Two photos in one. Peregrine Falcon with young pigeon ...€¦ · The Wood Duck - ctober Page 27...

JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUBProtecting Nature Since 1919

Volume 72 Number 2 October 2018

I n T h i s I s s u e :Celebrating Hamilton's Pollinator Paradise

Spring 2018 Noteworthy Bird RecordsMay Volunteer Appreciation NightPeregrine Falcons at the Lift Bridge

Saw-whet Owls at Ruthven Park

Two photos in one. Peregrine Falcon with young pigeon squab. Colour on one side and the background in black and white which stirs the imagination - photo Barry Cherriere.

The Wood Duck - October, 20186

Table of Contents Celebrating Hamilton's Pollinator Paradise Jen Baker 29 Wednesday Evening Walk at Courtcliffe Park Gord McNulty 30 Noteworthy Bird Records – March to May (Spring) 2018 Bill Lamond 31 Northern Saw-whet Owls and Nightlife at Ruthven Park Nancy Furber 34 Dates to Remember - October – November 2018 Rob Porter/Liz Rabishaw 36 May Volunteer Appreciation Night Bronwen Tregunno 38 Moments Caught in Time – Peregrines at the Lift Bridge Bruce Mackenzie 42

Lapland Longspurs at 5th Road East, S of Ridge Road in upper Stoney Creek, 9 May 2018 - photo John Vieira. This is one of the latest spring records ever recorded in the Hamilton Study Area. Turn to page 31 to see the highlights of the spring birding season.

Sandhill Crane over Wilkes Dam, Brantford on 18 March 2018 - photo Dinu Bandyopadhyay.

The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 27

Publications Committee: Christine Bishop, Martin Daly, Rob Dobos, Kevin McLaughlin, Don McLean, Herman van Barneveld, Glenda Slessor, Jean Stollard, Jim Stollard and John Struger.

The Wood Duck is the official publication of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and produced by members of the Club. It is published nine times a year from September to May, inclusive. Deadline for receipt of material is the 5th of the month preceding publication date.

As long as credit lines are included, articles may be reprinted without permission, unless otherwise specified. Opinions expressed in the Wood Duck are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club.

The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club promotes public interest in the study, conservation and appreciation of our natural heritage. Meetings are held monthly September to May inclusive and field events are scheduled throughout the year. Visitors are welcome.

The HNC is a registered charity and all donations as well as membership fees are tax deductible.

HNC BOARD 2017 - 2018 ExecutivePast President

President:Vice-President:

Secretary: Treasurer:

Maggie SimsBronwen TregunnoChris Motherwell

Joyce LitsterJim Stollard

905 331 1496905 637 7136*** *** ****905 627 1203905 634 3538

[email protected]@cogeco.ca

[email protected] [email protected]

[email protected] Directors

Bird Study Group:Conservation & Education:

Field Events:Director-at-Large:

Membership: Programs:Publicity:

Sanctuary:Volunteer:

Wood Duck Editor:

Bruce MackenziePaul D. Smith

Rob PorterJackson Hudecki

Jill Baldwin Lou Mitton

vacantBrian Wylie

Cleo CoppolinoBill Lamond

905 973 4869905 659 1482905 920 3148905 516 4253905 679 6447 *** *** ****

905 627 4601*** *** ****519 756 9546

[email protected]@sympatico.ca

[email protected]@gmail.com

[email protected] [email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]@hotmail.com

Coordinators

Website Coordinator:Social Coordinator:Junior Naturalists:

Mailing:Land Trust Program:

vacantCatharine Flatt

Brian WylieJean Stollard

Jen Baker

905 628 2030905 627 4601905 634 3538905 524 3339

[email protected]@cogeco.ca

[email protected]@hamiltonnature.org

Report rare bird sightings to: Cheryl Edgecombe 905-637-5923Send Noteworthy Bird Records to: Bill Lamond, 238 St. George St, Brantford, N3R 1W7 email: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to The Membership Director, Hamilton Naturalists’ Club P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5

HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order, contact Elaine Serena905-639-2702 or [email protected]

Life Membership $900.00 Hamilton Nature Counts 2003 $75.00

Single Membership $45.00 Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2007 $2.00

Senior Single Membership $40.00 Head of the Lake Nature Guide $8.00

Student Single Membership (on-line-only ac-cess to Wood Duck; for those 25 or under) free What’s Alive in Hamilton - from HCA website. free

Checklist of Ontario Butterflies $1.50

Senior Joint Membership $45.00 Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas(order from Glenn Barrett at [email protected]) $45.00Family Membership $50.00

Junior Naturalists - 1st child $80.00 Hamilton Mammal Atlas $15.00

Junior Naturalists - additional children $70.00 A Monthly Guide to Nature and Conservation $5.00

Honorary Life Member n/a Reptiles and Amphibians of Hamilton Area (check local library)

Volume 72 Number 2

CN ISSN 0049-7886 http://www.hamiltonnature.org

October 2018 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074

[email protected]

The Wood Duck - October, 2018Page 28

Editor’s Notes.....Hi everyone. I hope you are enjoying the first few days of Fall. When the temperatures are a bit above average, and the days are blessed with lots of sunshine, Fall is a great season. It is one of my favourite times of the year, especially with the change in leaf colour. One of the wonders of nature I think. As I write this on 9 September, it is very cool indeed, following some extremely hot days. It would be nice to have a happy medium, but no such luck.

There is not a great deal of variety in this issue as the Noteworthy Bird Records take up a lot of space. It is the spring NBR and as I review this, I note that there are so many rare birds that turned up last spring. How about American Avocet, Piping Plover, Marbled Godwit, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Yellow-throated Warbler, Kirtland's Warbler and Dickcissel? A slew of rarities indeed. Enough to keep you busy if you like to "chase" rare birds. Unfortunately the Hamilton area has not hosted a mega-rarity along the lines of a Reddish Egret or a Great Kiskadee in some time. Hopefully one of you readers out there will be lucky enough to spot one of these great rarities this Fall. Perhaps even on the Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count? It's bound to happen some day.

Despite the NBR taking up so much space, I have printed all of the articles that were submitted and they are fine articles indeed. I hope you agree. Feedback is always welcomed!

At the October Monthly MeetingMonday, October 15, 2018 - 7:30 p.m.

Fungi – The Fifth Kingdom RBG, 680 Plains Rd. W, Burlington

Join Kriss Gandier to learn about the fascinating world of wild mushrooms and other edible wild foods. Find out about the best ways to learn and methods used to identify mushrooms, as well as information about mushroom preparation and preservation for culinary purposes.

Kriss Gandier has been foraging for mushrooms her entire life, originally in Thunder Bay. She has been a member of the Toronto Mycology Club for over 20 years and has led forays in Cambridge and Kitchener. She currently harvests mushrooms and other wild foods for high-end restaurants including Langdon Hall.

At the October Bird Study GroupMonday, October 29, 2018 - 7:30 p.m.

Birds of The GambiaBurlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St.

Justin Peter is Quest Nature Tours' Director of Programs and senior naturalist, and worked previously for several years as Senior Naturalist at Algonquin Provincial Park. Justin leads tours to such places as India, Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Hudson Bay, the Canadian Arctic, Antarctica and The Gambia.

Tucked away on Africa’s west coast, the unassuming and tiny nation of The Gambia is one of the continent’s best-kept secrets. Flanking both banks of its mighty namesake river, it is located in a transition zone between the dry north and the humid south and hosts a surprising and wonderful array of bird life. Justin has scouted this country twice and will share his insights and some of his own photography from his visits.


Celebrating Hamilton’s Pollinator Paradise by Jen Baker

The Pollinator Paradise Project – a partnership between HNC and Environment Hamilton – is building a Pollinator

Corridor across the city. We create habitat in parks, at schools, and businesses by planting native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Workshops led by local experts help residents create their own pollinator habitats to contribute to the Pollinator Corridor which is

helping to bring nature back to the city.

We wanted to celebrate the tremendous work that has been done to create pollinator habitats. What to do?

The perfect location to celebrate this work of this project is the

York Boulevard Parkette where HNC has been creating habitat and is situated close to other planting sites, including Hess Street School. We regularly deliver our nature education program to Hess Street School students. The parkette’s proximity to Hess Street School was part of the reason that we wanted to naturalize it. As the plants become established it will provide a nearby space for students to be outside and to explore nature.

The fences that back onto the parkette were covered in graffiti and covering these up with art provided the opportunity to celebrate the Pollinator Corridor. Gerten Basom, HNC member and talented artist, was willing to take on the challenge of creating a large mural that celebrates the project and covers up the graffiti.

We wanted to engage the Hess Street School students in the project, and thinking of them, Gerten developed the big and bold and beautiful design. As the mural is 40ft x 8ft, there was plenty of room for many students to help with the painting. Gerten prepped the mural boards to be easy for the students to paint using a paint-by-numbers system as seen in the pictures. She engaged fellow artist Marcia Periera as an assistant to help the students paint

the mural boards in the school. Many students from the school participated and it became very popular as everyone wanted to participate. Students became so engaged in the painting that it was the quietist many of the students had ever been.

Installing the mural was a challenge and we are fortunate that City Parks staff have undertaken this challenge. Once the mural was installed in mid-June, we had an unveiling with Mayor Eisenberger, School Board Trustee Christine Bingham, funders from the Hamilton Community Foundation, and about 60 students from Hess Street School.

The mural project has been a unique and popular way to celebrate the Pollinator Corridor, to engage students, and to add to Hamilton’s outdoor art. We hope to bring more art to the parkette, as well as to the other pollinator habitat sites.

We would like to thank Gerten Basom and Marcia Periera for leading the creation of the incredible mural, students from Hess Street School for painting the mural, and the funders who supported the project: Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Hamilton Community Foundation’s Field of Interest Fund and Helen Kirkpatrick Fund, and Councillor Aidan Johnson.

The students painting the mural - photo Terry Basom.

The full mural. Isn't it wonderfull? A real work of art! - photo Jen Baker.

The Alpha class and the mural - photo Jocelyn Neysmith.

Even the bee boxes look wonderful - photo Jen Baker.

Land Trust Coordinator Jen

Baker.


H N C H i k e R e p o r t

Wednesday Evening Walk at Courtcliffe Parkby Gord McNulty

An HNC summer evening hike at Courtcliffe Park in Carlisle on 15 August proved to be a delightful and informative event.

Participants enjoyed seeing first-hand, the significant ecological restoration taking place on Bronte and Mountsberg Creeks where they join at the park. The natural rejuvenation of what was formerly a seasonal trailer park came as a welcome surprise to participants, who were really impressed with the progress to date.

Our guide for the hike was Hajnal Broz, Restoration Project Field Technician with the Conservation Halton Watershed Stewardship Program. She thoughtfully outlined the active rehabilitation of the streams and the park’s interesting history. Conservation Halton is leading the project to restore the natural form and function of the creeks with the help of several partners

like Trout Unlimited Canada. Impediments such as undersized culverts, bypass channels and online ponds are being removed. The streams are being narrowed to increase the flow of the creeks and reduce water temperatures. Fish habitat and water quality are improving through techniques such as riparian plantings,

installation of sediment mats to continue to narrow Bronte Creek, and in-stream habitat structures.

Hajnal found the walk as rewarding as the participants. “Thank you for the lovely company,” she wrote in an email to Gord

McNulty, Ontario Nature Representative for the HNC, who proposed the hike. “I really enjoyed it.” The sentiment was shared by everyone on the excursion. If you haven’t been to see the Courtcliffe Park Creek Restoration Project, consider putting it on your to-do list. What an encouraging success story it is proving to be.

CH Field Technician Hajnal Broz (left) shows the results of the work at Courtcliffe Park with before and after pictures of the habitat alterations

- photo Bron Tregunno.

The placement of old trees, including Christmas trees, helps to narrow the stream channel, increase the flow rate, and thereby help cool the

creek – great for trout! - photo Bron Tregunno.

Hike participant Helene Dutka reads an interpretive panel about the ongoing

stream improvements at Courtcliffe Park - photo Bron Tregunno.

Group hike picture at Courtcliffe Park, 15 Aug - photo Bronwen Tregunno.

Gord McNulty - photo Nicole Chamula.

We need your old field guides!Through HNC's outdoor education program we're starting to do more bioblitz type activities with the students. We'd love to have some field guides on hand to help the students identify what they find. If you have old field guides on birds, wildflowers, trees, butterflies we'd be very happy to give them a new home. Please contact Jen Baker at 905-524-3339 or [email protected].


Noteworthy Bird Records — March to May (Spring) 2018by Bill Lamond

Underlined species or dates require documentation to be submitted to the newly reorganized Hamilton Bird Records Committee [HBRC] (Barb Charlton, Bob Curry, Rob Dobos, Bill Lamond, Ross Wood). Those records where documentation has been

received are marked with a double asterisk “**”. Records where documentation has not been received are marked with a double pound “##”. The HBRC realizes that it is unclear which dates require documentation for a species as the Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Area is not readily available and the dates listed in that publication for many species need revision. For the time being, the HBRC is using the first three migration dates (or last three) given in Birds of Hamilton as documentation criteria. Species observed within those dates require documentation as date rarities. This will be the case until the new Date Guide comes out in 2019. Underlined species are geographic rarities in the Hamilton area. These rarities are listed in Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2007. All documentation submitted here has not yet been reviewed by the HBRC.Capitalized species require documentation by the Ontario Bird Records Committee. For species marked with “#”, all reported records for the period are listed. For all other species, only highlights are listed. Note that the species order follows the most recent American Ornithological Society's (AOS) checklist and supplements.

