JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB Protecting Nature Since 1919 Volume 72 Number 2 October 2018

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.

In This Issue: Celebrating Hamilton's Pollinator Paradise Spring 2018 Noteworthy Bird Records May Volunteer Appreciation Night Peregrine Falcons at the Lift Bridge Saw-whet Owls at Ruthven Park Sandhill Crane over Wilkes Dam, Brantford on 18 March 2018 - photo Dinu Bandyopadhyay.

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.

Page 26 The Wood Duck - October, 2018

Volume 72 Number 2 October 2018 CN ISSN 0049-7886 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074 http://www.hamiltonnature.org [email protected]

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 Executive Past President Maggie Sims 905 331 1496 [email protected] President: Bronwen Tregunno 905 637 7136 [email protected] Vice-President: Chris Motherwell *** *** **** [email protected] Secretary: Joyce Litster 905 627 1203 [email protected] Treasurer: Jim Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Directors Bird Study Group: Bruce Mackenzie 905 973 4869 [email protected] Conservation & Education: Paul D. Smith 905 659 1482 [email protected] Field Events: Rob Porter 905 920 3148 [email protected] Director-at-Large: Jackson Hudecki 905 516 4253 [email protected] Membership: Jill Baldwin 905 679 6447 [email protected] Programs: Lou Mitton *** *** **** [email protected] Publicity: vacant Sanctuary: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Volunteer: Cleo Coppolino *** *** **** [email protected] Wood Duck Editor: Bill Lamond 519 756 9546 [email protected]

Coordinators

Website Coordinator: vacant Social Coordinator: Catharine Flatt 905 628 2030 [email protected] Junior Naturalists: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Mailing: Jean Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Land Trust Program: Jen Baker 905 524 3339 [email protected]

Report rare bird sightings to: Cheryl Edgecombe 905-637-5923 Send Noteworthy Bird Records to: Bill Lamond, 238 St. George St, Brantford, N3R 1W7 email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to The Membership Director, HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order, contact Elaine Serena Hamilton Naturalists’ Club P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5 905-639-2702 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- What’s Alive in Hamilton - from HCA website. free free cess to Wood Duck; for those 25 or under) Checklist of Ontario Butterflies $1.50 Senior Joint Membership $45.00 Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas $45.00 Family Membership $50.00 (order from Glenn Barrett at [email protected]) 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)

The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 27 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 Meeting At the October Bird Study Group Monday, October 15, 2018 - 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 29, 2018 - 7:30 p.m. Fungi – The Fifth Kingdom Birds of The Gambia RBG, 680 Plains Rd. W, Burlington Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St. Join Kriss Gandier to learn about the Justin Peter is Quest Nature Tours' Director of Programs and senior naturalist, and worked fascinating world of wild mushrooms previously for several years as Senior Naturalist and other edible wild foods. Find out at Algonquin Provincial Park. Justin leads tours about the best ways to learn and methods to such places as India, Africa, the Galapagos used to identify mushrooms, as well as Islands, Hudson Bay, the Canadian Arctic, information about mushroom preparation Antarctica and The Gambia. and preservation for culinary purposes. Tucked away on Africa’s west coast, the Kriss Gandier has been foraging for unassuming and tiny nation of The Gambia mushrooms her entire life, originally in is one of the continent’s best-kept secrets. Thunder Bay. She has been a member of the Flanking both banks of its mighty namesake river, it is located in a transition zone between Toronto Mycology Club for over 20 years and the dry north and the humid south and hosts a has led forays in Cambridge and Kitchener. surprising and wonderful array of bird life. Justin She currently harvests mushrooms and has scouted this country twice and will share other wild foods for high-end restaurants his insights and some of his own photography including Langdon Hall. from his visits.

Page 28 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Celebrating Hamilton’s Pollinator Paradise by Jen Baker

he Pollinator Paradise Project – a partnership between the mural boards in the school. Many students THNC and Environment Hamilton – is building a Pollinator from the school participated and it became Corridor across the city. We create habitat in parks, at schools, very popular as everyone wanted to participate. Land Trust and businesses by planting native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Students became so engaged in the painting Coordinator Jen Workshops led by local experts help residents create their own that it was the quietist many of the students had Baker. pollinator habitats to contribute to the Pollinator Corridor which is ever been. helping to bring nature Installing the mural back to the city. was a challenge and We wanted to celebrate we are fortunate the tremendous work that City Parks staff that has been done have undertaken this to create pollinator challenge. Once the habitats. What to do? mural was installed in mid-June, we had an The perfect location unveiling with Mayor The Alpha class and the mural - photo Jocelyn to celebrate this work Eisenberger, School Neysmith. The students painting the mural - photo of this project is the Terry Basom. Board Trustee Christine Bingham, funders from the Hamilton York Boulevard Parkette Community Foundation, and about 60 students from Hess Street where HNC has been creating habitat and is situated close to School. other planting sites, including Hess Street School. We regularly deliver our nature education program to Hess Street School The mural project has been a unique and popular way to students. The parkette’s proximity to Hess Street School was celebrate the Pollinator Corridor, to engage students, and to part of the reason that we wanted to naturalize it. As the plants add to Hamilton’s outdoor art. We hope to bring more art to the become established it will provide a nearby space for students to parkette, as well as to the other pollinator habitat sites. be outside and to explore nature.

