lake water level dropping steadily mudflats are increasing at the NE shore of the Harbour, at Tollgate Ponds, and are forming at the end of the Willows and lots of shorebirds are stopping off.

A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was at Woodland Cemetery while a female and 3 juvenile PINE WARBLERS and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER were at Middletown Marsh. Warblers banded at Ruthven since July 29 include an adult male BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, an adult female LAWRENCE'S WARBLER and over 70 YELLOW WARBLERS.

Seen at Lake Niapenco on Sunday were an immature BALD EAGLE and a juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK. As it is pretty early for Goshawks to be migrating, the question is whether or not this could be a bird born locally. The immature BALD EAGLE which has been hanging around the harbour the past few weeks seems to be roosting on the ground beneath the trees growing along Eastport Dr., and takes short flights out around the islands where it gets mobbed by terns and gulls. Four OSPREY were in the air together over the Grand River near Cayuga Sunday.

Spotted on the North Side of Cootes Paradise Tuesday were a pair of SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, a family of SORA, several EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and a WOOD DUCK. Two hatch year YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS were banded at Ruthven.

On the home front, Ancaster yards hosted a pair of EASTERN KINGBIRDS in one place and a family of PURPLE FINCHES at another.

The last two weeks of August bring lots variety. Look for large flocks of COMMON NIGHT-HAWKS, sometimes mixed with lots of gulls, swallows gathering on telephone wires, and blackbirds everywhere. Also keep an eye on the sky for a post-breeding dispersal of immature RED-TAILED HAWKS moving east along the south shore of Lake Ontario. In a week or so be sure to hang out your sweet water feeder as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration peaks right around Labour Day.

Good birding.

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED AS OF APRIL 7, 1997

At 9:10PM Thursday, August 7, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

Next week, explore the RBG's Berry Tract on the August 13 Wednesday Night walk and learn a bit about the Hamilton Wentworth Greenlands Strategy. The Berry Tract is just above York Rd. in Dundas. Meet Leader Mary Ellen Scanlon on Paterson Rd between Valley Rd and Old Guelph Rd. at 6:30 p.m.

On Tuesday a first summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found on the Queenston Reservoir at Niagara Falls. This is probably the first mid-summer record of this species in the Niagara area.

Three SANDHILL CRANES, one of them apprently a juvenile, were in a farmer's field opposite the Pinehurst Conservation area in Ayr one day last week.

There have been some interesting yard reports. The best was of a possible Little Blue Heron which touched down for a few seconds in a yard and then flew towards Tuck Creek near Spruce St. in Burlington. Another unusual sighting was a possible Red Crossbill which stopped briefly at a feeder in Dundas but did not return. A listener in Vanessa, north of Simcoe, reported two matched pairs of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS making daily appearances at her feeders, and then came back with an excited report of a family of six PURPLE FINCHES, two juveniles of each gender and the parents, turning up as well.

A hatchling RED-NECKED GREBE has made its appearance at Bronte Harbour. The young one has been seen swimming and also going for rides on a parent's back. At least two more eggs, and possibly three, remain in the nest.

Seen at Ruthven House near Cayuga yesterday was a very early EVENING GROSBEAK, as well as three still singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS and six BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS. Very early YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen at Middletown Marsh.

Shorebirders are still smiling. New in the area this week are a few SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, and many juvenile LEAST SANDPIPERS. The WHIMBREL remains on one of the islands close to the Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Also reported were SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, STILT SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER and both LESSER YELLOWLEGS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Good spots to look are Windermere Basin, Tollgate Ponds, Lake Niapenco at Binbrook CA, the pond near Hewitt's Dairy on Hwy. 6 north of Hagersville, and Sandusk Creek at 2nd Con. near Cheapside.

Hamilton's PEREGRINE FALCONS continue to roam the area. Instead of watching halting attempts at flight, people working in the Stelco Tower are now getting used to one or other of these characters bombing past their windows at odd times of the day. On the way to work this morning your reporter spotted an adult RED- TAILED HAWK sitting awkwardly on a fence post. On turning around I found the bird looking almost puzzled, as if it was trying to figure out what to do with the small muskrat it had caught in a nearby ditch. The juvenile COOPER'S HAWKS continue to be active on the 5th Concession west of Middletown Rd.

The listener in Vanessa today saw a ragged "V" of geese going over, a reminder that we are near the time for the first wave of migrating CANADA GEESE, possibly including young ones learning to fly in formation, to arrive in our area. The end of next week should bring the first Buff-breasted Sandpipers back to the sod farms in the area. August bring shorebirds and the first of the returning fall warblers. These birds often come in behind a cold front and leave behind the next one.

Good birding.

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED AS OF APRIL 7, 1997

At 9:15PM Thursday, July 31, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

Next week, the August 6 Wednesday Night walk will feature Farming with Nature in Mind. Tour a Binbrook dairy farm to see environmentally sound agricultural practices. Meet Leader Dave Mitchell at 1308 Guyatt Rd E. (approx. 2.4 Km east of Hwy 56) at 6:30 p.m.

We don't normally include non-bird items but will make an exception to advise listeners that the Urquhart Butterfly Garden, situated east of Centennial Park at the end of the Desjardins Canal in Dundas, was officially opened last Saturday. Another event last weekend saw the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority open its newest conservation area at the Wainfleet Bog off Hwy. 3 just west of Port Colborne. Visitors are welcome at both places.