Legend:* - first occurrence for the yearF - first migration occurrenceL - last migration occurrenceP - photographedSM - singing maleterr. - territorial birdSWP - storm water pondConc - Concession** - documentation received## - documentation not received

Plumages, etc.:m. - malef. - femalead. - adultba. - basicalt. - alternateimm. - immaturejuv. - juvenile1st yr. - first yearyg. - young

County/Region/City:Brant [BR]Haldimand [HD]Halton [HL]Hamilton [HM]Niagara [NG]Peel [PL]Waterloo [WT]Wellington [WL]

Observers: William Andrus (WA), Andrew Bailey (ABa), Paul Baldassi (PB), Erc Baldo (EB), Aileen Barclay (AB), Herman van Barneveld (HvB), Heather Baskey (HBa), Gerten Basom (GB), Cody Bassindale (CB), Shawn Best (SBe), Sherri Blanchette (SB), Kyle Blaney (KBl), Tamara Brown (TB), Jeremy Bryan (JBr), Rob Buchanan (RB), Wayne Bullock (WB), Martha Burchat (MBu), Peter Burke (PBu), Cindy Burley (CBu), Ken Burrell (KB), Mike Cadman (MC), Ezra Campanelli (EC), Bruce Campbell (BCa), Gray Carlin (GC), Virginia Carey (VC), Alain Carrerie (ACa), Simon Carter (SCa), MaryAnn Cervin-Lawry (MCL), Janice Chard (JC), Barb Charlton (BCha), Chris Cheatle (CC), Barry Cherriere (BCh), Quinn Coleman (QC), Curtis Combdon (CCo), Peter Coo (PC), Barry Coombs (BCo), Shena Chisholm (SC), Mark Cranford (MCr), Bill Crins (BCr), Bob Cumming (BCu), Bob Curry (BC), Ken Dance (KD), Kevin Dance (KeD), Sandy Darling (SD), Bill Davis (BD), Randy Droniuk, Stephanie Dearing (SDe), Dennis Dirigal (DDi), Rob Dobos (RD), Nicola Dodds (ND), Andrew Don (AD), Dave Don (DD), Felix Eckley (FE), Rick Eckley (RE), Cheryl Edgecombe (CE), Gavin Edmondstone (GE), Brandon P.M. Edwards (BPME), Christine Elliott (CEl), Kevin Empey (KE), Deena Errampelli (DE), Chris Escott (CEs), Myles Falconer (MFa), Neil Faulkenham (NFa), Luc Fazio (LF), Xavier Fazio (XF), Lev Frid (LFr), Brett Fried (BF), Ella Fu (EF), D Galden (DGa), Dan Galvan (DGal), Denys Gardiner (DG), Ethan Gosnell (EG), Ryan Griffiths (RG), Amanda Guercio (AG), Todd Hagedorn (TH), Dominik Halas (DH), Mike Hallett (MH), Jean Hampson (JHa), Lyn Hanna-Folkes (LHF), John Hannah (JH), Kevin Hannah (KH), Marlene Hart (MHa), Bob Highcock (BHi), Nick Hilton (NHi), Brandon Holden (BH), Kevin Hollingsworth (KH), Nathan Hood (NH), Tyler Hoar (THo), Jerry Horak (JH), Ellen Horak (EH), Carol Horvat (CH), Randy Husson (RH), Mourad Jabra (MJa), Marcie Jacklin (MJac), Jarmo Jalava (JJa), Josh Janvrin (JJ), Ian Jarvie (IJ), Beth Jefferson (BJ), Mark Jennings (MJ), Dawn Johnson (DJ); Carol Jones (CJ), Jeff Jones (JJo), Zach Kahn (ZK), Morgan Kain (MK), Andrew Keaveney (AKe), Bonnie Kinder (BK), William Konze (WK), Christina Kovacs (CK), Sarah Labrie (SLa), Bill Lamond (BL), Sarah Lamond (SL), Blaine Landsborough (BLa), Greg Laverty (GL), James Lees (JL), Mike Lepage (MLe), Rick Ludkin (RL), Bruce Mackenzie (BMac), Stuart Mackenzie (SMac), Mike MacLeod (MMac), Dan MacNeal (DMac), Andrew Mactavish (AMac), Matt Mair (MMai), Karen Major (KMa), Blake Mann (BMa), Len Manning (LM), Reuven Martin (RM), Mark Mattina (MMa), David McCorquodale (DM), Barb McKean (BMc), Kevin McLaughlin (KM), Nancy McPherson (NMc), Janet Medelko (JMe), Marvin Medelko (MMe), J.W. Mills (JWM), Matt Mills (MM), Brian Mishell (BMi), Tom Miller (TM), Kai Millyard (KMi), Dana Moffatt (DMof), David Moffatt (DMo), Linnea Moffatt (LMo), Samreen Munim (SM), Buddy Myles (BMy), George Naylor (GN), Andrew Nguyen (ANg), Josh Nieuwenhuis (JN), Derek Neumann (DNe), Mike Norton (MN), Owen Novoselac (ON), Ben Oldfield (BO), William Olenek (WO), Thomas Ouchterlony (TO), Rob Palin (RPa), Mark Patry (MP), David Petryk (DPe), Frank Pinilla (FP), Jason Pizzey (JPi), Jon Pleizier (JP), Ekik Pohanka (EP), Richard Poort (RPo), Brian Popelier (BP), Rob Porter (RP), George Prieksaitis (GPr), David Pryor (DPr), Liz Purves (LPu), Donald Pye (DPy), Rayfield Pye (RPy), Joanne Redwood (JR), Julie Reid (JRe), Bert Richards (BRi), Nicole Richardson (NR), Sarah Richer (SR), Ron Ridout (RR), Garth Riley (GRi), Paul Riss (PR), Judy Robins (JRo), Dorlisa Robinson (DR), Martha Rockwell (MR), David Rooke (DRo), Chris Root (CRo), Kayo Roy (KR), Marlene Sanders (MSa), Aaron Schat (AS), Yves Scholten (YS), Caleb Scholtens (CSc), James Scott (JS), Kevin Seymour (KSe), Howard Shapiro (HS), Joan Sims (JSi), George Sims (GSi), Janet Sippel (JSip), Richard Skevington (RSk), Diane Smith (DS), Dorothy Smith (DSm), Joanne Smith (JSm), Mel Smith (MSm), Nancy Smith (NS), Paul Smith (PS), Rick Snider (RS), Robert Spaul (RSp), Bob Stamp (BS), Claire Stratford (CSt), Mike Street (MS), Paul Strong (PSt), Greg Stuart (GSt), Kellie Superina (KSu), Kyle Swanson (KSw), Dave Szmyr (DSz), Denis Talbot (DTa), Bryan Teat (BT), Lisa Teskey (LT), Peter Thoem (PT), Rick Thornton (RT), Adam Timpf (AT), David Trumbell (DT), Rohan van Twest (RvT), Tristan Uchida (TU), Fred Urie (FU), Jay Vandergaast (JVG),


Anthony Vanderheyden (AnV); Josh Vandermeulen (JV), Judy Van Ryn (JVR), Mike Veltri (MV), John Vieira (JVi), Mike Waldhuber (MW), Rob Waldhuber (RW), Doug Ward (DWa), Jim Watt (JWa), Dave Watters (DWat), Pam Watters (PWat), Carl-adam Wegenschimmel (CaW), Joe Werba (JW), Chris White (CWh), Quinten Wiegersma (QW), Angie Williams (AWi), Ken Williams (KWi), Daniel Wise (DW), Nathan Wise (NW), Julia Wittmann (JWi), Mike Wolfe (MWo), Deb Wood (DWo), Karen Wood (KWo); Ross Wood (RWo); Brian Wyatt (BWy), Brian Wylie (BWyl), Nick Yaremchuk (NY), Owen Yates (OY), Anthony Zammit (AZ), many observers (m.obs.).

Snow Goose#: One white morph at Mountsberg C.A. 11 Mar (RM); two white morph at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 16 Mar P (DRo).Snow X Ross’s Goose#: One apparent hybrid at Lynden Rd, N of Conc. 4 [HM] 24 Mar (RD,CE,DD).Ross’s Goose#: One at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] ** 14-15 Mar P (WK/RH) and one there ** 12-13 Apr P (RH/BWy); one ad. over 10th Rd E and Dofasco Trail ## 18 Mar (RD,MM); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] ** 23 Mar P (AZ).Brant#: One at South Shell Park [HL] 23-27* May P (MJ, m.obs.) and 3 there 28 May L (MJ); one at 4520 Lakeside Dr, Beamsville 20 May (NS,RT).Cackling Goose: Three at Flamboro Downs [HM] 1 Mar (DGa); eight at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1-2 Mar P (RPo/GC); two over Dundas Valley 1 Mar (JL); two at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 1 Mar (YS); seven at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 3 Mar (TH), three there 15 Mar P (RH), 13 there 12 Apr P (RH), and one there 18 Apr (RH); four at 5th Conc and Fairchild Creek [HM] 4 Mar (RD) and four there 11 Mar (RD,CE,DD,MM); five at 1855 Hwy 5 [HM] 4 Mar (JL); 10 at Ofield Rd and 4th Conc [HM] 11 Mar (RD,MM,CE,DD); two at Elm Tree Rd E at Park Rd S, Grimsby 12 Mar (MMac); two at Puslinch Lake [WL] 14 Mar (FU); two at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 15-17 Mar (FU/AZ); three at pond along Hwy 24, S of German School Rd [BR] 23 Mar (JN); three at Forestell Rd & Roszell Rd pond [WL] 31 Mar – 1 Apr (RH/ACa).Tundra Swan: See Summer Wood Duck 2018 for data on large movement on 28 Feb – 1 Mar; 546 past Bronte Harbour 1 Mar (MJ); 100 over Dundas Valley 2 Mar (JL); 47 at Branchton Rd, N of St George [BR] 8 Mar (JL); 43 over Spiece Rd , S of Bethesda Rd [NG] 14 Mar (NS); a good movement on 18 Mar: 400 at Nelles Corners [HD] (CH); 41 at Canborough Rd, 2 km E of Canborough (CH); 22 over Hardy Rd, Brantford (MH), 35 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] (DJ). 19 over Grand River, Brantford 19 Mar (JPi); 16 at pond along Hwy 24, S of Blue Lake Rd [BR] 23 Mar (JN); 170 at Paris Plains Church Rd & West Dumfries Rd [BR] 27 Mar (NH), 98 there 1 Apr (BL,SL) and two there 13 Apr L (NH); 14 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 1 Apr P (DDi). A good late movement on 2 Apr: 130 at Dundas Marsh P (WO), 30 past Sunrise Cres, Dundas (RD), 39 past South Shell Park [HL] (MJ et al.), 54 over St George [BR] (JL), and 32 over east Hamilton (TU). 17 at West Pond, Cootes Paradise 3 Apr L (SR).Wood Duck: 26 at Hendrie Valley [HL] 20 April (BMi) and 12 there 30 Apr (BCo).Gadwall: 15 at 5th Rd E, N of Green Mtn Rd [HM] 3 Mar (RD,MM); 40 at LaSalle Park 18 Mar (AG); 24 at Windermere Basin 20 Mar (MN); 20 on Harbour at CCIW 25 Mar (AnV); six at Islay Lake [HL] 7 Apr (AD,RPa); 10 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 Apr (RM); eight at Brant Park, Brantford 8 Apr (NR); 12 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 28 Apr (MC,BWy) and two there 2 May (MC); three at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 6 May (DTa).American Wigeon: 48 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1 Mar (RPo); 55 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 3 Mar (RD,MM); five at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 5 Mar (BD); 15 at Branchton Rd, N of St George [BR] 7 Mar (JL); 25 at Green Mtn Rd quarry [HM] 16 Mar (KM); 18 at Ridge Rd, W of 10th Rd E [HM] 2 Apr (RD,MM); 20 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 8 Apr (MC,BWy,MHa); six at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 18 Apr (JP); seven at 87 Acre Park [HM] 21 Apr (RPo); 12 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 22 Apr (DMac); two at Britton Tract [HL] 22 Apr (AD,MJa); four at Hendrie Valley [HL] 23 Apr (BCo); two at 8th Line at Britannia Rd [HL]

5 May (DH); two at Hagersville quarry ponds [HD] 11 May (RPo).Blue-winged Teal: Two (m. & f.) at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd 31 Mar* (LM,RPo); eight at Spiece Rd & Fly Rd [NG] 4 Apr (NS); three at Hagersville quarry ponds [HD] 6 Apr (RPo); six at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 9 Apr (ACa); four at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 23 Apr (BC,m.obs.); four at Victoria Rd, N of Leslie Rd [WL] 28 Apr (WK); five at 8th Line & Britannia Rd [HL] 3 May (DPr,JMe,MMe); four at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 7 May (JR).Northern Shovelor: 18 at Hydro Pond, Cootes Paradise 3 Apr (BS); nine at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 8 Apr (MC,BWy,MHa) and one there 5 May (DTa); two at Spottiswood Lakes [BR] 9 Apr (MH); six at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 13 Apr (MJac); 14 at Windermere Basin 23 Apr (RD) and two m. there 29 May (KB/RD); four at Middletown Rd, S of 4th Conc [HM] 24 Apr (JN); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 18 May (TH); one at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB).Northern Pintail: 35 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1 Mar (RPo); seven at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 24 Mar (BCha) and seven there 9 Apr (TH); two at Valens C.A. [HM] 31 Mar (RD); eight at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 1 Apr (MC,MLe); three at Conc 2, Puslinch, 2 km E of Wellington Rd 35 [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); 23 at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 22 Apr (GRi,NMc); one at Britton Tract [HL] 22 Apr (MJa,AD); two at Mattamy Cycling Centre, Milton 22 Apr (MJa,AD); two at Princess Pt, RBG 2 May (DNe); one m. at pond on Hwy 99, 1.5km E of Lynden [HM] 20 May (JL); one at Windermere Basin 21 May (RM).Green-winged Teal: 26 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 1 Apr (ACa) and 15 there 8 Apr (RM); 55 at Ridge Rd, w of 10th Rd E [HM] 2 Apr (RD,MM) and 72 there 21 Apr (RD,CE,DD); 20 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 7 Apr (MC) and 13 there 12 Apr (TH); three on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 8 Apr (RL) and two there 22 Apr (RL); 20 N of Ridge Rd, 500m W of 10th Rd E [HM] 12 Apr (RPo); six at Brant Park, Brantford 22 Apr (NR); eight at Mattamy Cycling Centre, Milton 22 Apr (MJa,AD); 11 at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 Apr (DPr) and 10 there 5 May (DH); two at Downey Rd and Teal Dr, Guelph 2 May (RH); four at Windermere Basin 6 May (RPo).Canvasback# Seven at Pier Four Park [HM] 2 Mar (JR); 22 at LaSalle Park 5 Mar (BC) and 27 there 19 Mar (DD); 24 on Harbour off CCIW 5 Mar (BC); five at Windermere Basin 8 Apr (BC); two at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 8 Apr (GPr); 15 off Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 8 Apr (GPr); one f. at Valens C.A. [HM] 22 Apr (RD).Canvasback x Redhead#: One at Bayfront Park 1 Mar P (fide JR) and at LaSalle Park 3 Mar (AD).Redhead: 10 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 1 Mar (RPo,m.obs.), 21 there 11 Mar (RB) and four there 22 Apr (RB); 25 on Lake off South Shell Park [HL] 3 Mar (GPr); 20 off LaSalle Park 3 Mar (BCha); 20 at Pier 4 Park 3-13 Mar (WO); 26 off Bayshore Park 12 Mar (NR); 19 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 23 Mar (CCo); 12 at Islay Lake [HL] 7 Apr (AD,RPa); 25 at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 8 Apr (MC,MHa,BWy), 40 there 19 Apr (AnV) and two there 27 Apr (WK); six at Flamboro Downs [HM] 16 Apr (BCha); eight at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 22 Apr (MC et al.); 15 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 22 Apr (MN); four at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); four at Windermere Basin 23-31 May (RD/RPo).Ring-necked Duck: 22 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 1 Mar (GPr), 18 there 22 Apr (RB) and two there 7 May (MJ); 25 at Windermere Basin 4 Mar (RM), 60 there 23 Mar (JP) and one there 17 May L (GPr); 24 at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 20 Mar (RH), 48 there 30 Mar (DM), 86

Brant - 24 May - South Shell Park - photo Joanne Redwood.