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

The fences that back onto the parkette were covered in graffiti and We would like to thank Gerten Basom and Marcia Periera covering these up with art provided the opportunity to celebrate for leading the creation of the the Pollinator Corridor. Gerten Basom, HNC member and incredible mural, students from talented artist, was willing to take on the challenge of creating a Hess Street School for painting large mural that celebrates the project and covers up the graffiti. the mural, and the funders who We wanted to engage the Hess Street School students in the supported the project: Hamilton project, and thinking of them, Gerten developed the big and bold Naturalists’ Club, Hamilton and beautiful design. As the mural is 40ft x 8ft, there was plenty of Community Foundation’s Field room for many students to help with the painting. Gerten prepped of Interest Fund and Helen the mural boards to be easy for the students to paint using a paint- Kirkpatrick Fund, and Councillor by-numbers system as seen in the pictures. She engaged fellow Aidan Johnson. Even the bee boxes look artist Marcia Periera as an assistant to help the students paint wonderful - photo Jen Baker. The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 29 HNC Hike Report Wednesday Evening Walk at Courtcliffe Park by Gord McNulty

n HNC summer evening hike at Courtcliffe Park in Carlisle installation of sediment mats to continue Aon 15 August proved to be a delightful and informative event. to narrow Bronte Creek, and in-stream Participants enjoyed seeing first-hand, the significant ecological habitat structures. restoration taking place on Bronte and Mountsberg Creeks where they join at the park. The natural rejuvenation of what was Hajnal found the walk as rewarding as the formerly a seasonal trailer park came as a welcome surprise to participants. “Thank you for the lovely Gord McNulty - photo Nicole Chamula. participants, who were really impressed with the progress to date. 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 Hike participant Helene Dutka reads an success story it is proving to interpretive panel about the ongoing stream improvements at Courtcliffe Park - be. CH Field Technician Hajnal Broz (left) shows the results of the work at photo Bron Tregunno. Courtcliffe Park with before and after pictures of the habitat alterations - photo Bron Tregunno.

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

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

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 The placement of old trees, including Christmas trees, helps to narrow guides on hand to help the students identify the stream channel, increase the flow rate, and thereby help cool the what they find. If you have old field guides on creek – great for trout! - photo Bron Tregunno. birds, wildflowers, trees, butterflies we'd be very like Trout Unlimited Canada. Impediments such as undersized happy to give them a new home. Please contact culverts, bypass channels and online ponds are being removed. Jen Baker at 905-524-3339 or land@hamilton- The streams are being narrowed to increase the flow of the creeks and reduce water temperatures. Fish habitat and water quality nature.org. are improving through techniques such as riparian plantings, Page 30 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Noteworthy Bird Records — March to May (Spring) 2018 by Bill Lamond

nderlined species or dates require documentation to be submitted to the newly reorganized Hamilton Bird Records Committee U[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 theDate 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 inBirds 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: Plumages, etc.: * - first occurrence for the year County/Region/City: F - first migration occurrence m. - male Brant [BR] L - last migration occurrence f. - female Haldimand [HD] P - photographed ad. - adult Halton [HL] SM - singing male ba. - basic Hamilton [HM] terr. - territorial bird alt. - alternate Niagara [NG] SWP - storm water pond imm. - immature Peel [PL] Conc - Concession juv. - juvenile Waterloo [WT] 1st yr. - first year ** - documentation received Wellington [WL] ## - documentation not received yg. - young