Good things come to those who wait, and for shorebird enthusiasts the waiting is over. 14 species have been reported, including a most cooperative WHIMBREL still on one of the islands near the Canada Centre for Inland Waters today, a RED KNOT in the same location on the weekend, and SANDERLING on Van Wagner's Beach. A juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPE was seen at the Winona Ponds. The best spot appears to be Lake Niapenco at Binbrook CA on English Church Rd. east of Hwy. 6., where included in some 200 shorebirds were more than 40 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Seen at Windermere Basin and Tollgate Ponds were STILT SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER plus both LESSER YELLOWLEGS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

On the waterfront, 3 HORNED GREBES, 16 RED-NECKED GREBES and a COMMON LOON were off Shoreacres, while both juvenile and adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen in the bay. The RED-NECKED GREBES at Bronte Harbour continue to incubate.

A juvenile BALD EAGLE hanging around the islands near CCIW since last week was there again today. This is likely a fledged bird from a Lake Erie nest, since fall migrants from the north normally don't show up until the beginning of September. The surviving PEREGRINE FALCON chick in London has not had an easy time of it. After making her first flight a week ago Sunday, she has crashed at least twice, but was still going strong at last report. Meanwhile Hamilton's PEREGRINE FALCONS are popping up all over - 3 were seen together over Windermere Basin, 5 were in trees near the rail trail at Victoria Avenue, and a lone juvenile was on Rat Island off the Royal Botanical Garden's north shore trail. A listener who reported an AMERICAN KESTREL hunting in the middle of Stelco's Hilton Works commented that this was the first kestrel he'd seen inside the steel mill property in 20 years.

There have been some interesting home sightings in Ancaster this week. One listener saw what appeared to be a young RED-TAILED HAWK flying between bushes in her yard chasing a squirrel, another had what seem to have been a pair of female or juvenile ORCHARD ORIOLES in one of her trees, while a family of three RED- BELLIED SAPSUCKERS turned up in another yard.

August will bring more shorebirds and the first of the returning fall warblers. These birds often come in behind a cold front and leave behind the next one.

Good birding.

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED AS OF APRIL 7, 1997

Dear Fellow Birders

Even though we are still suffering through the summer doldrums, I figured I would go out and see what I could find. I looked in the 16 mile creek valley, near 6th Line and Upper Middle in Oakville. I managed to find 2 female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Red-Eyed Vireo, female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, 2 Eastern Wood-Pewees, Cedar Waxwing, imm. White-Breasted Nuthatch, 2 Red-Tailed Hawks calling quite loudly, Goldfinches, and a Chirping Sparrow.

Dear Fellow Birders

I ventured to the east end of Bronte Provincial Park, last Friday. The main highlights of the trip were 4 pairs of Indigo Buntings, including one pair with a baby, Yellow Warbler, N. Mockingbird, families of Bobolinks, Goldfinches, Chickadees, and Field and Song Sparrows.

At 4:30PM Wednesday, July 23, 1997 this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline report.

The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights and is updated if a rare bird turns up in the area. The phone number is 905-648- 9537.

Next week's Wednesday Night walk, on July 30, will feature a tour of the Burlington Waterfront Trail & Beachway Park. Meet Leader Darcy Baker in the western parking area at Spencer Smith Park near the Tourist Information Centre at 6:30PM.

The adult RED PHALAROPE in full breeding plumage was still on the lake side of the lift bridge over the Burlington Beach Canal at 8PM last evening. Walk up the west pier about 100 metres to the point where a stone breakwall goes off at 90o toward Spencer Smith Park. The bird is often just in the corner at that junction, although it can be further out toward the end of the pier or toward Burlington.

An OSPREY seen bringing sticks of various sizes to a platform in Coote's Paradise last Sunday becomes, we are pleased to report, the first recorded nesting attempt by this species in the Hamilton Birding Area. Although likely too late for 1997, the activity could indicate a more serious attempt next year. An update today on Hamilton's four young PEREGRINE FALCONS indicates that all are doing well, still making the Sheraton Hotel their headquarters but flying further afield. We are told that their flying and soaring is pretty good but that landing skills sometimes need a little work. Sticking with raptors for the moment, three juvenile COOPER'S HAWKS are active on the 5th Concession near Middletown Rd. in Flamborough, and an increase in numbers in the Hagersville area suggests that post-breeding dispersal of RED-TAILED HAWKS has begun.

A pair of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen Saturday afternoon soaring high over Westdale. We've had no further reports but birders should be on the lookout for them.

A pair of BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHERS was seen carrying food in the Hendrie Valley. The RED-NECKED GREBES at Bronte Harbour continue to incubate at least 4 eggs.

Turning to shorebirds, a WHIMBREL made an appearance at Windermere Basin last Saturday, while a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was found Monday in the Sandusk Creek at the Cheapside Rd. in Nanticoke. Other shorebirds in the area include LEAST SANDPIPER and SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER plus both LESSER YELLOWLEGS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

Cold weather will bring more shorebirds and the first of the returning fall warblers. These birds often come in behind a cold front and leave with the next one.

Good birding.

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED AS OF APRIL 7, 1997

Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
mikestreet@hwcn.org