Ring-necked Duck - 4 April - Bronte Marsh - photo Tom Miller.


there 1 Apr (MC,MLe), 160 there 12 Apr (RH), 139 there 29 Apr (JSip) and 40 there 5 May (BPME); 32 at Mountsberg C.A. 31 Mar (RvT), 55 there 13 Apr (ZK), and 40 there 22 Apr (MC et al.); 30 at McMillan Pit, Puslinch [WL] 2 Apr (ACa); 16 at Islay Lake [HL] 7 Apr (AD,RPa); 35 at Dry Lake [HD] 7 Apr (RD et al.); 50 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 8 Apr (MC,MHa,BWy); 21 at 87 Acre Park [HM] 20 Apr (BD) and 19 there 29 Apr (AWi); 36 at Aberfoyle Pit, Puslinch 22 Apr (MC et al.); two at Grass Lake [WT] 6 May (GSi,JSi).Greater Scaup: Three at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 5 Apr (AZ); 105 off South Shell Park 12 Apr (MJ) and one there 8 May (MJ); 96 at Bronte Harbour 12 Apr (MJ); 50 off Shoreacres Park [HL] 22 Apr (GPr); 55 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 22 Apr (MN) and six there 8 May (CaW); eight at Britton Tract [HL] 22 Apr (MJa,AD); 35 at Windermere Basin 1 May (MN) and one there 27 May (NH); 12 off LaSalle Park 2 May (MJa); two at Cootes Paradise 5 May (JHu); two at Beachway Park [HL] 15 May (MJ); eight at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB).Lesser Scaup: 200 at Windermere Basin 4 Mar (RM), 130 there 18 Mar (NR), 50 there 19 Apr (RPo), and five there 27 May (NH); 76 off LaSalle Park 30 Mar (KH); and two there 1 May (DT); six at Islay Lake [HL] 7 Apr (RPa,AD); 50 at Mountsberg C.A. 8 Apr (RM) and 70 there 29 Apr (MC); 22 at McMillan Pit, Puslinch [WL] 8 Apr (MC,MHa,BWy); 11 at Spottiswood Lakes [BR] 9 Apr (MH); 10 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 13 Apr (MJac) and four there 3 May (BD); four at Flamboro Downs [HM] 16 Apr (BCha); eight off Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 21 Apr (RM); 10 off Lakeside Park [PL] 22 Apr (RM); 10 off South Shell Park [HL] 23 Apr (MJ); two (m. & f.) at Laird Road Pond [WL] 5 May P (JSip).King Eider#: 16 on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 3 Mar (JV) and five there 4 Mar (JJa); nine on Lake off Sayers Park [HM] 4 Mar (DGal) and 13 there 5 Mar (DMo,WB); 10 on Lake off Green Rd [HM] 4 Mar (RM,SM) and nine there 18 Mar (NR); one at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 4-5 Mar P (JRo/KM,BD) and one 2nd winter m. there 21 Apr L (KM); one on Lake off Dewitt Rd [HM] 10 Mar (CSc).Harlequin Duck#: One f. on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 1-8 Mar P (LF/m.obs./MN); one f. at Burlington Ship Canal on 3 Mar (MBu/RD,MM) and on 10 Mar (DPy); one f. at Beachway Park [HL] 28 Apr (RD,DD,CE) and on 21 May P (RPo). Quite possibly the same bird was involved in all of the above sightings, certainly the sightings in March.Surf Scoter: 40 on Harbour off CCIW 4 Mar (EG); 20 on Lake off Fruitland Rd [HM] 9 Mar (JWi); 200 on Lake off Dewitt Rd [HM] 10 Mar (CSc); 45 on Lake off Sayers Park [HM] 15 Mar (RPo); 220 on Lake off Green Rd [HM] 18 Mar (NR); nine on Lake off South Shell Park [HL] 8 May (MJ); two at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); one past Bronte Harbour 26 May L (RD,DD,CE).White-winged Scoter: 105 off LaSalle Park 9 Mar (AG,BCo,OY); 180 on Lake at Green Rd [HM] 5 Mar (BC); 80 on Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 9 Mar (JWi); 67 at Waters Edge Park [PL] 10 Mar (LF); 415 on Lake from Sandy Cove Drive, Lincoln to Grimsby Harbour (DJ,WELO); 80 at Burlington Ship Canal 10 Mar (SR); 512 on Lake from Shoreacres Park to Burloak Rd [HL] 10 Mar (BJ); 15 at Tollgate Pond 11 Mar (QW); 200 off Sayers Park [HM] 14 Mar (BS); 450 off Fifty Pt [NG] 21 Mar (JL); 118 on Lake from Sioux Lookout to Walkers Line, Burlington (SLa); 50 at Port Credit [PL] 12 Apr (TO); 20 at Holcim Lakefront [PL] 22 Apr (RM); 40 on Lake at Forty Mile Creek [NG] 21 May (RD); 126 at Bronte Harbour 26 May (MJ); 42 at Suncor Pier [HL] 27 May (MJ).Black Scoter#: Two at Fifty Point [NG] 22 Mar (BD); one m. at Fifty Rd at Lake [HM] 17 Apr (KM); two off J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 18-20 Apr L (LF/DDi).Long-tailed Duck: 240 at Bronte Harbour 6 May (MJ), 115 there 22 May (MJ) and two there 31 May (MJ); eight at Lakeside Park, Oakville 12 May (HvB); 30 at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 16 May (DJ);

160 off Burloak Park 17 May (MJ); 35 off Shoreacres Park [HL] 17 May (EH,JH); 25 at Fruitland Rd [HM] 17 May (PBu); 40 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 20 May (RM); 50 off Fifty Point [HM] 20 May (MMa); one off Confederation Park [HM] 21 May (CSc).Bufflehead: 17 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 3 May (BD) and one there 21 May (RD); 25 off Shoreacres Park [HL] 3 May (GPr) and five there 17 May (GPr); 30 at Windermere Basin 6 May (TO/GPr); two at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP 13 May (MJ); five off Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 15 May (GPr); two off Rattray Marsh [PL] 24 May L (SB).Common Goldeneye: 80 off Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 21 Apr (RM); 40 off Ben Machree Park [PL] 28 Apr (JWM); eight off Lakeside Park [PL] 2 May (JMe,MMe); two off Shoreacres Park [HL] 9 May (BMi); four off Jack Darling Park [PL] 10 May (RM); three on Lake off 40 Mile Creek mouth [NG] 13 May (PB); one off Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 15 May L (GPr).Hooded Merganser: 60 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 Apr (RM) and 20 there [WL] 18 Apr (MV); 17 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); six (f.&5yg.) at Mystery Marsh, Mineral Springs Rd [HM] 6 May (JL); one f. flypast in St George [BR] 8 May (JL); 7 (including pair at nest cavity) at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 8 May (AZ); 10 (f.&9yg.) in Hendrie Valley 11 May (DW, MMai); one at Cootes Paradise 17 May (SR); one at Dundas Valley C.A. 23 May (JL); one at Grass Lake [WT] 27 May (EH,JH).Common Merganser: 35 Off Van Wagners Beach 15 Apr (BH,KB); two at Cootes Paradise 17 May (SR); one at Bronte Harbour 19 May L (MJ); pair at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 19 May (AZ).Red-breasted Merganser: 350 off J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 21 Apr (LF) and 80 there 20 May (RM); 1400 off Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 21 Apr (RM); 3437 on Lake between Walkers Line and Burloak Dr [HL] 21 Apr (BJ); 458 on Lake between Spencer Smith Park and Fruitland Ave [HL] 21 Apr (CK); 300 off Lakeside Park [PL] 22 Apr (RM); 100 on Lake off Verity Lane [NG] 22 Apr (JV); 125 off Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 2 May (GPr); 35 off Lakeside Dr at Lake [NG] 20 May (MMac); 50 on Lake off Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 May (ABa) and two there 29 May (MJ); 66 off Arkendo Park [HL] 21 May (JWa); 35 at Bronte Beach [HL] 21 May (GPr) and five there 26 May (CE,DD,RD).Ruddy Duck: 12 at South Shell Park [HL] 2 Mar F (GPr); 55 at Cootes Paradise 7 Apr (JHu), 132 there 13 Apr (BMi), and 20 there 2 May (RD); 50 at Windermere Basin 10 Apr (JP), 40 there 27 Apr (BCr), four there 22 May (KB) and two there 26 May (SMac,RR); three on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 3 May (RL); 17 off Woodland Cemetery 5 May (PR); nine at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 6 May (DTa); 25 at Valley Inn 6 May (PR); two at Tollgate Ponds 19 May (KB).Ring-necked Pheasant#: One along Green Mtn Rd, near 8th Rd E [HM] 27 Mar (GN); one at Britton Tract, Halton County Forest 7 Apr (SBe); one along River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 20 May (KE).Pied-billed Grebe: One at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 1 Mar F (GPr) and two there 22 Apr (MJ); one at LaSalle Park 2-4 Mar (WO); three at Valley Inn 7 Apr (AWi,KWi); three at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 Apr (RM) and five there 18 Apr (MC); three at Desjardins Canal 18 Apr (JHu); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 1 Apr (RL); four at Shade's Mills C.A. 16 Apr (AZ); 20 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 22 Apr (WK); three at NcNally

Pit, Puslinch [WL] 22 Apr (MC,et al.); eight at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 22 Apr (WK); three at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 24 Apr (TH).Horned Grebe: Four at LaSalle Park 13 Mar (ND); 7 there 18-19 Apr (RD), 10 there 28 Apr (RD,DD,CE) and eight there 3 May (RD); 27 on Lake from Birch Hill Promenade to Carrington Promenade, Oakville 10 Mar (AK,AG); 30 at J.C. Saddington

Park [PL] 7 Apr (AnV) and

Harlequin Duck, female - 21 May Beachway Park - photo Rich Poort.

Horned Grebe at LaSalle Park, 20 Apr - photo John Vieira.

(continued on page 35)


Northern Saw-whet Owls and Night Life at Ruthven Parkby Nancy Furber

The Ruthven Park Banding Station runs a Northern Saw-whet Owl banding project which is open to the public. It’s an

evening program that will challenge your senses and bring new awareness and appreciation for this beautiful park.

Our project, starting from small beginnings in 2010, has grown into a successful migration monitoring program drawing new visitors and volunteers each season. Secretive Northern Saw-whet Owls breed primarily in the boreal forest, and most of them migrate south in the fall to winter in the US, from Pennsylvania to West Virginia. During their fall migration, we open our mist nets from dusk until at least midnight each rainless night from the first of October to the first full week of November. Next to the nets, a sound system (male Saw-whet territorial vocalization on a continuous loop) is established in anticipation of luring the owls into the nets on their migration.

Once the owls are trapped and returned to the banding lab, the banding process is quick. Each owl gets a numbered leg band, age is determined under ultraviolet light looking at the replacement patterns of the flight feathers (new feathers fluoresce a bright pink), we take a series of measurements (wing, weight) to determine the

sex, and then, the bird is ‘released’ (i.e., placed in a juniper bush giving it time in the dark for its eyes to re-adjust).

In 2017, it was an unseasonably warm/wet fall and the owl nets were opened between 30 September and 6 November. Owls were trapped on nine of the eleven evenings the nets were opened. We banded 33 owls - 32 Northern Saw-whet Owls and one Eastern Screech-Owl. There was one Northern Saw-whet Owl foreign retrap (banded by D. Lamble, near Fergus, Ontario on 13 October 2017). Half of the owls banded were young or hatch year birds and most of them were females (Table 1).

Over the past eight years, we have banded a total of 397 saw-whets. The fall of 2016 marked a new banding record for Ruthven Park (Table 2). Many people have attended the banding program and within the last two years the number of visitors have swelled with the popularity of it. Plan on visiting Ruthven during one of our owl banding programs and experience the night life; keep an eye on the Ruthven Park Nature Blog for more details about owl banding in fall 2018.

Viewing the feathers under ultraviolet light allows owls to be aged (new feathers glow a bright

pink) - photo John Furber.

Northern Saw-whet Owl in maple tree -photo Bob Fotheringham.

Eastern Screech-Owls are also occasionally banded during the Northern Saw-Whet Owl season - photo Bob Fotheringham.

Nancy Furber - photo Bob

Fotheringham.

Welcome Corner....Our Membership Director Jill Baldwin and the entire HNC Board would like to welcome the new members who joined in August.

Welcome new Life Member Bruce MacDonald and the Family of Phillip Roberts.


15 there 28 Apr (MMe,JMe); six at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 Apr (RM) and 15 there 18 Apr (MC); five on Lake off Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 12 Apr (MJac); one on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 Apr (RL); five at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 18 Apr (AZ); eight off Spencer Smith Park [HL] 20 Apr (JP); 40 at Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 21 Apr (RM); 21 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 21 Apr (CCo), 28 there 22 Apr (WK) and nine there 2 May (MC); 47 on Lake from Shoreacres Park [HL] to Burloak Rd 21 Apr (BJ); 30 on Lake from Watersedge Park [PL] to Ben Machree Park 21 Apr (LF); 22 at Burlington Ship Canal 21 Apr (SR); eight at McNally Pit, Puslinch [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); 20 at Lakeside Park [PL] 22 Apr (RM); 20 at Holcim Lakefront Mansion [PL] 22 Apr (RM); 30 on Lake at South Shell Park [HL] 22 Apr (DH) and 22 there 25 Apr (MJ); 20 off Confederation Park 23 Apr (SCa); eight at Windermere Basin 27 Apr (BCr) and one there 15 May (YS); 23 off Burloak Park 30 Apr (MJ); one at Wilkes Dam, Brantford 1 May (NFa); 10 on Lake at Burlington Ship Canal 5 May (CEl); one off Bronte Harbour 26 May L (RD,CE,DD).Red-necked Grebe: Six at Bronte Harbour 1 Mar F (DT), eight there 24 Mar (YS), 300 there 2 Apr (MJ) and 125 there 8 Apr (GPr); two at Fifty Point [NG] 5 Mar (KM,BD); 79 on Lake between Birch Hill Promenade and Carrington Promenade [PL] 10 Mar (AK,AG); 50 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 27 Mar (DPr), 200 there 28 Mar (LF et al.), 175 there 30 Mar (RPa), 100 there 7-8 Apr (FP/DDi/RPo) and 75 there 21 Apr (LF); 70 of Ben Machree Park [PL] 28 Mar (LF et al.); 25 at Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 28 Mar (LF et al.) and 875 there 21 Apr (RM); 62 at Suncor Pier [HL] 28 Mar (MJ) and four there 28 May (MJ); 40 on Lake off Green Rd [HM] 2 Apr (RD,DD,CE); 36 at Oakville Harbour 9 Apr (MJ); 12 off Shoreacres Park [HL] 21 Apr (BMi); 129 on Lake between Watersedge Park [PL] and Ben Machree Park [PL] 21 Apr (LF); 100 off Lakeside Park [PL] 22 Apr (RM); 20 off Holcim Lakefront Mansion [PL] 22 Apr (RM); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 28 Apr (MC,BWy); 50 on Lake off Richards Memorial Park [PL] 17 May (CBu); pair with nest off Burloak Park [HL] 24-25 May P (BC/YS); 30 off Jack Darling Park [PL] 20 May (TO).WESTERN GREBE#: One off J.C. Saddington Park [PL] ** 7 Apr* P (BMa, m.obs.). This is undoubtedly the same bird that has visited Port Credit for several years in a row in its migration to wherever it breeds. It was just a one-day wonder this year.Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Two at Dundas Valley C.A. 20 May* (JL); one at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 20 May* (KMi); one at Jack Darling Park [PL] 20 May* (RM).Black-billed Cuckoo: One at Westover Rd, N of 8th Conc [HM] 14 May* (PS); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 May (RL) and five there 27 May (RL).Common Nighthawk: One over High Level Bridge 13 May* (DD); two over Montgomery Park, Hamilton 14 May (PB); one perched at Berry C.A., RBG 15 May P (JHu,m.obs.); one perched at Edgelake Park [HM] 17 May P (MWo); five over Grimsby [NG] 23 May (BMac); four over

Carolina Park, Brantford 24 May (SL); three over Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 24 May (AZ); one over Upper James & Mohawk St [HM] 26 May L (JH,BMc).Eastern Whip-poor-will#: One at Bronte Harbour 4 May* P (m.obs); one calling near Mohawk College [HM] 7 May (JH,BMc); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 12 May P (MWo,m.obs.); one at 14 Mile Creek, Oakville 25 May L (SC).