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),

The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 31 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); 5 May (DH); two at Hagersville quarry ponds [HD] 11 May (RPo). two white morph at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 16 Mar P (DRo). Blue-winged Teal: Two (m. & f.) at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd 31 Mar* Snow X Ross’s Goose#: One apparent hybrid at Lynden Rd, N of Conc. (LM,RPo); eight at Spiece Rd & Fly Rd [NG] 4 Apr (NS); three at 4 [HM] 24 Mar (RD,CE,DD). 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 Ross’s Goose#: One at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] ** 14-15 Mar P (WK/RH) (BC,m.obs.); four at Victoria Rd, N of Leslie Rd [WL] 28 Apr (WK); five and one there ** 12-13 Apr P (RH/BWy); one ad. over 10th Rd E and at 8th Line & Britannia Rd [HL] 3 May (DPr,JMe,MMe); four at 5th Rd Dofasco Trail ## 18 Mar (RD,MM); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] ** E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 7 May (JR). 23 Mar P (AZ). Northern Shovelor: 18 at Hydro Pond, Cootes Paradise 3 Apr (BS); Brant#: [HL] One at South Shell Park nine at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 8 Apr (MC,BWy,MHa) and one there 5 23-27* May P (MJ, m.obs.) and 3 there May (DTa); two at Spottiswood Lakes [BR] 9 Apr (MH); six at Grimsby 28 May L (MJ); one at 4520 Lakeside Wetlands [NG] 13 Apr (MJac); 14 at Windermere Basin 23 Apr (RD) Dr, Beamsville 20 May (NS,RT). and two m. there 29 May (KB/RD); four at Middletown Rd, S of 4th Cackling Goose: Three at Flamboro Conc [HM] 24 Apr (JN); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 18 May (TH); Downs [HM] 1 Mar (DGa); eight at one at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB). 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1-2 Northern Pintail: 35 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1 Mar (RPo); Mar P (RPo/GC); two over Dundas Brant - 24 May - South Shell seven at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 24 Mar (BCha) and seven there 9 Apr Valley 1 Mar (JL); two at Scotch Park - photo Joanne Redwood. (TH); two at Valens C.A. [HM] 31 Mar (RD); eight at Niebaur’s Pond Block Reservoir [HL] 1 Mar (YS); seven at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 3 Mar [WL] 1 Apr (MC,MLe); three at Conc 2, Puslinch, 2 km E of Wellington (TH), three there 15 Mar P (RH), 13 there 12 Apr P (RH), and one there Rd 35 [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); 23 at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 22 [HL] 18 Apr (RH); four at 5th Conc and Fairchild Creek [HM] 4 Mar (RD) Apr (GRi,NMc); one at Britton Tract 22 Apr (MJa,AD); two at Mattamy Cycling Centre, Milton 22 Apr (MJa,AD); two at Princess Pt, and four there 11 Mar (RD,CE,DD,MM); five at 1855 Hwy 5 [HM] 4 RBG 2 May (DNe); one m. at pond on Hwy 99, 1.5km E of Lynden [HM] Mar (JL); 10 at Ofield Rd and 4th Conc [HM] 11 Mar (RD,MM,CE,DD); 20 May (JL); one at Windermere Basin 21 May (RM). two at Elm Tree Rd E at Park Rd S, Grimsby 12 Mar (MMac); two at Green-winged Teal: 26 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 1 Apr (ACa) and 15 Puslinch Lake [WL] 14 Mar (FU); two at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 15- there 8 Apr (RM); 55 at Ridge Rd, w of 10th Rd E [HM] 2 Apr (RD,MM) 17 Mar (FU/AZ); three at pond along Hwy 24, S of German School Rd and 72 there 21 Apr (RD,CE,DD); 20 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 7 Apr [BR] 23 Mar (JN); three at Forestell Rd & Roszell Rd pond [WL] 31 Mar (MC) and 13 there 12 Apr (TH); three on Grand River at Ruthven Park – 1 Apr (RH/ACa). [HD] 8 Apr (RL) and two there 22 Apr (RL); 20 N of Ridge Rd, 500m Tundra Swan: See Summer Wood Duck 2018 for data on large movement W of 10th Rd E [HM] 12 Apr (RPo); six at Brant Park, Brantford 22 on 28 Feb – 1 Mar; 546 past Bronte Harbour 1 Mar (MJ); 100 over Dundas Apr (NR); eight at Mattamy Cycling Centre, Milton 22 Apr (MJa,AD); Valley 2 Mar (JL); 47 at Branchton Rd, N of St George [BR] 8 Mar (JL); 43 11 at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 Apr (DPr) and 10 there 5 May over Spiece Rd , S of Bethesda Rd [NG] 14 Mar (NS); a good movement (DH); two at Downey Rd and Teal Dr, Guelph 2 May (RH); four at on 18 Mar: 400 at Nelles Corners [HD] (CH); 41 at Canborough Rd, 2 Windermere Basin 6 May (RPo). km E of Canborough (CH); 22 over Hardy Rd, Brantford (MH), 35 at Canvasback# Seven at Pier Four Park [HM] 2 Mar (JR); 22 at LaSalle Grimsby Wetlands [NG] (DJ). 19 over Grand River, Brantford 19 Mar Park 5 Mar (BC) and 27 there 19 Mar (DD); 24 on Harbour off CCIW (JPi); 16 at pond along Hwy 24, S of Blue Lake Rd [BR] 23 Mar (JN); 170 5 Mar (BC); five at Windermere Basin 8 Apr (BC); two at Great Lakes/ at Paris Plains Church Rd & West Dumfries Rd [BR] 27 Mar (NH), 98 Rebecca SWP [HL] 8 Apr (GPr); 15 off Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 8 Apr there 1 Apr (BL,SL) and two there 13 Apr L (NH); 14 at Rattray Marsh (GPr); one f. at Valens C.A. [HM] 22 Apr (RD). [PL] 1 Apr P (DDi). A good late movement on 2 Apr: 130 at Dundas Canvasback x Redhead#: One at Bayfront Park 1 Mar P (fide JR) and Marsh P (WO), 30 past Sunrise Cres, Dundas (RD), 39 past South Shell at LaSalle Park 3 Mar (AD). Park [HL] (MJ et al.), 54 over St George [BR] (JL), and 32 over east Redhead: 10 at Great Lakes/ Hamilton (TU). 17 at West Pond, Cootes Paradise 3 Apr L (SR). Rebecca SWP [HL] 1 Mar Wood Duck: 26 at Hendrie Valley [HL] 20 April (BMi) and 12 there 30 (RPo,m.obs.), 21 there 11 Mar Apr (BCo). (RB) and four there 22 Apr (RB); 25 on Lake off South Shell Park Gadwall: [HM] 15 at 5th Rd E, N of Green Mtn Rd 3 Mar (RD,MM); [HL] 3 Mar (GPr); 20 off LaSalle 40 at LaSalle Park 18 Mar (AG); 24 at Windermere Basin 20 Mar (MN); Park 3 Mar (BCha); 20 at Pier 20 on Harbour at CCIW 25 Mar (AnV); six at Islay Lake [HL] 7 Apr 4 Park 3-13 Mar (WO); 26 off (AD,RPa); 10 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 Apr (RM); eight at Brant Park, Ring-necked Duck - 4 April - Bronte Bayshore Park 12 Mar (NR); 19 Marsh - photo Tom Miller. Brantford 8 Apr (NR); 12 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 28 Apr (MC,BWy) and at Puslinch Lake [WL] 23 Mar two there 2 May (MC); three at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 6 May (DTa). (CCo); 12 at Islay Lake [HL] 7 Apr (AD,RPa); 25 at Niebaur’s Pond American Wigeon: 48 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1 Mar (RPo); [WL] 8 Apr (MC,MHa,BWy), 40 there 19 Apr (AnV) and two there 55 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 3 Mar (RD,MM); five at Grimsby 27 Apr (WK); six at Flamboro Downs [HM] 16 Apr (BCha); eight at Wetlands [NG] 5 Mar (BD); 15 at Branchton Rd, N of St George [BR] 7 Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 22 Apr (MC et al.); 15 at Rattray Marsh [PL] Mar (JL); 25 at Green Mtn Rd quarry [HM] 16 Mar (KM); 18 at Ridge 22 Apr (MN); four at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); four at Windermere Rd, W of 10th Rd E [HM] 2 Apr (RD,MM); 20 at Puslinch Lake [WL] Basin 23-31 May (RD/RPo). 8 Apr (MC,BWy,MHa); six at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 18 Apr (JP); Ring-necked Duck: 22 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 1 Mar (GPr), seven at 87 Acre Park [HM] 21 Apr (RPo); 12 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 18 there 22 Apr (RB) and two there 7 May (MJ); 25 at Windermere 22 Apr (DMac); two at Britton Tract [HL] 22 Apr (AD,MJa); four at Basin 4 Mar (RM), 60 there 23 Mar (JP) and one there 17 May L (GPr); Hendrie Valley [HL] 23 Apr (BCo); two at 8th Line at Britannia Rd [HL] 24 at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 20 Mar (RH), 48 there 30 Mar (DM), 86

