Hi again All,

On Sunday February 18, I went to Brantford and drove around the roads surrounding the airport, on Robinson Road that runs along the north side of the airport and just east of Rest Acres Road, I saw 4 Gray Partridge in a field to the north (about 300 metres from the road). Stopping in Brantford for food, I watched two Crows chasing a COOPER'S HAWK, which is funny because the last time I went looking for Partridge I saw a Cooper's Hawk fly across Hwy 403 in Brantford.

On the way back, I stopped at the Royal Botanical Gardens' Arboretum, looking for the previously reported Tufted Titmice along the Captain Cootes Trail, but no luck (I wasn't sure where along the trail the Titmice were seen, can anyone help, privately of course). I did hear a couple of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, along Cpt. Cootes trail, along the north shore of Cootes Paradise, behind the Nature Centre (at the bottom of the hill). Also along this trail were a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers, a Red-tailed Hawk which sat very tamely 10m away, among other more common species.

Also, at LaSalle Park, there were many REDHEADS, a few CANVASBACK, some LESSER SCAUP, among hundreds of GREATER SCAUP.

Regards & good birding,

Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
frankpinilla@hotmail.com

DIRECTIONS:
Gray Partridge - Hwy 403 west from Hamilton, past Brantford to Rest Acres Rd, exit south and go 2km, turn left on Robinson Road, slowly drive and scan the fields all around the airport (some Partridge have been reported in close to some of the airport buildings in the past).

RBG Arboretum - Hwy 403 in Hamilton, exit at Hwy 6 north to Guelph, turn right at the lights at Plains Road (the road turns back to the south), at the next set of lights turn right onto York Blvd. and follow the signs to the Arboretum, a right turn off York Blvd. on to Old Guelph Rd. takes you to the Arboretum, once in take the trail behind the Nature Centre (Captain Cootes Trail).

LaSalle Park/Marina - Hwy 403 exit south on Waterdown Road, go straight through the lights at Plains Road (at this point Waterdown turns into LaSalle Park Road), follow down to the lake.