Chimney Swift: One over Edgelake Park [HM] 29 Apr* (FE,RE); 22 over

Cootes Paradise 5 May (JHu); 20 over Bronte Heritage Park 12 May (IJ) and 10 there 26 May (RD); 40 over Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); 20 at Van Wagners Beach 19 May (RD).Ruby-throated Hummingbird: One at Dundas Valley C.A. 1 May* (JL); one at 8575 1st Line Campbellville [HL] 2 May (KWo); one at Nelles Beach, Grimsby 3 May (MMac); two at Edgelake Park [HM] 4 May (RW); seven at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 May (RL).Virginia Rail#: One at Kerncliff Park [HL] 20 Apr* (RD,CE) and three there 22 May (DT); one at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 22 Apr (MC et al.); one at Safari Rd Wetland [HM] 22 Apr (RD,MM) and two there 30 Apr (NH); one at 202 Woolverton Rd, Grimsby [NG] 24 Apr (JVR); one at Grass Lake [WT] 6 Apr (DD); three at 11th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 27 Apr (RPo); three at City View Park [HL] 30 Apr (MJa); three at Clappison’s Corners Wetland [HM] 7 May (RPo/JP); one at Cootes Paradise 8 May (DNe); one at Maltby Rd and Victoria Rd S [WL] 11 May (FU); one at Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 23 May (RP); two at 5th Rd E, S of Powerline Rd [HM] 24 May (KeD); one at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 29 May (BP).Sora#: Three at Safari Road Wetland [HM] 22 Apr* (RD,MM); one at 11th Rd E at Smith Road [HM] 29 Apr (RPo); three at City View Park [HL] 30 Apr (MJa); one at Kerncliff Wetland [HL] 30 Apr P (JR) and three there 12 May (YS); one at 5th Rd E, S of Powerline Rd [HM] 5-21 May (RD,MM/LM,LT); one at 4120 Appleby Line [HL] 15 May (PBu); one at Cootes Paradise south shore 16 May (BLa); one at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 16 May (AZ); two at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 29 May (BP); one at Cootes Paradise, north shore (RB).American Coot: Two at South Shell Park [HL] 3 Mar F (GPr); one at Van Wagners Marsh 8 Mar (MCL); 39 at Bayfront Park 6 Apr (JBr); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 7-26 Apr (DJ,m.obs); three at Puslinch Lake [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); eight at Britton Tract, Halton County Forest 22 Apr (AD,MJa); two at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 29 Apr (LM); one at Windermere Basin 27-29 May “white-shielded” variant (BCh/KB).Common Gallinule#: One at Safari Road Wetland [HM] 22 Apr* (RD,MM), two there 1 May (RD,CE,MM) and one there 27 May (BCha); two at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 6 May P (DTa).Sandhill Crane: Two at Irish Line and River Rd [HD] 17 Feb (JMe,MMe); two at 5th Conc W and Fairchild Creek [HM] 1 Mar F (NH); two at Grass Lake [WT] 4 Mar (RD), 14 there 29 Apr (KSu) and eight there 21 May (DRo); two at Beke Rd, North Dumfries [WT] 6 Mar (CRo); two in field at Branchton Rd, N of St George [BR] 7 Mar (JL); four over Downey Rd and Teal Dr, Guelph 18 Mar (RH); four over Beamer C.A. [NG] 23 Mar (RB) and seven overhead there 21 Mar (BCa); four on West River Rd, S of Glen Morris [BR] 24 Mar (DD,RD,CE); 12 in field along Caledonia by-pass [HM] 29 Mar (GN); four over Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 30 Mar (MC).American Avocet#: 19 at Windermere Basin ** 6 May P (BCh,m.obs.) joined by a flock of 10 after noon for a total of 29 birds (m.obs); one at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] ** 22-23 May P (DH,m.obs).

Black-bellied Plover#: One at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] ** 24 Apr* P (BCha); one at

(continued from page 33)

Western Grebe - 7 Apr at Port Credit - photo Bonnie Kinder.

Common Nighthawk at Edgelake Park - 17 May - photo Barry Cherriere.

Whip-poor-will at Bronte Harbour, 4 May - photo

Josh Vandermeulen.


American Avocets at Windermere Basin, 6 May - photo Barry Cherriere.


D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R - O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

7 October (Sunday) 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Hendrie Valley, meet at Cherry Hill Gate parking lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

9 October (Tuesday) 10:00 a.m. - 1 :00 p.m. HNC - Visit Short Hills Nature Sanctuary with Jen Baker. Meet at Short Hills at 10:00am, leaving Short Hills by 1:00pm. Walk through the beautiful mature Carolinian that is home to the Valley of Big Trees. The sanctuary provides habitat for several uncommon species including the Cucumber Tree, Broad Beech Fern, and many species of woodpeckers. Jen will highlight the monitoring and invasive species management that has been done at the nature sanctuary. The hills are not short and we will be hiking approximately 5km over rugged terrain. We need a minimum of 5 people to run the event so please RSVP with Jen at [email protected] or 905-524-3339 and Jen will provide directions. Carpooling is encouraged.

13 October (Saturday) 10:00 a.m. HNC - Spooky Hollow Work Party. The annual fall Work Party at Spooky Hollow is scheduled for Saturday October 13th, 2018. Rain date Sunday, October 14th. We will be meeting at The Egg and I Restaurant, corner of Rymal and Wilson streets, behind the Tim Horton’s, at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. We will be arriving at Spooky around 10 a.m. Meeting at the south entrance. We will be doing trail and general maintenance work. This event involves moderate to heavy physical activity. Please wear appropriate clothes. Bring a lunch. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Warren Beacham at 905 627-3343 or email [email protected].

13 October (Saturday) 9 to 11:30 a.m. RBG - Not Just a Birding Club: Fall Migration Monitoring at RBG Nature Centre. Pre-registration required. One of four dates, part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $20 per Saturday (HST included).

13 October 13 (Saturday) 8:00 p.m. Hamilton Association Public Lecture (free). Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid Against Nazi Germany — Speaker Ted Barris. It was a night that changed the Second World War. On May 16, 1943, 133 airmen, many of them Canadian, took off in 19 Lancaster bombers on a high-risk Royal Air Force mission code-named Operation Chastise. Hand-picked and specially trained, the Lancaster crews flew at treetop level from England to the industrial heartland of the Third Reich and their targets—the Ruhr River dams—whose massive water reservoirs powered Nazi Germany’s military industrial complex. Based on extensive research from his latest book, including personal accounts, logs, diaries, maps, and photographs, Ted Barris -an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster - offers his insight into this dramatic true story. Room 1A1 of McMaster's Ewart Angus Centre (EAC). in the north-west (left-rear) corner of the McMaster Children's Hospital on Main St.

14 October (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Princess Point, meet at the parking lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

October 14 (Sunday) 2 to 4:30 p.m. RBG - Experience Ontario's Finest Honey at RBG Centre. Honey tasting is similar to wine tasting; swirled in a glass, honeys have different colour, aroma, and taste and are paired with different foods. Cathy Kozma, honey sommelier, guides you through a sweet afternoon. Pre-registration required. Part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $45 (HST included).

15 October (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC Annual General Meeting - Fungi – The Fifth Kingdom. Join Kriss Gandier to learn about the fascinating world of wild mushrooms and other edible wild foods. Find out about the best ways to learn and methods used to identify mushrooms, as well as information about mushroom preparation and preservation for culinary purposes. Kriss Gandier has been foraging for mushrooms her entire life, originally in Thunder Bay. She has been a member of the Toronto Mycology Club for over 20 years and has led forays in Cambridge and Kitchener. She currently harvests mushrooms and other wild foods for high-end restaurants including Langdon Hall. All welcome. Meet & greet at 7 p.m. Contact Lou [email protected] for more information. Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd. W, Burlington.

20 October (Saturday) HNC - Outing with Bruce Mackenzie (details forthcoming).

21 October (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike. Cootes North Shore, meet at the Nature Centre, Arboretum location, Old Guelph Road. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

27 October (Saturday) 9 to 11:30 a.m. RBG - Not Just a Birding Club: Fall Migration Monitoring at RBG Nature Centre. Pre-registration required. One of four dates, part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $20 per Saturday (HST included).

28 October (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike. Cootes South Shore, meet at the Aviary parking lot, Oak Knoll Drive, Hamilton. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404

29 October (Monday) 7:30 p.m. BSG - Birds of The Gambia. Our speaker Justin Peter is Quest Nature Tours' Director of Programs and senior naturalist, and worked previously for several years as Senior Naturalist at Algonquin Provincial Park. Justin leads tours to such places as India, Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Hudson Bay, the Canadian Arctic, Antarctica and The Gambia. Tucked away on Africa’s west coast, the unassuming and tiny nation of The Gambia is one of the continent’s best-kept secrets. Flanking both banks of its mighty namesake river, it is located in a transition zone between the dry north and the humid south and hosts a surprising and wonderful array of bird life. Justin has scouted this country twice and will share his insights and some of his own photography from his visits. At the Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St, Burlington


D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R - N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 8

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HNC HIKES All of our leaders are volunteers who enjoy sharing their knowledge and time. The HNC assumes no responsibility for injuries of any kind sustained by anyone as a result of participating in any of these activities. Please assess your own ability to participate. Hikes are sometimes cancelled or rescheduled. You are advised to check the HNC website (www.hamiltonnature.org) before setting out, to ensure that the hike has not been rescheduled. Generally, pets on hikes are discouraged as they startle wildlife, damage nests, and interfere with the enjoyment of others. Contact the leader before bringing your pet and for other questions. We also publicize Royal Botanical Gardens hikes and events. Most RBG programs require pre-registration one week prior. There is a charge for these activities except for the Sunday Get Back To Nature Walks. For information on RBG hikes: Liz Rabishaw, Public Program Bookings, RBG, 905-527-1158 (1-800-694-4769) ext. 270. [email protected] www.rbg.ca

4 November (Sunday) HNC - Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count. The Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count (FBC) has been an annual Hamilton Naturalists’ Club (HNC) event since 1974 and for many Hamilton area birders it is one of the highlights of the birding year. In 2016 it was named in honour and memory of the count’s founder, Alan Wormington. Please contact Bill Lamond at [email protected] for details and to register.

4 November (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Hendrie Valley, meet at Cherry Hill Gate parking Lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

10 November (Saturday) 9 to 11:30 a.m. RBG - Not Just a Birding Club: Fall Migration Monitoring at RBG Nature Centre. Pre-registration required. Part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $20 per Saturday (HST included).

11 November (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Princess Point, meet at the parking lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

12 November (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC Monthly Meeting - Special Guest - Dr. Dianne Saxe, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario.Dr. Dianne Saxe will provide an overview of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights. She will also discuss topics from her recent annual reports, with an update of the government’s progress on environmental protection and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The Environmental Commission of Ontario is a bridge between the public and the government on environmental issues. Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington.

18 November (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes North Shore, meet at the Nature Centre, Arboretum location, Old Guelph Road. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

18 November (Sunday) 12 to 4 p.m. RBG - Squirrelly Squirrels at RBG Nature Centre. Get squirrelly with games, hikes, and lots of information about these furry creatures. A Family Fun day. Pre-registration required. Fee: $10 child (age 4-12), Free child (age 3 & under), $15 (adult) HST included.

19 November (Monday) 7:30 p.m. BSG - Ontario's Big Year - 2017. Join HNC's Bird Study Group as they welcome Jeremy Bensette who will talk about the interesting birds that visited Ontario in 2017. All welcome. Meet & greet at 7 pm. Contact Bruce, BSG Director [email protected] for more information. Burlington Seniors' Centre, 2285 New St, Burlington.

25 November (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes South Shore, meet at the Aviary parking lot, Oak Knoll Drive, Hamilton. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.


H N C – M o n t h l y M e e t i n g – 1 4 M a y 2 0 1 8

May Volunteer Appreciation Night by Bronwen Tregunno

We decided to switch things up a little bit this year and have our May evening meeting (14 May) outside to celebrate

our two Volunteer of the Year (VOY) award winners as well as our other wonderful volunteers. The weather was wonderful as the rain held off. We started the evening at 6:30 p.m. at Christie Lake Conservation Area at the Lakeside Pavilion. Many thanks to Cari Hobbs, Superintendent of Christie Lake and Spencer Gorge Conservation areas, and the Hamilton Conservation Authority for letting us use the park in the evening at no cost. In addition, HCA gave us some passes for our prizes! We had hikes lead by Brian Wylie, Rob Porter and wildflower specialist Dean Gugler. Everyone brought some nibbles, and Catherine Flatt and Sandy McCutcheon had drinks set up at the little kitchen Cari had opened for us. The setting sun reflected beautifully on the lake and tea lights lit the picnic tables as we heard about our winners and an inspiring message from Jen Baker. Sanctuary Director Brian Wylie presented the prize to our Senior VOY award winner John Struger, and VP Chris Motherwell presented the Junior VOY to Michael Fischer. Then we had a draw for prizes and there were so many, that I think almost everyone got something.

Two VOY awards are given every year to two members, chosen by the Board but nominated by anyone in the Club. The Senior award is for someone who has given distinguished service to the Club and has been a member for over 15 years. The Junior award is for outstanding service and has been a member for less than 15 years. It has nothing to do with age! Each of the winners has his or her name placed on our large, permanent HNC Volunteer

of the Year Trophy and is given a smaller, engraved individual trophy, a Volunteer of the Year embroidered T-shirt, and a $50 book store gift certificate. The large, permanent and beautiful HNC Volunteer of the Year Trophy was made by John Sedgwick a former HNC member whose hobby is marquetry, a process of making pictures using only inlays of different coloured wood from different tree species. This trophy is truly a work of art.

Here’s a little bit about our 2017 winners:

John Struger, our Senior VOY, has volunteered for many years on HNC committees and for ten years on the HNC Board. He joined the HNC in 1982 – giving him 35 years of Club membership – and soon became involved with the Conservation Committee. This lead to his invitation to join the Board as Conservation Director.

During John’s time on the Board, including his Presidency from 1992-1994, it was a busy time of considerable achievement for our Club. During this time, the first Natural Areas Inventory for Hamilton was published, the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Hamilton Area was published, the Club celebrated its 75th anniversary, we hosted the FON Conference in May 1994, and we purchased the Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary addition. He was a part of all of these accomplishments. John has been a member of the Environmentalists of the Year Dinner and Awards Committee for many years and continues in that role, plus he has been a member of the Wood Duck Publications Committee for the last three years. Recently, he also volunteered to help on the 100th Anniversary Dinner Committee.

Michael Fischer, our Junior VOY performed admirably as a HNC volunteer over many years in two areas; as a Sanctuary/Land Trust volunteer, working on many sanctuary work parties, and as a Board of Director member over eight consecutive years. As a sanctuary maintenance volunteer, Michael has shared his knowledge, derived from being a tree planting and tree maintenance professional in his

Christie C.A. was the setting for the HNC Monthly Meeting, 12 May - photo Bron

Tregunno.

John Struger (left) accepting Senior VOY award from Brian Wylie - photo Bronwen Tregunno.

Mike Fischer (left) accepting Jr VOY award from Vice-President Chris Motherwell.



Windermere Basin 6 May (RPo,m.obs.), one there 29 May (EG,m.obs) and one there 31 May (RPo); 12 at Bronte Beach 21 May (GPr); seven at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 22 May (LF) and one there 27 May (DH).American Golden-Plover#: One ba. at Windermere Basin ** 12-17 May* (RPo,m.obs.); one at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] ** 23-24 May (LF/SMac).Semipalmated Plover#: One at Windermere Basin 6 May* (DPr,m.obs.), four there 15 May (YS) and two there 23 May (MMac); seven at Hwy 54 and Stoney Creek Rd [HD] 11 May (RPo); four at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 9 May (RPo), 20 there 12 May (RPo,RD) and two there 25 May (TH); two at 10th Rd E at Green Mt Rd [HM] 14 May (KD); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 18 May (TH); one at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 22 May (DH) and 29 there 26 May (CE,DD,RD); one at Wyecroft McPherson SWP 13 May (MJ) and eight there 23 May (MJ); one at Powerline Rd and 5th Rd E [HM] 27 May L (MK,JW).Piping Plover#: One at Windermere Basin ## 23 May* (BCh,CE).Upland Sandpiper#: One at S Grimsby Rd 15, S of Mud St [NG] 21 Apr* (JR) and four there 22 Apr (GRi,NMc); two on Woodburn Rd, N of Kirk Rd [HM] 22 Apr (WK); one at Smithville Rd at Concession 2 [NG] P 24 Apr and two there 26 Apr P (KR); four in gravel pits along Hard Rd, Brantford 24 Apr (NR); one on Cheapside Rd, 0.8km S of Indian Line [HD] 5 May (CB); one along Haldimand Road, 1.2km E of Indian Line [HD] 24 May (SMac); one at King & Benton property on Oak Park Rd, N of Hwy 403, Brantford 27 May P (RW,MW).Whimbrel#: Five past Bronte Harbour 21 May* (GPr), 30 past 22 May (JVi), 50 past 24 May (GPr), 35 past 25 May [9:30 a.m.] (YS,BCa) and 20 past 25 May [2:30 p.m.] (RB,RDr); 22 past J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 21 May* (LF) and 13 past 25 May (DDi); 19 past Pinedale Ave, Burlington 24 May (BC); three at South Shell Park [HL] 24 May (GPr) and eight there 27 May (MJ); 100 over Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 26 May (DDi).Marbled Godwit#: Two at Windermere Basin ** 21 May* P (BCh,m.obs.).Ruddy Turnstone#: One at Windermere Basin 16 May* (KSe,GSt), and two there 23-24 May (RPo,RD); one at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); 16 at Bronte Harbour 22 May P (DH,m.obs.) and one there 25 May L (MJ/RD); two at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] (BC,M.obs.); six at South Shell Park [HL] 22 May (MJ) and one there 25 May L (TM); one at Burlington Ship Canal 22 May (MC).Red Knot#: One at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] ** 22 May* P (RPo,KH); one at Windermere Basin ** 24 May P (RPo).