Page 32 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 there 1 Apr (MC,MLe), 160 there 12 Apr (RH), 139 there 29 Apr (JSip) 160 off Burloak Park 17 May (MJ); 35 off Shoreacres Park[HL] 17 May and 40 there 5 May (BPME); 32 at Mountsberg C.A. 31 Mar (RvT), 55 (EH,JH); 25 at Fruitland Rd [HM] 17 May (PBu); 40 at J.C. Saddington there 13 Apr (ZK), and 40 there 22 Apr (MC et al.); 30 at McMillan Pit, Park [PL] 20 May (RM); 50 off Fifty Point[HM] 20 May (MMa); one off Puslinch [WL] 2 Apr (ACa); 16 at Islay Lake [HL] 7 Apr (AD,RPa); 35 Confederation Park [HM] 21 May (CSc). at Dry Lake [HD] 7 Apr (RD et al.); 50 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 8 Apr Bufflehead: 17 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 3 May (BD) and one there (MC,MHa,BWy); 21 at 87 Acre Park [HM] 20 Apr (BD) and 19 there 29 21 May (RD); 25 off Shoreacres Park[HL] 3 May (GPr) and five there 17 Apr (AWi); 36 at Aberfoyle Pit, Puslinch 22 Apr (MC et al.); two at Grass May (GPr); 30 at Windermere Basin 6 May (TO/GPr); two at Wyecroft/ Lake [WT] 6 May (GSi,JSi). McPherson SWP 13 May (MJ); five off Bronte Bluffs Park[HL] 15 May Greater Scaup: Three at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 5 Apr (AZ); 105 off (GPr); two off Rattray Marsh [PL] 24 May L (SB). South Shell Park 12 Apr (MJ) and one there 8 May (MJ); 96 at Bronte Common Goldeneye: 80 off Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 21 Apr Harbour 12 Apr (MJ); 50 off Shoreacres Park [HL] 22 Apr (GPr); 55 at (RM); 40 off Ben Machree Park [PL] 28 Apr (JWM); eight off Lakeside Rattray Marsh [PL] 22 Apr (MN) and six there 8 May (CaW); eight at Park [PL] 2 May (JMe,MMe); two off Shoreacres Park[HL] 9 May Britton Tract [HL] 22 Apr (MJa,AD); 35 at Windermere Basin 1 May (BMi); four off Jack Darling Park[PL] 10 May (RM); three on Lake (MN) and one there 27 May (NH); 12 off LaSalle Park 2 May (MJa); two off 40 Mile Creek mouth [NG] 13 May (PB); one off Bronte Bluffs Park at Cootes Paradise 5 May (JHu); two at Beachway Park [HL] 15 May [HL] 15 May L (GPr). (MJ); eight at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB). Hooded Merganser: 60 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 Apr (RM) and 20 Lesser Scaup: 200 at Windermere Basin 4 Mar (RM), 130 there 18 Mar there [WL] 18 Apr (MV); 17 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); six (NR), 50 there 19 Apr (RPo), and five there 27 May (NH); 76 off LaSalle (f.&5yg.) at Mystery Marsh, Mineral Springs Rd [HM] 6 May (JL); one f. Park 30 Mar (KH); and two there 1 May (DT); six at Islay Lake [HL] 7 flypast in St George [BR] 8 May (JL); 7 (including pair at nest cavity) at Apr (RPa,AD); 50 at Mountsberg C.A. 8 Apr (RM) and 70 there 29 Apr Franklin Pond, Cambridge 8 May (AZ); 10 (f.&9yg.) in Hendrie Valley (MC); 22 at McMillan Pit, Puslinch [WL] 8 Apr (MC,MHa,BWy); 11 at 11 May (DW, MMai); one at Cootes Paradise 17 May (SR); one at Dundas Spottiswood Lakes [BR] 9 Apr (MH); 10 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 13 Valley C.A. 23 May (JL); one at Grass Lake [WT] 27 May (EH,JH). Apr (MJac) and four there 3 May (BD); four at Flamboro Downs [HM] Common Merganser: 35 Off Van Wagners Beach 15 Apr (BH,KB); two 16 Apr (BCha); eight off Rhododendron Gardens[PL] 21 Apr (RM); 10 at Cootes Paradise 17 May (SR); one at Bronte Harbour 19 May L (MJ); off Lakeside Park[PL] 22 Apr (RM); 10 off South Shell Park [HL] 23 Apr pair at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 19 May (AZ). (MJ); two (m. & f.) at Laird Road Pond [WL] 5 May P (JSip). Red-breasted Merganser: 350 off J.C. Saddington Park[PL] 21 Apr King Eider#: 16 on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 3 Mar (JV) and five there (LF) and 80 there 20 May (RM); 1400 off Rhododendron Gardens[PL] 4 Mar (JJa); nine on Lake off Sayers Park[HM] 4 Mar (DGal) and 13 21 Apr (RM); 3437 on Lake between Walkers Line and Burloak Dr [HL] there 5 Mar (DMo,WB); 10 on Lake 21 Apr (BJ); 458 on Lake between Spencer Smith Park and Fruitland off Green Rd [HM] 4 Mar (RM,SM) Ave [HL] 21 Apr (CK); 300 off Lakeside Park[PL] 22 Apr (RM); 100 and nine there 18 Mar (NR); one at on Lake off Verity Lane [NG] 22 Apr (JV); 125 off Bronte Bluffs Park Fifty Point C.A.[NG] 4-5 Mar P (JRo/ [HL] 2 May (GPr); 35 off Lakeside Dr at Lake[NG] 20 May (MMac); 50 KM,BD) and one 2nd winter m. there on Lake off Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 May (ABa) and two there 29 May 21 Apr L (KM); one on Lake off Dewitt (MJ); 66 off Arkendo Park[HL] 21 May (JWa); 35 at Bronte Beach [HL] Rd [HM] 10 Mar (CSc). 21 May (GPr) and five there 26 May (CE,DD,RD). Harlequin Duck#: One f. on Lake at Ruddy Duck: 12 at South Shell Park [HL] 2 Mar F (GPr); 55 at Cootes Grays Rd [HM] 1-8 Mar P (LF/m.obs./ Harlequin Duck, female - 21 May Paradise 7 Apr (JHu), 132 there 13 Apr (BMi), and 20 there 2 May (RD); MN); one f. at Burlington Ship Canal Beachway Park - photo Rich Poort. 50 at Windermere Basin 10 Apr (JP), 40 there 27 Apr (BCr), four there on 3 Mar (MBu/RD,MM) and on 10 22 May (KB) and two there 26 May (SMac,RR); three on Grand River at Mar (DPy); one f. at Beachway Park [HL] 28 Apr (RD,DD,CE) and on Ruthven Park [HD] 3 May (RL); 17 off Woodland Cemetery 5 May (PR); 21 May P (RPo). Quite possibly the same bird was involved in all of the nine at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 6 May (DTa); 25 at Valley Inn 6 May (PR); above sightings, certainly the sightings in March. two at Tollgate Ponds 19 May (KB). Surf Scoter: 40 on Harbour off CCIW 4 Mar (EG); 20 on Lake off Ring-necked Pheasant#: One along Green Mtn Rd, near 8th Rd E [HM] Fruitland Rd [HM] 9 Mar (JWi); 200 on Lake off Dewitt Rd[HM] 10 27 Mar (GN); one at Britton Tract, Halton County Forest 7 Apr (SBe); Mar (CSc); 45 on Lake off Sayers Park [HM] 15 Mar (RPo); 220 on Lake one along River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 20 May (KE). off Green Rd [HM] 18 Mar (NR); nine on Lake off South Shell Park Pied-billed Grebe: One at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 1 Mar F [HL] 8 May (MJ); two at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); one past Bronte (GPr) and two there 22 Apr (MJ); one at LaSalle Park 2-4 Mar (WO); Harbour 26 May L (RD,DD,CE). three at Valley Inn 7 Apr (AWi,KWi); three at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 White-winged Scoter: 105 off LaSalle Park 9 Mar (AG,BCo,OY); 180 Apr (RM) and five there 18 Apr (MC); three at Desjardins Canal 18 Apr on Lake at Green Rd [HM] 5 Mar (BC); 80 on Lake at Fruitland Rd (JHu); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 1 Apr (RL); four at Shade's Mills C.A. [HM] 9 Mar (JWi); 67 at Waters Edge Park [PL] 10 Mar (LF); 415 on 16 Apr (AZ); 20 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 22 Apr (WK); three at NcNally Lake from Sandy Cove Drive, Lincoln to Grimsby Harbour (DJ,WELO); Pit, Puslinch [WL] 22 Apr (MC,et 80 at Burlington Ship Canal 10 Mar (SR); 512 on Lake from Shoreacres al.); eight at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] Park to Burloak Rd [HL] 10 Mar (BJ); 15 at Tollgate Pond 11 Mar (QW); 22 Apr (WK); three at Hespeler 200 off Sayers Park [HM] 14 Mar (BS); 450 off Fifty Pt [NG] 21 Mar (JL); Mill Pond [WT] 24 Apr (TH). 118 on Lake from Sioux Lookout to Walkers Line, Burlington (SLa); 50 Horned Grebe: Four at LaSalle at Port Credit [PL] 12 Apr (TO); 20 at Holcim Lakefront [PL] 22 Apr Park 13 Mar (ND); 7 there 18- (RM); 40 on Lake at Forty Mile Creek [NG] 21 May (RD); 126 at Bronte 19 Apr (RD), 10 there 28 Apr Harbour 26 May (MJ); 42 at Suncor Pier [HL] 27 May (MJ). (RD,DD,CE) and eight there 3 Black Scoter#: Two at Fifty Point [NG] 22 Mar (BD); one m. at Fifty May (RD); 27 on Lake from Birch Rd at Lake [HM] 17 Apr (KM); two off J.C. Saddington Park[PL] 18-20 Hill Promenade to Carrington Apr L (LF/DDi). Horned Grebe at LaSalle Park, 20 Promenade, Oakville 10 Mar Long-tailed Duck: 240 at Bronte Harbour 6 May (MJ), 115 there 22 Apr - photo John Vieira. (AK,AG); 30 at J.C. Saddington 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); Park [PL] 7 Apr (AnV) and (continued on page 35) The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 33 Northern Saw-whet Owls and Night Life at Ruthven Park by Nancy Furber he Ruthven Park Banding Station runs a Northern Saw- sex, and then, the bird is ‘released’ (i.e., placed Twhet Owl banding project which is open to the public. It’s an in a juniper bush giving it time in the dark for evening program that will challenge your senses and bring new its eyes to re-adjust). awareness and appreciation for this beautiful park. In 2017, it was an unseasonably warm/wet fall and the owl nets were opened between 30 September and 6 November. Owls were Nancy Furber trapped on nine of the eleven evenings the nets - photo Bob Fotheringham. 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).