Sanderling#: 10 at Bronte Harbour 25 May* P (HBa).Dunlin: Five at Windermere Basin 23 Apr* (RD), and 13 there 6 May (RvT), 50 there 12 May (RD,CE,DD), 40 there 20-21 May (EG,NH/KM), 300 there 22 May (RD,BCh) and 22 there 26 May (RvT); one at 6th Line, S of

Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 27 Apr (LF), 18 there 22 May (LF), 19 there

24 May (SMac) and 15 there 25 May (LF); five at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 3 May (GPr); 70 at Bronte Harbour 22 May (MJ) and nine there 26 May (MJ/RD,CE,DD); 12 at South Shell Park [HL] 24 May (GPr); 10 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd 25 May (TH); 10 at wetland at Hwy 407 & Britannia Road [HL] 26 May (DDi).Least Sandpiper: Two at Sawmill Rd and Glancaster Rd [HM] 6 May* and 13 there 18 May (both RD,CE,DD); two at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 8 May (MMac) and 19 there 12 May (RD,CE,DD); five at

Hagersville quarry ponds [HD] 11 May (RPo); 23 along Green Mtn Rd, Between 6th & 8th Rds E [HM] 12 May (RD,CE,DD); three at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 12 May (IJ); 10 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 16 May (TH), 12 there 19 May (AZ), and one there 27 May L (NH); 11 at wetland at 407 and Britannia Rd [HL] 19 May (DPr); eight at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL] 20 May (MJ); four on Lake at Burloak Park [HL] 25 May (YS); 14 at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 25 May (LF) and eight there 26 May RD,CE,DD).White-rumped Sandpiper#: Three at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 24 May* P (SMac) and two there 26 May (LF); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 24 May* (NH); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 27 May P (MJ/AD); one at Windermere Basin 31 May (RPo).Pectoral Sandpiper: One at 581 Sobie Rd, Grimsby [NG] 8 Apr* (RT); three at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 19 Apr (LN,RPo) and one there 20 May L (LM); one at James Snow Parkway, 400m SE of Louis St Laurent Blvd, Milton 26-27 Apr (DPr/LF); one at Green Mtn Rd, 400m E of 7th Rd E [HM] (RPo); one at Windermere Basin 17 May (MCr,JWa).Semipalmated Sandpiper: Three at Windermere Basin 15 May* (YS), eight there 21 May (CSc), 20 there 22 May (RD,BCh), 12 there 26 May (RvT) and six there 31 May (RPo); 12 at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 22 May (RE), 20 there 24 May (DH), 40 there 25 May (JV), and 45 there 26 May (RD,CE,DD); 40 at Burloak Park [HL] 25 May (MJ); 20 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 25 May (TH); 16 at Bronte Harbour 25 May (MJ).Short-billed Dowitcher#: Three at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 15 May* (MJ); one at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL] 15 May* (MJ); one (griseus subspecies) at Windermere Basin 21 May (KM), five there 22 May (JP), 10 there 23 May (RD), and three there 24 May L (RPo).Common Snipe: Two at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1 Apr* (RPo), five there 2 Apr (JR/MMac), 12 there 3 Apr (RPo), 16 there 7 Apr (NR), 15 there 20 Apr (CC) and two there 20 May (LM); four at Maltby Rd at RR tracks [WL] 2 Apr (DM); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr (RL); three at Westover Rd and 6th Conc [HM] 22 Apr (CSc); three at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 22 Apr (GRi,NMc) and four there 26 Apr (AWi,KWi); two at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 23 Apr (BP); eight at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 26 Apr (DPr); five at Grass Lake [WT] 29 Apr (JN) and two there 8 May (DRo); 10 at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 2 May (TU); three at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 5 May (EG); one at 8th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 14 May (KD); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP 16 May L (MJ).Spotted Sandpiper: One at Paletta Park [HL] 21 Apr* (BMi); one at Spencer Smith Park [HL] 21 Apr* (CK); nine at Grand River, Brantford 14 May (MH); eight at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 16 May (MJ).Solitary Sandpiper: One at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 Apr* (DPr); nine at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 12 May (RPo) and one there 20 May L (LM,RPo); four at 9th Line Sports Complex [HL] 15 May (TH).Greater Yellowlegs: One at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 10 Apr* (AZ) and one there 29 May L (AZ,KT); four at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] (RPo); nine at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr (RL); five at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 20 Apr (DT), seven there 21 Apr (RB), 14 there 24 Apr (BCha), three there 12 May (RPo), and one there 20 May (LN,RPo); eight on Middletown Rd, S of 4th Conc [HM] 28 Apr (RD); 15 at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 Apr (DPr) and one there 13 May (DH); six at pond along Hwy 99, 1.5km E of Lynden Rd [HM] 13 May (JL).Willet#: One at Fifty Point [NG] 5 May* P (RS); one at Bronte Harbour 22 May P (BJ,CC).


Whimbrel at Bronte, 24 May - photo Mike Veltri.

Red Knot at Bronte, 22 May - photo Garth Riley.

Wilson's Snipe at 5th Rd E - 13 Apr - photo Rob Buchanan.

Willet at Fifty Point - 5 May photo Rick Snider.


Lesser Yellowlegs: Two at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 2 Apr* (RD,MM/JR,m.obs), six there 21 Apr (KM), 15 there 27 Apr (RB), 41 there 29 Apr (RPo), 38 there 5 May (RD,CE,DD); 18 there 10 May (MJa), 30 there 11 May (SCa), eight there 15 May (LM) and one there 21 May (JJ); 17 at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 Apr (DPr) and 10 there 13 May (DH); 11 at Christie Reservoir [HM] 3 May (JL); 30 at Sawmill Rd and Glancaster Rd [HM] 6 May (RD,CE,DD); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 24 May L (anon).Wilson’s Phalarope#: One f. at 5th Road east, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 10-12 May P (MJa,m.obs.); one m. at 6th line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 24 May P (GPr/SMac).Bonaparte’s Gull: One at Bronte Harbour 1 Apr* (MJ) and 176 there 16 Apr (MJ); 30 at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr, 44 there on 26 Apr, 48 on 28 Apr and eight on 8 May (all RL); 32 at Van Wagners Beach 15 Apr (KB,BH); 23 over Pinedale Ave, Burlington 16 Apr (BC); 149 at Oakville Harbour 16 Apr (MJ); 92 at Beachway Park, Burlington 17 Apr (MJ) and 90 there 18 Apr (JR); 20 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 21 Apr (RPo); 50 off Forty Mile Creek [NG] 29 Apr (RD,CE,DD); 35 at Windermere Basin 5 May (MMac); 30 over Hamilton Cemetery 6 May (PR); 15 at Fifty Point [NG] 14 May (BD); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 19 May (AZ).Little Gull#: One ba. ad. at Bronte Harbour 1 Apr* P (MJ,m.obs.) and one ba. ad. there 13 Apr (RPo/CE); one ba. ad. at Oakville Harbour 16-17 Apr [photo} (MJ/YS); one ba. ad at Windermere Basin 20 May (BCh,RB); one 1st summer at Suncor Pier [HL] 27 May P (MJa,AD).Iceland Gull (Kumlien’s): Two at Windermere Basin 4 Mar (EG); six (two ad. & four 1st winter at Brantford landfill 10 Mar (JL); three (one ad., two 1st winter) at Bronte Harbour 26 Mar P (MJ) and one 1st summer 17-18 (MJ); one 1st summer at South Shell Park [HL] 19 May L P (MJ). 20 records of single birds (including those above) reported from around HSA in March-May.Iceland Gull (Thayer’s): One 2nd yr bird at Windermere Basin 3 Mar* (RD,MM).Lesser Black-backed Gull#: One 3rd winter at Leander Boat Club 10 Mar (KM,LHF); one 2nd winter at Fifty Point [HM] 20 Mar (JL); one ad. at Bronte Harbour 25 Mar P (MJ) and likely same bird there 8 Apr P (GC/MJ); one ad. at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 28 Mar (AZ) and likely same bird there 13 Apr P (AZ); one ad. at Windermere Basin 31 Mar (NH).Glaucous Gull: Two imm. at Bayfront Park 2 Mar P (JR); two at Tollgate Pond 1 Mar (RW,MW) and two on 30 Mar (OY,BCu); two at Windermere Basin 14 Mar (BSt) and two on 21 Mar (EP); four on Grand River at Glenhyrst Gardens, Brantford (NFa); one imm. at South Shell Park [HL] ** 24 May L P (GRi,NMc,m.obs.). 18 observations of single birds were listed from the HSA in this period including the record above.Great Black-backed Gull: 15 at Tollgate Pond 11 Mar (QW); eight at Van Wagners Beach 15 Apr (KB,BH); five at Spencer Smith Park 20 Apr (JP); one at Bronte Harbour 22 May (MJ); one at South Shell Park 24 May (GPr); 45 at Windermere Basin 3 Mar and one there 23-29 May (RD).Caspian Tern: One at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 3 Apr* (RT/AZ); one at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 5 Apr (AZ) and seven there 25 Apr (NH); 35 at Tollgate Pond 15 Apr (KB) and 80 there 19 May (KB); 80 at Windermere Basin 21 Apr (JMe,MMe), 100 there 23 Apr 136 there 26 Apr (THo), 250 there 6 May (DPr/DSz), and 430 there 18 May (BCr); 50 at LaSalle Park 22 Apr (BMi); eight at McNally Pit 22 Apr (KBl) and 17 there 6 May (RvT); 14 at Puslinch lake [WL] 11 May (RH); five at Grand River, Brantford 14 May (ANg).Black Tern#: One at Cootes Paradise 17 May* P (SR); one at Windermere Basin 19 May (MMac/RD); one at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 19 May (BH); one at 6th Line, N of Hwy 5 [HL] 22 May (BC).

Common Tern: One at Bronte Harbour 16 Apr* P, 35 there 10 May, 110 there 14 May, 210 there 15 May and 70 there 26 May (all MJ); one at Oakville Harbour 16 Apr* (MJ) and 60 there 18 May (MJ); 14 at Windermere Basin 23 Apr (RD), 120 there 6 May (DSz), 250 there 13 May (HS), 400 there 15 May (YS) and 240 there 21 May (KB); eight at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 28 Apr (LF et al.), 40 there 11 May (CaW) and 150 there 20 May (RM); two at Wilkes Dam, Grand River, Brantford 30 Apr (ANg) and four there 4 May (NFa); seven on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 6 May (RL) and also on 13 May (RL); four at Suncor Pier [HL] 8 May (MJ), 18 there 22 May (YS) and 50 there 24 May (GPr); five at Puslinch Lake [WL] 11 May (RH); 20 on Lake at Sedgewick Park [HL] 12 May (HvB); 44 at Cootes Paradise 15 May (DNe); 50 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); 50 at Burloak Park 22 May (GPr); 27 on Lake at Forty Mile Creek mouth [NG] 24 May (MMac).Forster’s Tern#: One at LaSalle Park 19-22 Apr* P (RD/JR/MJa,AD); one at Bronte Harbour 15 May (GPr); two there 16 May P (MJ), six there 25 May P (MJ) and one there 31 May (MJ); one at Windermere Basin 6 May (DPr,m.obs.).Red-throated Loon: Birds on Hamilton Harbour: Five 3 Mar (RPa,AD), seven 5 Mar P, nine 18 Apr (JL), ten 19 Apr (JP) and five 28 Apr (WK). Three past CCIW 8 Mar (RD) and four there 18 Apr (RD); one over Stoney Creek 10 Apr (LM); two past Bronte Harbour 26 May L (RD).Common Loon: Three on Lake from Arkendo Park [HL] to Birch Hill Promenade [HL] 10 Mar (AK, AG); one over Beamer C.A. [NG] 31 Mar F (RPy); 19 past Bronte Harbour 12 Apr (MJ) and 47 past 26 May (RD,CE,DD); five at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 18 Apr (MC); 14 at LaSalle Park 18 Apr (JL); three at McNally Pit, Puslinch [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); 57 on Lake from Watersedge Park [PL] to J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 21 Apr (LF et al./RM); 10 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 22 Apr (WK); 14 at Valens C.A. [HM] 22 Apr (RD,MM); three at McMillan Pit, Puslinch 22 Apr (DMac); 12 over Beamer C.A. [NG] 23 Apr (AD); 27 over St George [BR] 1 May (JL); 11 over Ruthven Park [HD] 1 May, 41 over 5 May and one over 16 May (all RL).Double-crested Cormorant: 60 at Windermere Basin 4 Mar (RM,SM), 40 there 9 Mar (OY,BCo,AG) and 75 there 14 Mar (BS); 25 at Tollgate Pond 30 Mar (OY,BCu); 852 at Bronte Harbour 12 Apr (MJ); 1556 on Lake from Beachway Park [HL] to J.C. Saddington Park [PL] (WELO-m.obs); 200 at Bayfront Park 21 Apr (WO); 350 on Lake at Grimsby [NG] 25 Apr (RG); 83 over St George [BR] 27 Apr (JL).American White Pelican#: One over Cootes Paradise 8 May (PT).American Bittern#: One singing near 11th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 22 Apr* (DPr); one at Downey Rd – Teal Dr area, Guelph 22 Apr* P (JSip); one at Kerncliff Park [HL] 25 Apr P (RB); one at Barrie’s Lake [WT] 26-27 Apr P (JRe/PC); one over Sunrise Cres, Dundas 6 May (DD,CE); one at Clappison's Corner Wetland [HM] 6-7 May P (KWi,AWi/DNe); one at Cootes Paradise 20 May (BLa); one over

Middletown Marsh [HM] 25 May (BCha); one at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 25 May (BO); one over Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 27 May (BCha).Least Bittern#: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 9 May* (BMi); one at Safari Rd Wetland [HM] 13-20 May (RD); one at South Shell Park 24 May P (JWa,m.obs.).Great Blue Heron: One at Riverwood

Conservancy 1 Mar F (GRi,NMc,DPr); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP 1 Mar F (GPr); six at 8th Line, Lower

Little Gull at Oakville Harbour, 13 April - photo Mark Jennings.

American Bittern at Clappison's Corners Wetland

- photo Mike Veltri.

Least Bittern at South Shell Park, 9 May - photo Phil Waggett.