Northern Saw-whet Owl in maple tree -photo Bob Fotheringham. 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 Eastern Screech-Owls are also occasionally banded during the from dusk until at least midnight Northern Saw-Whet Owl season - photo Bob Fotheringham. each rainless night from the first Viewing the feathers under Over the past eight years, we have banded a total of 397 saw- of October to the first full week ultraviolet light allows owls to be whets. The fall of 2016 marked a new banding record for Ruthven of November. Next to the nets, aged (new feathers glow a bright pink) - photo John Furber. Park (Table 2). Many people have attended the banding program a sound system (male Saw-whet and within the last two years the number of visitors have swelled territorial vocalization on a continuous loop) is established in with the popularity of it. Plan on visiting Ruthven during one of anticipation of luring the owls into the nets on their migration. 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.

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

Page 34 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 (continued from page 33) 15 there 28 Apr Cootes Paradise 5 May (JHu); 20 over Bronte Heritage Park 12 May (IJ) (MMe,JMe); six at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 8 Apr (RM) and 15 there 18 and 10 there 26 May (RD); 40 over Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); 20 Apr (MC); fiveon Lake off Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 12 Apr (MJac); at Van Wagners Beach 19 May (RD). one on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 Apr (RL); five at Shade’s Ruby-throated Hummingbird: One at Mills C.A. [WT] 18 Apr (AZ); eight off Spencer Smith Park [HL] 20 Apr Dundas Valley C.A. 1 May* (JL); one at 8575 (JP); 40 at Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 21 Apr (RM); 21 at Puslinch 1st Line Campbellville [HL] 2 May (KWo); Lake [WL] 21 Apr (CCo), 28 there 22 Apr (WK) and nine there 2 May one at Nelles Beach, Grimsby 3 May (MMac); (MC); 47 on Lake from Shoreacres Park [HL] to Burloak Rd 21 Apr two at Edgelake Park [HM] 4 May (RW); [PL] (BJ); 30 on Lake from Watersedge Park to Ben Machree Park 21 seven at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 May (RL). Apr (LF); 22 at Burlington Ship Canal 21 Apr (SR); eight at McNally Virginia Rail#: One at Kerncliff Park[HL] 20 Pit, Puslinch [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); 20 at Lakeside Park [PL] 22 Apr Apr* (RD,CE) and three there 22 May (DT); (RM); 20 at Holcim Lakefront Mansion [PL] 22 Apr (RM); 30 on Lake one at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 22 Apr (MC et at South Shell Park [HL] 22 Apr (DH) and 22 there 25 Apr (MJ); 20 off al.); one at Safari Rd Wetland [HM] 22 Apr Confederation Park 23 Apr (SCa); eight at Windermere Basin 27 Apr (RD,MM) and two there 30 Apr (NH); one (BCr) and one there 15 May (YS); 23 off Burloak Park 30 Apr (MJ); one at 202 Woolverton Rd, Grimsby [NG] 24 Apr at Wilkes Dam, Brantford 1 May (NFa); 10 on Lake at Burlington Ship Whip-poor-will at Bronte (JVR); one at Grass Lake [WT] 6 Apr (DD); Canal 5 May (CEl); one off Bronte Harbour 26 May L (RD,CE,DD). Harbour, 4 May - photo three at 11th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 27 Red-necked Grebe: Josh Vandermeulen. Six at Bronte Harbour 1 Mar F (DT), eight there Apr (RPo); three at City View Park [HL] 30 24 Mar (YS), 300 there 2 Apr (MJ) and 125 there 8 Apr (GPr); two Apr (MJa); three at Clappison’s Corners Wetland [HM] 7 May (RPo/JP); [NG] at Fifty Point 5 Mar (KM,BD); 79 on Lake between Birch Hill one at Cootes Paradise 8 May (DNe); one at Maltby Rd and Victoria Rd [PL] Promenade and Carrington Promenade 10 Mar (AK,AG); 50 S [WL] 11 May (FU); one at Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 23 May (RP); two [PL] at J.C. Saddington Park 27 Mar (DPr), 200 there 28 Mar (LF et at 5th Rd E, S of Powerline Rd [HM] 24 May (KeD); one at Taquanyah al.), 175 there 30 Mar (RPa), 100 there 7-8 Apr (FP/DDi/RPo) and 75 C.A. [HD] 29 May (BP). there 21 Apr (LF); 70 of Ben Machree Park [PL] 28 Mar (LF et al.); 25 Sora#: Three at Safari Road Wetland [HM] 22 Apr* (RD,MM); one at at Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 28 Mar (LF et al.) and 875 there 21 11th Rd E at Smith Road [HM] 29 Apr (RPo); three at City View Park Apr (RM); 62 at Suncor Pier [HL] 28 Mar (MJ) and four there 28 May [HL] 30 Apr (MJa); one at Kerncliff Wetland[HL] 30 Apr P (JR) and (MJ); 40 on Lake off Green Rd[HM] 2 Apr (RD,DD,CE); 36 at Oakville three there 12 May (YS); one at 5th Rd E, S of Powerline Rd [HM] 5-21 Harbour 9 Apr (MJ); 12 off Shoreacres Park [HL] 21 Apr (BMi); 129 May (RD,MM/LM,LT); one at 4120 Appleby Line [HL] 15 May (PBu); on Lake between Watersedge Park [PL] and Ben Machree Park [PL] one at Cootes Paradise south shore 16 May (BLa); one at Franklin Pond, 21 Apr (LF); 100 off Lakeside Park[PL] 22 Apr (RM); 20 off Holcim Cambridge 16 May (AZ); two at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 29 May (BP); Lakefront Mansion [PL] 22 Apr (RM); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 28 one at Cootes Paradise, north shore (RB). 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 American Coot: Two at South Shell Park [HL] 3 Mar F (GPr); one at off Jack Darling Park[PL] 20 May (TO). 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 WESTERN GREBE#: One off J.C. Saddington Park[PL] 7 Apr* P ** Lake [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); eight at Britton Tract, Halton County Forest (BMa, m.obs.). This is undoubtedly the same bird that has visited Port 22 Apr (AD,MJa); two at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 29 Apr (LM); one at Credit for several years in a row in its migration to wherever it breeds. Windermere Basin 27-29 May “white-shielded” variant (BCh/KB). It was just a one-day wonder this year. Common Gallinule#: One at Safari Road Wetland [HM] 22 Apr* Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Two at (RD,MM), two there 1 May (RD,CE,MM) and one there 27 May (BCha); Dundas Valley C.A. 20 May* (JL); one two at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 6 May P (DTa). at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley Sandhill Crane: Two at Irish Line and River Rd [HD] 17 Feb 20 May* (KMi); one at Jack Darling (JMe,MMe); two at 5th Conc W and Fairchild Creek [HM] 1 Mar F Park [PL] 20 May* (RM). (NH); two at Grass Lake [WT] 4 Mar (RD), 14 there 29 Apr (KSu) and Black-billed Cuckoo: One at eight there 21 May (DRo); two at Beke Rd, North Dumfries [WT] 6 Mar Westover Rd, N of 8th Conc [HM] 14 Western Grebe - 7 Apr at Port (CRo); two in field at Branchton Rd, N of St George[BR] 7 Mar (JL); four May* (PS); one at Ruthven Park [HD] Credit - photo Bonnie Kinder. over Downey Rd and Teal Dr, Guelph 18 Mar (RH); four over Beamer 16 May (RL) and five there 27 May (RL). C.A. [NG] 23 Mar (RB) and seven overhead there 21 Mar (BCa); four on Common Nighthawk: One over High Level Bridge 13 May* (DD); two West River Rd, S of Glen Morris [BR] 24 Mar (DD,RD,CE); 12 in field over Montgomery Park, Hamilton 14 May (PB); one perched at Berry along Caledonia by-pass [HM] 29 Mar (GN); four over Mountsberg C.A., RBG 15 May P (JHu,m.obs.); one perched at Edgelake Park [HM] C.A. [WL] 30 Mar (MC). 17 May P (MWo); five over Grimsby[NG] 23 May (BMac); four over American Avocet#: 19 at Windermere Basin ** 6 May P (BCh,m.obs.) Carolina Park, Brantford 24 May joined by a flock of 10 after noon for a total of 29 birds (m.obs); one at (SL); three over Hespeler Mill 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] ** 22-23 May P (DH,m.obs). 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.); Common Nighthawk at Edgelake Park American Avocets at Windermere Basin, 6 May - photo Barry Cherriere. - 17 May - photo Barry Cherriere. one at 14 Mile Creek, Oakville 25 May L (SC). Black-bellied Plover#: One at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] ** 24 Chimney Swift: One over Edgelake Park [HM] 29 Apr* (FE,RE); 22 over Apr* P (BCha); one at (continued on page 39) The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 35 DATES TO REMEMBER - October 2018 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