Baseline rookery 11 Mar (RM) and 63 there 31 Mar (RM).Great Egret: One at Windermere Basin 1 Apr* (LHF), two there 28 Apr (WK), 10 there 24 May (RPo), and seven there 26 May (RvT); two at Confederation Park [HM] 17 Apr (JP); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 18 Apr (BD); two at Hendrie Valley 18 Apr - 4 May (DT,m.obs.) and five there 5 May (AMac); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 20 Apr (RL); two at Osprey Marsh [PL] 1 May (DR); four at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 2 May (AZ); three along Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 5 May (BD); four in hayfield along 3rd Line, S of 15 Side Rd [HL] (IJ); two at Cootes Paradise 15 May (DNe) and two 30 May (RB).Snowy Egret#: One at Windermere Basin ** 13-14 May P (BCh,m.obs).Cattle Egret# Two birds at Big Creek Stables, Big Creek Rd, 1km E of Mulligan Rd [BR] ** 14 May* (CJ/MH).Green Heron: One at 646 Castlegard Cres, Burlington 24 Apr* (EC); three at Edgelake Park [HM] 11 May (MWo) and two there 15 May (RW,MW); three at Ruthven park [HD] 27 May (RL). Eight records of two individuals in HSA during period at eight separate locations.Black-crowned Night-Heron#: One at Desjardins Canal 14 Apr F (RD); one at Windermere Basin 18 Mar (AN) and four there 6 May (GSt,KSe); one at Bronte Marsh 3 Apr (MJ) and eight there 23 Apr (DT); two at Water’s Edge Park [HL] 21 Apr P (NHi); three at Bayfront Park 21 Apr (WO); two at Burloak Woods [HL] 24 Apr (BC); three at Valley Inn 27 Apr (WK); three at Shoreacres Park [HL] 16 May (DJ); three at Cootes Paradise 17 May (SR); five at Bronte Harbour 21 May (GPr).Black Vulture#: One over Beamer C.A. [NG] 17 Mar* (NPH) and two over Beamer C.A. 22 Mar, three overhead on ** 23 Mar P (RB) and one there 25 Mar P (CEs); one over Dundas Valley ** 27 Mar P (JL); one over Columbia College, Main St W, Hamilton ## 1 Apr (DNe); two over Stoney Creek Backyard ##11 May (LM,LT).Turkey Vulture: 40 over Little John Park, Dundas 9 Mar (BRi). Birds at Beamer C.A. [NG] 49 – 11 Mar, 245 – 22 Mar, 790 – 1 Apr, 1381 – 2 Apr and 1272 – 9 Apr (all NPH). 55 over Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 3 Apr (JL).Osprey: One over Memorial Park, Oakville 1 Apr* P (DH); one over Hendrie Valley 1 Apr* (JR); nine over Beamer C.A. [NG] 22 Apr (CEs). Bald Eagle: At Beamer C.A. – 50 during period with six on 17 Mar, four on 31 Mar and one 10 May L (All NPH). 15 on Harbour along Carroll’s Point 1 Mar (JH,BMc); six at RBG Arboretum 3 Mar (BCo, JHu); nine in air at one time from Woodland Cemetery 5 Mar (DH); seven over Harbour and Cootes Paradise 13 Mar (WO); five over Grand River, Brantford 18 Mar (MH); six (1ad., 3 sub-ad., 2 -1st summer) over St George [BR] 29 Apr (JL); four on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 3 May (RL).Northern Harrier: One over Beamer C.A. [NG] 5 Mar F and two over 14 May L (both NPH).Sharp-shinned Hawk: Two over Beamer C.A. [NG] 17 Mar F and 30 there 11 Apr, 77 there 22 Apr, 141 there 23 Apr, 56 there 2 May and one there 14 May L (all NPH).Cooper’s Hawk: One over Beamer C.A. [NG] 13 Mar F and eight there 2 Apr (both NPH).Northern Goshawk#: One at 8575 1st Line, Campbellville [HL] 15 Mar (KWo); one at Beamer C.A. [NG] 2 Apr F (NPH); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville 16 Apr P (DH).Red-shouldered Hawk: Continuing bird along rest stop at 401 [WL] 2 Mar (DSz). At Beamer C.A. [NG]: two – 18 Mar, 12 – 19 Mar, 39 – 26 Mar, 35 – 31 Mar, 26 – 9 Apr and one – 27 Apr L (NPH). Three over Margaret Dr, Stoney Creek 1 Apr (RW).Broad-winged Hawk: At Beamer C.A. [NG] one 12 Apr*, 204 – 21

Apr, 422 – 23 Apr, 62 – 1 May. 82 over East Hamilton 24 Apr (LM); 47 over Dundas Valley 30 Apr (JL); 35 over Margaret Dr, Stoney Creek 15 May (RW); two over Dundas Valley 23 May (JL); one over Hardy Rd, Brantford 24 May L (EH,JH); one over Puslinch 7 [WL] 30 March (FU).Red-tailed Hawk: 105 over Beamer C.A. [NG] 26 Mar, 110 over 9 Apr, and four there 14 May (NPH).Rough-legged Hawk: 17 over Beamer C.A. [NG] in reporting period including three on 13 Apr and three on 21 Apr (all NPH). One on West River Rd, E of Pinehurst C.A. [BR] 2 May L (DR); one ay southern boundary of HSA on Link Rd 2 Km E of Kohler [HD] 2 May L (AT).Golden Eagle#: At Beamer C.A. [NG]: one 17 Mar F, one 19 Mar, two high over observation tower 10 May (SD). One imm. over Spencer Gorge [HM] 18 Mar (BWyl); one imm. over Westfield Heritage Village 18 Mar (TU); one over Cootes Paradise 25 Mar (WO).Snowy Owl#: One at Burloak Park [HL] 2 Mar (MJ); one along LINC at Mud St [HM] 2 Mar (RP); two along QEW at Fruitland Rd-Fifty Rd [HM] 2 Mar (DPe) and one there 29 Mar (RW); one at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 4 Mar (RN,SM); two at Meadowlands complex, Ancaster 4 Mar (JJo); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 7 Mar (MJ) and again on 12 Apr P (RB); one at Brant St and QEW [HL] 8 Mar (RW); three at Suncor Pier [HL] 11 Mar (MJ) and one there 11 Apr (MJ); one at McKenzie Rd & RR 9 [HD] 12 Mar (WA); one at Green Mtn Rd, W of 6th Rd E [HM] 18 Mar (WK) and one there 9 Apr (RPo); one at Hagersville quarry pond [HD] 22 Mar – 2 Apr (MF/BF); two at Bronte Harbour 23 Mar (MJ) and one there 25 Apr P (RPo); one at Haldimand Rd 9, 2km E of Indian Line [HD] 26-27 Mar (CB); one at Hwy 401 and 407 [PL] 28 Mar – 7 Apr (AB/FP); one at Hwy 401 and Milton 29 Mar – 21 Apr (RSk/KSu); one at Lake at Millen Rd [HM] 30 Mar (RW); one at Gairloch Gardens [HL] 30 Mar P (MR); one at Tollgate Ponds 1-28 Apr (EB/RPo); one at Oak Park Rd and Hardy Rd, Brantford 21 Mar - 1 Apr (BL/NY); one at QEW and Burloak Rd [HL] 2 Apr (EB); three along Mud St between Hwy 20 and 6th Rd E [HM] 2 Apr (BMy); one at Empire Corners [HD] 6 Apr (MSm); one at 39 Fraser Ave, Hamilton 9 Apr (AWi); one at Appleby Line and QEW 10 Apr (NW); one at QEW and Centennial Prkwy [HM] 14-28 Apr (RSp/RPo); one at Woodland Cemetery 17 Apr P (MV); one at S Grimsby Rd 15, S of Mud St [NG] 21-24 Apr P (JR,m.obs./EH,JH); one at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 21-28 Apr (LF/JWM et al.); one at QEW at Casablanca [NG] 24 Apr (DJ); one at Haldimand Rd 66, 200m W of Tyneside Rd [HD] 28 Apr (JS); one at Hwy 20 and Grimsby Rd 8 [NG] 3 May (DWo); one at Windermere Basin 7 May (BCh/SCa); one at 46 East Ave, Brantford ** 14 May L P (SDe). An amazing number of records in this period (at least 35 birds) but not too surprising considering the numbers in February. Despite the bad news with early road-kills in November, there were few observed road fatalities in 2018.Barred Owl#: One at 20 Side Road, 400 NE of 4th Line Nassagaweya [HL] 25 Mar* (YS); one calling in Dundas Valley 1 May (RD,CE,DD).Long-eared Owl#: One at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 10-17 Mar P (BT/RPo/MJa) and one bird here 7 Apr L (RSp); one at Brant Park, Brantford 18 Mar (MH); one at Hamilton Mountain 22 Mar P (TU).Short-eared Owl#: One over QEW at Walkers Line SWP 2 Mar F (MJ); four at 10th Rd East, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 3 Mar (BCo et al.) and three on 12 Mar (NS,RT); six along Zimmerman Rd at Philip Rd, Beamsville [NG] 31 Mar P (RPo,LM), 10 there 6 Apr (LM) and nine there 19 Apr (LM); six in area

Black Vulture over Beamer C.A., 23 March - photo Tom Thomas.

Golden Eagle at Beamer C.A., 18 Mar - photo Tom Thomas.

Snowy Owl in Brantford, 14 May - photo Stephanie

Dearing.



working life, with the Sanctuary/Land Trust Committee. He has worked diligently on many work parties helping to clear trails, remove hazard trees and clear the pine plantation at Spooky Hollow. With his experience, he is one of the select volunteers trusted to do chain-saw cutting during our work parties. He has also made valuable contributions over a period of eight years on the Board of Directors: first as Sanctuary/Land Trust Director from Oct 2007 to Oct 2010, then as Vice President in 2010-2011, then as our longest serving President in recent years from Oct 2011 to Oct 2015, and finally as Past President from Oct 2015 to Dec 2016. Michael continues to dedicate time to youth education as he and many of his staff at Brinkman Restoration donate their time to the Hamilton Childrens’ Water Festival each spring.

Do you have someone you’d like to nominate for the 2018 VOY awards? Please send your suggestion with a brief explanation to me at [email protected]


Junior VOY winner Mike Fischer handing out prizes at the May Monthly Meeting at Christie C.A. - photo Bronwen Tregunno.

Moments Caught in Time - Peregrines at the Lift Bridge by Bruce MackenziePhotography by Barry CherriereThe Hamilton Naturalists’ Club knows many splendid photographers and the Wood Duck has provided them with the perfect medium to share their timely captured moments with the world. Their contributions are valued by the community. This is a short story about one of these photo bugs.

If patience is a virtue, then Barry Cherriere is virtuous. Barry has been photographing birds, and I would have to say almost

just birds, for most of his life. Barry was born with patience and a desire to observe. Long before digital photography came about, Barry seemed to take picture after picture to capture just the right moment. Now with digital photography, his shutter seems to never stop.

But clicking the shutter alone is not the road to success. Studying the subject, researching the right place, and then planting yourself there for hours and or what turns out to be days, is what has allowed Barry to be the photographer that he is.

I have seen many of Barry’s photos. He has even published a book of his work. Many of his photos have graced the Wood Duck including the cover, he was the major contributor of photos for Bob Curry’s book, Birds of Hamilton and more recently he had the cover photo for the 2018 summer issue of Niagara Escarpment Views magazine. To date, my favorite was his shot of a Cave Swallow flying low over the water of Lake Ontario used on the cover of the March 2016 Wood Duck. The photo of the bird was spectacular, but the background of the water was what really caught my eye. It was a combination of lighting and the movement of the camera aligned perfectly with the speed of the bird that left the still water ethereal.

In July, my wife Laurie and I were biking along the Waterfront Trail from Confederation Park to Burlington and “surprise”, we came across Barry and his wife Linda sitting on a park bench just east of the Lift Bridge towers. Of course, the subject of the Peregrine Falcons nesting at the Lift Bridge was the reason for Barry and Linda being there. During our chat we spoke about telling the Peregrine’s story and I asked Barry if he could send me some pictures to help me focus on an article. The email arrived, and I was wowed. I opened the first photo and stopped. It was the background in a photo of a Peregrine Falcon at the Lift Bridge that really caught my eye and from there I wanted to know the

Barry Cherriere at the West End Lake Ontario Important Bird Area information panel at Van Wagners Beach – a place where Barry

spends a lot of time - photo Bruce Mackenzie.



bounded by Philip Rd, Konkle Rd, Mountainview Rd and Walker Rd [NG] 8 Mar (BMac) and five there 22 Apr (KSw) – likely the same birds as for the previous location.Northern Saw-whet Owl#: One at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 4 Mar L P (RPo); one flightless six week-old juvenile rescued from a property on Wilson St, Ancaster 19 Apr (fide JJo). Probably earliest nesting record for Canada!Red-headed Woodpecker#: One at 7419 Boyce Dr, Aberfoyle [WL] 4 May F (QC); one at Sawmill Rd [BR] 6 May (RD,CE,DD); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 7 May (BMi); one at Cootes Paradise 8 May (PT); two at Cosby Rd, 400m N of Yonge St [NG] 16 May (NS); one at Tom Street Park, Hamilton 19 May P (CWh); one at Grove Park Dr, Burlington 22 May (JR); one at Twin Valley Zoo, Langford Church Rd

25 May (LM).Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: One at U of Guelph Arboretum 18 Mar (TB); one at Stoney Creek backyard 4 Apr F (LM); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 13 Apr (RL); five at Globe Park [HM] 16 Apr (AWi,KWi); six at Confederation Park 16 Apr (DNe); nine at Edgelake Park [HM] 17 Apr (RPo); six at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 17 Apr (MMac); eight at

Beamer C.A. [NG] 17 Apr (RW); one Wilson St & Sulphur Springs Rd, Ancaster 20 May L (TU).Northern Flicker: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 23 Mar F (RB); 12 at Ruthven Park [HD] 24 Apr and 12 there 25 Apr (RL).American Kestrel: At Beamer C.A. [NG]: one 16 Mar F, five 23 Apr and one 14 May L (NPH).Merlin: At Beamer C.A. [NG]: One 18 Mar F and one 7 May L (NPH); one territorial bird 3-12 Apr at MacDonald Rd & Douglas Ave, Oakville (PSt); two territorial birds at Cedar Springs Rd and Hwy 5, Burlington 18 Apr (RWo); one territorial bird at Millen Rd and Barton St, Stoney Creek 13 May (LM); one territorial bird at Montgomery Park, Hamilton 13 May (PB); one territorial bird at Carolina Park, Brantford 23 May (SL).Peregrine Falcon: At Beamer C.A. [NG]: One 4 Mar F, three 12 Apr (NPH); one migrant over Bronte Harbour 4 Mar F (MJ); pair at Sheraton Hotel [HM] had one egg on 22 Apr (MS) and two chicks as of 4 May (MS); pair at Lift Bridge at Burlington Ship Canal 24 Mar P (CSc); pair at quarry at 10th Rd E and Green Mtn Rd [HM] 24 Apr (KD).Olive-sided Flycatcher#: One at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 14-18* May (BO); one at Burloak Woods [HL] 15 May (BC); two at Joshua’s Valley Park [HL] 20 May (BCa); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 May (YS); one at Blythe Cres, Oakville 26 May (JWa); one at Hunter Estates Park, Stoney Creek 30 May (LM).Eastern Wood-Pewee: One SM at Dundas Valley C. A. ** 3 May* (TU); one SM at Sedgewick Park [HL] ** 4 May (AD); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 10 May (TH); 11 at Ruthven Park [HD] 23 May, 11 on 26 May, and 14 there 31 May (all RL).Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Two at Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May* (MJa); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 15 May* (RD,CE,DD); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 27 May (RL).

Acadian Flycatcher#: One m. at Sawmill Trail, Dundas Valley ** 30 May* (TU).Alder Flycatcher: Two SM along 8th Conc, Beverly Swamp [HM] 20 May* (RD,CE).Willow Flycatcher: One at Ruthven Park [HD] ## 12 May* (RL); one at Edgelake Park [HM] ** 12 May* (RPo,et al.); six SM at King & Benton Property, Oak Park Rd, N of Hwy 403, Brantford 23 May (SL,BL).Least Flycatcher: One at Rattray Marsh [PL] 1 May* (RSp); one at Hidden Valley Park, Aldershot 1 May* (RD); 15 at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (RM); eight at Jack Darling Park [PL] 15 May (RM).Eastern Phoebe: One at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 28 Mar* (JP); one at Hilton Falls C.A. (LFr) 30 Mar; eight along Oakville waterfront (JVG); seven at Holcim Lakefront Mansion [PL] 18 Apr (JWa).Great Crested Flycatcher: One at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 2 May* (CE); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 2 May* (GPr); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 May* (RL).Eastern Kingbird: One at St George [BR] 2 May* (JL); one at Globe Park [HM] 2 May* (CE,RD).Northern Shrike#: One at Forestell Rd, near Side Road 12 [WL] 1-6 Apr P (MHa/ACa); one at Auburn Rd, Milton [HL] 7 Apr P (JR); one at Dundas Valley C.A. 8 Apr P (TU); one a 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 9-13 Apr P (RPo/JP); one at Mattamy Cycling Centre, Milton 22 Apr L (MJa,AD).White-eyed Vireo: One at Riverview Park, Oakville ## 11 May F (GE); one at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington ## 15 May (DD,CE,RD).Yellow-throated Vireo: One at Hilton Falls C.A. [HL] 5 May* (Julie Scott); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 5 May* (RL) and four there 13 May (RL); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 6 May P (BMy); four at Currie Tract [HL] 9 May (CaW); one at Shell Park [HL] 24 May L (GPr).

Blue-headed Vireo: One at Jaycee Sports Park, Brantford 22 Apr* (ANg); one at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 24 May L (BD).Philadelphia Vireo: One at Powerline Rd and Grand River, Brantford 13 May* (ANg); one at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 13 May* (MMac) and one there 24 May L (MMac); three at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 May (RL); five at Sassafras Pt, Cootes Paradise 15 May (DMo); one at Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 24 May L (GPr).Warbling Vireo: One observed at nine different locations in HSA (2 May*) (m.obs.); 11 at Cootes Paradise 15 May (DNe); 11 at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 May

(RL) and 15 there 31 May (RL); nine at Oak Park Trail, Brantford 16 May (MH); nine at Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 May (YS).Red-eyed Vireo: One at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 3 May* (BD/MMac); 12 at Ruthven Park [HD] 30 May (RL).Fish Crow#: One at Edinburgh Ave, Hamilton 28 Mar (AWi). Birds at Bronte Harbour/Marsh: four 2 Apr P (MJ,m.obs.), three there 5 Apr (DD/MJa), three there 8 Apr (NR), three 12 Apr (MJ), two 15 May (TH), and one 19 May (MJa). Four at CCIW 9 Apr (RD) and two there 26 Apr (MC); one at Burloak Park [HL] 16 Apr (MJ); one at Lakeside Park, Oakville 17 Apr (PSt); one at Ben Machree Park [PL] 18 Apr (LF et al.); two at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 23 Apr (BD), three there 1 May (MMac) and one there 5 May (BD); two at LaSalle Park 19 Apr (TU) and two there 24 Apr P (MJa); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 26 Apr (CE); one over Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 30 Apr (BMac); one at Jack Darling Park [PL] 10 May (RM) and three there 20 May (RM); one at Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 15 May (RM); two at Shoreacres Park [HL] 17 May (MCr,JWa); one over Stoney Creek yard 29 May (LM).Purple Martin: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 12 Apr* (MM) and 11 there 24 Apr (BCha,JI).Tree Swallow: Three at Windermere Basin 31 Mar* (NH); one at


Saw-whet Owl juvenile rescued in Ancaster, 19 Apr

- photo Jeff Jones.

Red-headed Woodpecker at Tom Street Park, 13 May - photo Chris White.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby,

16 May - photo Dawn Johnson.

Yellow-throated Vireo at Confederation Park, 6 May

- photo Buddy Myles.


Beamer C.A. [NG] 31 Mar* (BCa); one at South Shell Park [HL] 31 Mar* (DD); one at Hendrie Valley [HL] 31 Mar* (PT); 20 on Grand River at York [HD] 1 Apr (EG); 107 at South Shell Park [HL] 14 Apr (MJ) and 80 there 14 Apr (MJ); 50 on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr (RL); 55 over Grand River near footbridge, Brantford 18 Apr (GSi,JSi); 50 at Bronte Harbour 19 Apr (DJ); 100 at Hendrie Valley [HL] 20 Apr (BMi); 55 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 25 Apr (MMac); 50 over Puslinch Lake [WL] 28 Apr (MC,BWy); 85 over Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 12 May (RWo,KWo); 150 over Windermere Basin 17 May (GPr); 200 at roost near Wellington Rd 32 near Little Lake [WL] 20 May (BH).Northern Rough-winged Swallow: Three at South Shell Park [HL] 14 Apr* (MJ); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 Apr* (RL); 12 at Christie C.A. [HM] 24 Apr (BCha); 15 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 28 Apr (LF et al.).Bank Swallow: One at South Shell Park [HL] 14 Apr* (MJ); 14 at 10th Rd E and Green Mtn Rd [HM] 2 May (KD); 28 at Cootes Paradise 17 May (SR); 50 at Burloak Park [HL] 18 May (JVG); 35 at Bronte Beach Park 21 May (GPr); 500 at roost near Wellington Rd 32 and Little Lake [WL] 20 May (BH).Cliff Swallow: Two at Bronte Harbour 20 Apr* (MJ) and 30 there 14 May (MJ); eight at South Shell Park [HL] 23 Apr (MJ); 40 at Suncor Pier [HL] 8 May (MJ) and 100 there 24 May (GRi,NMc); 50 at quarry at 6th Line Nassagaweya [HL] 11 May (LPu,MFa).Barn Swallow: One over Grimsby C.A. [NG] 12 Apr* (MM); 40 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 28 Apr (LF et al.); 60 at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 28 Apr (FU); 50 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 28 Apr (MC,BWy); 200 at roost near Wellington Rd 32 and Little Lake [WL] 20 May (BH).Tufted Titmouse#: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] 4 Mar - 31 May (EF,m.obs.), with four there 2 Apr (RL), five there 7 May (RL), six there 16 May (RL) and four there 26 May (RL); two in Mineral Springs Rd – Sulphur Springs Rd area, Dundas Valley 8 Mar – 10 Apr (JL/GRi,NMc)/TU); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 17 Mar (RvT); one at Lions Park, Brantford 19 Mar (DG); one at LaSalle Park 30 Mar – 24 Apr (BCr/MN/RD); one at McMaster Forest 31 Mar (RP); two on Caleb’s Walk, N shore Cootes Paradise 1 Apr (CSc); two at Beach Ave, Brantford 5 Apr – 3 May (MH); one SM at Woodland Cemetery 22 Apr (RD,MM); one at Headwaters Trail, Dundas Valley 7 May (JL); one at D’Aubigney Creek, Brantford 8 May (MH); one at Waterworks Park, Brantford 9-20 May (MH).Brown Creeper: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Apr F (RL); six at Edgelake Park [HM] 23 Apr (RPo); eight at Holcim Lakefront Mansion 24 Apr (JWa); eight at Sedgewick Park [HL] 25 Apr (MJa); one at Shoreacres Park 25 May L (TM).House Wren: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] 25 Apr* (RL).Winter Wren: One at Hardy Rd Trails, Brantford 30 Mar F (NR); one at Joshua’s Valley Park [HL] 14 May L (BCa).Sedge Wren#: One SM NW of Valens Rd and 6th Conc [HM] ## 20 May* (RD,CE).Marsh Wren#: One at Clappison’s Corners Wetland [HM] 7 May* (RPo); one at quarry at 6th Line, Nassagaweya [HL] 11 May (MFa,LPu); three SM at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 17 May (SD); one at Shoreacres Park 19 May (KMa); two at Rattray Marsh [PL] 20 May (MP); two at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 13-21 May (RD/KE); one at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 26 May (RvT).Carolina Wren: One at Middletown Marsh [HM] 1 Mar – 16 Apr (BCha); one at 8575 1st Line, Campbellville [HL] 1 Apr (KWo,RWo); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 23 Mar (CCo); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 5 May (EG); one at Wellington Rd 32 – Little Lake area [WL] 21-22 May (BH).Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: One at Fifty Point C.A. [HM] 29 Apr* (RPo); 10 at Ruthven Park 11 May, 10 there 18 May and 10 there 31 May (all RL); 10 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); six at Sedgewick Park [HL]

19 May (MJa,AD); 10 at Shoreacres Park [HL] 19 May (AD).Golden-crowned Kinglet: Two at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 1 Apr F (DJ); 20 at Beamer C.A. [NG] 26 Apr (BCa); two at Lowville Park 9 May L (BO); two at Shoreacres Park [HL] 9 May L (BMi).Ruby-crowned Kinglet: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 12 Apr* (MM); 15 at Sedgewick Park [HL] 28 Apr (MJa) and 14 there 6 May (DJ); 19 at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 29 Apr (RD,CE,DD); 15 at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 1 May (BO); 30 at Lakeside Park [PL] 7 May (VC); three at Edgelake Park [HM] 23 May L (RW).Eastern Bluebird: Six at Brant Park, Brantford 28 Mar (MH); five at Ruthven Park [HD] 1 Apr, 10 there 9 Apr and nine there 25 May (all RL); six along Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 8 Apr (MH); one in East Hamilton 17 May (TU); two at Arkendo Park [HL] 19 May L (RM).Veery: Two at Edgelake Park 4 May* P (DWa/RW); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville 4 May* (DH); one at Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 24 May L (GPr).Gray-cheeked Thrush: One at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 4 May* (JHa,BHi) and one there 28 May (MMac).Swainson’s Thrush: One at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 2 May* (BD/MMac); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 May* (RL); one at Bronte Harbour 2 May* (MJ); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville 2 May* P (DH); 28 at Sherwood Forest Park [HL] 15 May (RD); 15 at Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May (MWo).Hermit Thrush: One at Erindale Park [PL] 4-6 Apr F (RM/CaW); nine at Sedgewick Park [HL] 25 Apr (MJa); eight at Edgelake Park [HM] 1 May (RW); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); one at Preservation Park, Guelph 19 May (FU); one singing m. at Beverly Swamp C.A. [HM] ** 27 May L (JL).Wood Thrush: One at Edgelake Park [HM] 29 Apr* (RD,CE).Gray Catbird: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 2 May* (JVi) and 15 there 10 May (RD); one at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 2 May* (BD/MMac); 20 at 9th Line Sports Park [HL] 15 May (TH); 20 at Ruthven Park [HD] 24 May (RL).Brown Thrasher: One at Rattray Marsh [PL] 22 Apr F (JMe,MMe); one at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 22 Apr F (GRi,NMc); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 17 May L (RD).Northern Mockingbird: Two at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 9 Apr (NR); two on Townline Rd W, just E of Grant Rd [HD] 9 Apr (NR); one along Hardy Rd, Brantford 10 Apr (NR); one at Lafortune Park [HD] 22 Apr (CJ); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 22 Apr (RL); one along Hwy 3, 600m E of Dry Lake Rd [HD] 8-20 May (EG/YS).Cedar Waxwing: 22 at Ruthven Park [HD] 21 May (RL) and 134 there 23 May (RL).American Pipit: Two over Fennell and Upper Sherman, Hamilton 9 Apr F (TU); two at 3rd Line, S of 15 Side Rd [HL] 18 Apr (YS); 10 along Powerline Rd, W of 5th Rd E [HM] 5 May (RD); two along 5th Rd E, N of Green Mtn Rd [HM] 17 May L (RD,CE).Purple Finch: Eight at Hilton Falls C.A. [HL] 30 Mar (LFr); seven at Safari Rd Wetland [HM] 22 Apr (RD,MM); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 6 May L (DGal).Pine Siskin: 15 at Binbrook C.A. [HM] 3 Mar (RP); 60 at Brant Park, Brantford 12 Mar (MH); 19 at Westfield Heritage Village [HM] 18 Mar (TU); 25 at HCA HQ 22 Mar (JL); 20 at Edgelake Park [HM] 5 May (RD); one at feeder at Oakville backyard 29 May L (PSt).Lapland Longspur#: 25 at Paris Plains Church Rd [BR] 24 Mar

Mink with Tree Swallow at South Shell Park, 14 Apr - photo Mark Jennings.

Eastern Bluebird f. at Glen Morris, 27 May -

photo Jerry Horak.

Golden-winged Warbler at Sedgewick Park, 10 May -

photo Randy Droniuk.


(RD,CE,DD) and 120 there 14 Apr P (EG); 100 at West River Rd & W Dumfries Rd [BR] 13 Apr (NH); 12 at 10th Rd E, S of Mud St [HM] 21 Apr (RD,CE,RD); 12 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] ** 9 May L P (RPo/JVi).Snow Bunting: Two at 8th Road East, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 2 Mar L (FE,RE).Ovenbird: One at Clarkson [PL] 2 May* (DWat,PWat).Louisiana Waterthrush#: One SM at Dundas Valley C.A. 21 May P (JL).Northern Waterthrush: Two at Puslinch Lake [WL] 30 Apr* (MC,BWy); one at 1st Line Campbellville Rd [HL] 30 Apr* (KWo,RWo).Golden-winged Warbler#: One at Edgelake Park [HM] 6 May* P (MMac); one m. at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 May P (RB,RDr).“Lawrence’s” Warbler#: One m. at Dundas Valley C.A. 21 May P (JL).Blue-winged Warbler: Three at Ruthven Park [HD] 3 May*, six there 6 May, nine there 9 May and eight there 31 May (all RL); eight at Currie Tract [HL] 9 May (CaW); four at Berry Tract [HM] 15 May (JHu); five at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 20 May (KMi); four at Martins Rd, Dundas Valley 23 May (JJ); four at McMaster Forest 27 May (RP,NH).Black-and-white Warbler: One at Edgelake Park [HM] 28 Apr* (RPo); six at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (RM); one at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 25 May L (YS); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 25 May L (EC/BCa); one at Churchill Park [HM] 22 Jun (YS).Tennessee Warbler: One at Nelles Beach, Grimsby [NG] 3 May* (MMac); 15 at Ruthven Park [HD] 18 May (RL) and 10 there 20 May (RL); 15 at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 19 May (RM,RPa,GL); 12 at Jack Darling Park [PL] 20 May (RM); 12 at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 21 May (BO); 12 at Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 24 May (GPr); one at Dundas Valley C.A. 29 May L (JL).Orange-crowned Warbler: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 5 May* (WK); one at Shell Park 5 May* (WK) and one there 22 May (RPo); one at Hardy Rd area, Brantford 23 May L (MH).Nashville Warbler: One at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 1 May* (RM); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 1 May* (RW/JR/AWi); 10 at Escarpment rail trail near Albion Falls [HM] 10 May (TU); one along Brantford Rail Trail near Copetown Bog [HM] 24 May L (JP).Connecticut Warbler#: One banded at Ruthven Park [HD] 23 May* P (RL); one banded at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 24 May L P (BO).Mourning Warbler: One at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 5 May* (LF).Common Yellowthroat: One along Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 2 May* (NR); one at Forty Mile Creek at Grimsby [NG] 2 May* (MMac); 14 at Ruthven Park [HD] 8 May (RL) and 25 there 17 May (RL).Hooded Warbler#: One m. at Martins Rd, Dundas Valley 11-29 May P (JL/m.obs,/JJ); pair at Mt Nemo [HL] 18 May P (DH); one at Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 23 May L (MH); one SM at Dundas Valley along G. Donald Trail 28 May (JL); one m. along Spring Valley Trail, Dundas Valley 29 May (MJa).American Redstart: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 3 May* (CE/DH); 10 at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (VC); nine at Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May (MWo); 10 at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 19 May (NH).Kirtland’s Warbler#: One SM in NE Brantford ** 15 May* P (ANg).Cape May Warbler: One at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 2 May* (CE); one at Blythe Cres, Oakville 2 May* (JW); one at Erindale Park [PL] 2 May* P (anon); 12 at Shell Park [HL] 19 May (AD,MJa) and six there 20 May (ABa); six at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (VC); one

at orange feeder in Brantford 15 May P (Donna Boyle); four at four locations in HSA 21 May L (HvB/CSc/AS/JJ).Cerulean Warbler#: One f. at Sedgewick Park [HL] 8 May* (MJa); one SM 9-12 May at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] (BO/YS); one SM on 6th Conc, W of Valens Rd [HM] 13 May (RD).Northern Parula: One at Nelles Beach Park [NG] 2 May* (MMac); seven at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (VC/JW); seven at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 15 May (RD,CE,DD).Magnolia Warbler: One at Edgelake Park [HM] 2 May* (RW) and 12 there 15 May (RPo/MJa); 10 at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 May (RL) and two there 30 May L (RL); 35 at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (RM).Bay-breasted Warbler: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 May* (RL); eight at Lions Valley Park, Oakville 15 May (DH); 10 at RBG Arboretum 19 May (JHu,BCo); 25 at Shell Park [HL] 19 May (AD,MJa), 14 there 20 May (ABa) and six there 24 May (GPr); 20 at Scenic Dr, Hamilton 20 May (ON).Blackburnian Warbler: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 3 May* BCa); one at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 3 May* (MMac); 10 at Shell Park [HL] 19 May (AD,MJa); four at Ridgeside lane, Oakville 24 May (GPr); one at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 24 May L (YS).Yellow Warbler: One at south shore Cootes Paradise 1 May* (MK); recorded from at least 14 locations on 2 May including seven on Hardy Rd trails, Brantford (NR), five at Ruthven Park [HD] (RL), four at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] (RP) and four at Waterworks Park, Brantford (MH). 50 at Ruthven Park 12 May (RL).Chestnut-sided Warbler: One at Erindale College [PL] 2 May* P (anon); 14 along Escarpment rail trail near Albion Falls [HM] 10 May (TU); 15 at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 15 May (RD,CE,DD); nine at Shoreacres Park [HL] 15 May (BO); eight at Shell Park [HL] 19 May (AD,MJa); 20 at Scenic Dr, Hamilton 20 May (ON); one at Beamer C.A. [NG] 30 May L (BD).Blackpoll Warbler: One at Nelles Beach Park [NG] 3 May* (MMac); one at Shoreacres Park 10 May (XF); 10 at RBG Arboretum 20 May (BCo); one at Forty Mile Creek at Grimsby [NG] 28 May L (MMac).Black-throated Blue Warbler: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 2 May* (DE); eight at Escarpment rail trail near Albion Falls [HM] 10 May (TU); one at Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 24 May L (GPr).Palm Warbler: One at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 22 Apr* (GPr); three at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Road [HM] 27 Apr (SCa); 14 at Confederation Park [HM] 5 May (WK); 14 at Fifty Pt 5 May (RD,CE,DD); 17 at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 May (RL); one at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 22 May L (NH).Pine Warbler: Two at Jaycee Sports Park, Brantford 22 Apr* (ANg); two at Hyde Tract [HM] 22 Apr* (MM,RD); two at Sedgewick Park [HL] 22 Apr* (DH); one at Britton Tract [HL] 22 Apr (MJa,AD); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May L (SCa).Yellow-rumped Warbler: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 1 Mar (RDr) and 40 there 4 May (AD); one at Spencer Creek at Cootes Dr [HM] 10 Mar (BS); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville 1 Apr (DH) - likely a wintering bird. Three at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 Apr F (RL) and 35 there 7 May (RL); one at Franklin Pond [WT] P 16 Apr F (NH) and 15 there 5 May (NH); seven at Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 19 Apr (NR); 20 at Edgelake Park 28 Apr (RPo), 25 there 1 May (RW) and two there 24 May L (MWo); 30 at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 3 May (MMac); 75 at Fifty Pt 5 May (RD,CE,DD); 24 at Shoreacres Park [HL] 5 May (WK); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 24 May L (SB).Yellow-throated Warbler#: One at Shell Park ** 16 May (DMof,LMo).Prairie Warbler: One at Lakeside Park [PL] ** 5 May* (CK).Black-throated Green Warbler: One at Shell Park [HL] 1 May* (GPr); seven at Hamilton Cemetery 6 May (PR); 10 at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (VC); one at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 28 May L (BD).Canada Warbler: One at Escarpment rail trail near Albion Falls [HM] 10 May* P (TU); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 25 May L (EC/TM).Wilson’s Warbler: One at Blythe Cres, Oakville 9 May* (JW); six at Lakeside Park [PL] 15

Louisiana Waterthrush at Dundas Valley C.A., 27 May -

photo James Lees.

Connecticut Warbler banded at Lowville, 24

May - photo Ben Oldfield.



rest of the story. As you can see from the front cover photo, Barry’s timing was perfect, and the subject is portrayed better than in real life. Our eyes cannot capture the detail of the instant like the camera did.

Peregrine Falcons started nesting on the west tower of the Lift Bridge at the Burlington Ship Canal in 2004. Since then, Barry has been found almost daily observing the Peregrines from the time the eggs hatched and the parents began feeding them, to long after the birds fledge. His hours of observation have rewarded Barry with seeing just about every aspect of Peregrine behavior; from courtship, to

hunting, training the young, watching the young take their first flights, and death. All of this has taken place in a most unique environment.

To the urban dweller we are used to hearing about Peregrines nesting on the ledges of tall buildings in downtowns. Peregrines are cliff nesters and building ledges are cliff ledges to them. As long as there is enough avian prey nearby, then the nest site can work, keeping in mind of course that Peregrines are very territorial and there might be only room for one pair in town.

At the Lift Bridge, the urban environment is dynamic. During the nesting season, the bridge is raised every half hour or more if required by commercial shipping. The Peregrine nest is located at the top of the west tower on a window ledge facing the canal and the water below. The bridge below the nest is literally raised to the nest every time the bridge is lifted. Beside the bridge, a very short flight away, is the Burlington Skyway with a never-ending stream of 150,000 vehicles daily. The drone of tires on pavement is constant. And to top this off, right beside the bridge at nest level, is a bevy of high tension wires held high above the passing ships by massive towers. The whole area is suspended infrastructure in one of the busiest bottlenecks in Canada.

At first sight one might think that all of this movement, disturbance and noise would always thwart a top predator – an endangered species – from nesting there. But to Barry’s observations the opposite might be true. All of this seems to simply make the environment more dynamic for the birds and

gives them more opportunities. It certainly makes the watching more exciting for the observer than a downtown site.

The biggest of these opportunities to the birds sometimes is the Lift Bridge or, as Barry calls it, "the dumb-waiter". Peregrines prefer to feed on fairly large prey; ducks, gulls and Rock Pigeons, all of which are common birds at the canal. Rock Pigeons nest on ledges or in accessible cavities. The Lift Bridge is full of such cavities and some of the Peregrines nesting at the bridge have learned that there are easy pickings simply by raiding these nesting sites for the squabs. Yes, the Peregrines can capture Rock Pigeons on the wing, but like most predators there is an energy efficiency question and they will always take advantage of easier acquired meals. Note the spectacular front cover photo of a Peregrine leaving one of the cavities with a young Rock Pigeon. Barry first observed this type of feeding behavior from Mackenzie in July 2011 the year he showed up at the bridge. His mate was Cirrus who had nested here since 2009. Mackenzie, no relation to the writer, was her mate from 2011 to 2015. Cirrus appears to have learned the behaviour from Mackenzie. Over the years Barry observed Mackenzie hunting this way 14 times right up until 2018. Barry maintains a journal of the birds’ daily activities and highlights to accompany his photos. A treasure trove indeed.

Mackenzie’s mate since 2016 has been a female that fledged in Michigan. She displaced Cirrus or took up Cirrus’ absence and her name is unknown. In 2018, two chicks fledged but shortly after their first flights they became unknown birds. Between 2011 and 2015, 18 Peregrine chicks have fledged from the tower site.

Over the last couple of years there has been major construction and maintenance taking place at the Lift Bridge site that has made observing the Peregrines difficult. Hopefully in 2019, things will be back to normal around the area and Barry and others can find the optimum observation points again.

The Lift Bridge at the Burlington Ship Canal - the location of the

Peregrine Falcon nest.

Young Peregrine Falcon exercising its wings before first flight from ledge at the Lift Bridge.


Adult Peregrine heading for "the dumb-waiter".


May (VC/RM); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 26 May L (RL).Yellow-breasted Chat: One banded at Lowville ** 16 May* P (BO).Eastern Towhee: One at Ray St, Hamilton 16 Apr F (BCo); one at Shell Park 24 May L (GPr).American Tree Sparrow: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 1 May (RL); one at St George [BR] 2-4 May L (JL).Chipping Sparrow: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] 3 Apr* (RL), 14 there 23 Apr (RL) and 20 there 28 Apr (RL).Clay-colored Sparrow#: One at Hume Rd at Watson Rd S [WL] 3 May* (FU); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 4 May P (DH/AD); one at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 5 May (NH); two 10-31 May at Dragonfly Park Hills, Guelph (CCo/DMac); one at St George [BR] 11 May (JL); one at Nassagaweya-Puslinch Townline Rd, S of Arkell Rd [HL] 15 May (FU); one at Lower Baseline Rd, Oakville 15 May (PBu); one at Fern Hill School, Oakville 15 May (RL); three on Hardy Road trails, Brantford 16 May (MH); two at Westover Tract [HM] 18 May (JP); one at Preservation Park, Guelph 21 May (FU); eight (7 SM) at King & Benton property, along Oak Park Rd, N of Hwy 403, Brantford 23 May (BL,SL); two at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 30 May P (DH).Field Sparrow: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 1 Apr* (RL); one at Fern Hill School, Burlington 12 Apr (JC); 16 along Hardy Road trails, Brantford 27 Apr (NR).Vesper Sparrow: One at Auburn Rd, E of Trafalgar Rd [HL] 6 Apr* P (DPr/LF); one at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 9 Apr (RPo).Savannah Sparrow: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Apr* (RL,EG); 15 at Heritage Green Park [HM] 23 Apr (RP).Grasshopper Sparrow: One at Hardy Road trails, Brantford 24 Apr* (MH), three there 27 Apr P (NR/ANg), 25 SM there 10 May (MH) and 20 SM there 27 May (RW,MW); eight SM NW of Valens Rd & 6th Conc [HM] 13 May (RD); 12 SM at King & Benton property N of Hwy 403 at Oak Park Rd, Brantford 23 May (BL,SL); five SM at Preservation Field, Guelph 24 May (FU).Fox Sparrow: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 Apr F (RL); five at Beamer C.A. [NG] 19 Apr (RSp); one at Hidden Valley Park, Aldershot 1 May L (RD).Song Sparrow: Two at Middletown Marsh [HM] 1 Mar (none present prior to this) (BCha); two at Lakeside Park [PL] 18 Mar (SM) and 18 there 31 Mar (anon).Lincoln’s Sparrow: One at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 1 May* (MMac); one at St George feeder [BR] 3 May P (JL); four at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 9 May (BO); one at South Shell Park [HL] 26 May L (MJ).Swamp Sparrow: One at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 13 Apr F (BO); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 13 Apr F (RL); four at 11th Rd E [HM] 23 Apr (RPa).White-throated Sparrow: One at South Shell Park [HL] 14 Apr F (MJ); 15 at Hardy Rd trails, Brantford (JN); 22 at Hunter Estates Park [HM] 2 May (LM); 25 at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 May (RL); one at Kerncliff Park [HL] 26 May L (RB).White-crowned Sparrow: 10 at Sawmill Rd feeder [BR] 11 Mar (GB); one at Margaret St., Stoney Creek 25 Apr F (RW); two at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 30 Apr (RPa) and 12 there 1 May (RPa); eight at Jack Darling Park [PL] 15 May (RM); eight at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (RM); one at South Shell Park [HL] 24 May L (MJ).Dark-eyed Junco: 75 at Confederation Park [HM] 16 Apr (RD); 30 at Beamer C.A. [NG] 17 Apr (RW); 15 at Gage Park [HM] 24 Apr (PR); one at Sassafras Trail, Cootes Paradise 10 May L (MK,JW).Summer Tanager#: One 1st spring m. at Ruthven Park [HD] ## 7 May* (RL) and an ad. f. banded there ** 9 May P (RL).Scarlet Tanager: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] 3 May* (SMac); four at

Lakeside Park [HL] 15 May (RM); one at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 27 May L (BD).Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 11 birds from seven HSA locations on 2 May* by seven observers; six at Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May (MJa); 13 at Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 16 May (MH); one at St Paul Ave, Brantford 30 May L (CSt).Indigo Bunting: One at Dundas Valley C.A. 3 May* (TU); one at Hamilton Cemetery 6 May (PR).Dickcissel#: One m. at Big Creek Stables, Big Creek Rd, 1km E of Mulligan Rd [BR] ** 15 May* (JSm,DS,DSm).Bobolink: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 May* (RL); 12 in field opposite Grass Lake [WT] 8 May (DRo); 20 at Sanders Farm, S. Grimsby Rd 7, S of Conc 7 Rd [NG] 13 May (MSa); 15 along Smithville Rd, 300m N of Conc Rd 2 [NG] 20 May (NS,RT); 15 in field along Waynco Rd and Cheese Factory Rd [WT] 28 May (NH).Eastern Meadowlark: One at Lynden Rd near 5th Conc [HM] 4 Mar F (RD); one on 4th Conc. near Hunter Rd [HM] 4 Mar F (RD); one at field across from Grass Lake [WT] 5 Mar (RB); three along Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 18 Mar (MH) and six there 27 Apr (ANg); nine at Heritage Green Park [HM] 23 Apr (RP).Rusty Blackbird: One at Binbrook C.A. [HM] 3 Mar F (RP); four at Elm St and Park Rd, Grimsby [NG] 12 Mar (MMac); seven over Stoney Creek 21 Mar (LM); 10 at Lakeside Park [PL] 26 Apr (JW); six

at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 May (RL); one at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 15 May L (RD,CE,DD).Baltimore Oriole: 30 individuals from 14 HSA sites on 2 May* (m.obs.); 20 at Burloak Woods [HL] 15 May (BC); 15 at St George [BR] 15 May (JL); 27 at Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 16 May (MH); 10 at Jack Darling Park [PL] 20 May (RM); 13 at Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 May (ABa); 14 at Preservation Park, Guelph 21 May (FU).Orchard Oriole: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 2 May* (PT); one at Nelles Beach Park, Grimsby [NG] 2 May* (MMac); one at Bronte Creek trails, Burlington 6

May (MJa); five at Cootes Paradise 8 May (PT); six at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 May (RL); seven on Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 14 May (MH); one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 16 May (LF) and one there 27 May L (TO); two at Dragonfly Park Hills, Guelph 19 May (RH); three at Fern Hill School, Oakville 22 May (RL).


Yellow-breasted Chat banded at Lowville, 16 May - photo Ben

Oldfield.

Summer Tanager f. banded at Ruthven Park, 9 May - photo

Rick Ludkin.

Kirtland's Warbler m. in NE Brantford, 15 May

photo Andrew Nguyen.

Hooded Warbler at Martin Rd, Dundas Valley, 21 May - photo David Welch.

Hamilton Naturalists' Club

Getting Ready for Our 100th Year!

Affix Label Here

40048074Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: The Hamilton Naturalists’ ClubWestdale P.O. Box 89052Hamilton, ON L8S 4R5

Protecting Nature Since 1919

Snowy Owls "saying hello" at Bronte Harbour - 22 March 2018 - photo Randy Droniuk. It was an exceptional winter for Snowy Owls in Hamilton and this carried over into the Spring, with individuals being seen into May. See the list

of all the Spring Snowy Owl records in the Spring Noteworthy Bird Records on page 31 inside.

Two photos in one. Peregrine Falcon with young pigeon ...€¦ · The Wood Duck - ctober Page 27...

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Transcript of Two photos in one. Peregrine Falcon with young pigeon ...€¦ · The Wood Duck - ctober Page 27...