Page 36 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 DATES TO REMEMBER - November 2018

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 bill- [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.

The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 37 HNC – Monthly Meeting – 14 May 2018 May Volunteer Appreciation Night by Bronwen Tregunno

e decided to switch things up a little bit this year and have of the Year Trophy and is given a smaller, engraved individual Wour May evening meeting (14 May) outside to celebrate trophy, a Volunteer of the Year embroidered T-shirt, and a $50 our two Volunteer of the Year (VOY) award winners as well as book store gift certificate. The large, permanent and beautiful our other wonderful volunteers. The weather was wonderful as HNC Volunteer of the Year Trophy was made by John Sedgwick the rain held off. We started the evening at 6:30 p.m. at Christie a former HNC member whose hobby is marquetry, a process of Lake Conservation Area at the Lakeside Pavilion. Many thanks to making pictures using only inlays of different coloured wood Cari Hobbs, Superintendent of Christie Lake and Spencer Gorge from different tree species. This trophy is truly a work of art. Conservation areas, and Here’s a little bit about our 2017 winners: the Hamilton Conservation Authority for letting us use John Struger, our Senior VOY, has volunteered for many years on the park in the evening at HNC committees and for ten years on the HNC Board. He joined no cost. In addition, HCA the HNC in 1982 – giving him 35 years of Club membership – and gave us some passes for our soon became involved with the Conservation Committee. This prizes! We had hikes lead lead to his invitation to join the Board as Conservation Director. by Brian Wylie, Rob Porter and wildflower specialist Dean Gugler. Everyone Christie C.A. was the setting for the HNC Monthly Meeting, 12 May - photo Bron brought some nibbles, and Tregunno. 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.

Mike Fischer (left) accepting Jr VOY award from Vice-President Chris Motherwell. 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 John Struger (left) accepting Senior VOY award from Brian Wylie - photo the last three years. Recently, he also volunteered to help on the Bronwen Tregunno. 100th Anniversary Dinner Committee. Two VOY awards are given every year to two members, chosen Michael Fischer, our Junior VOY performed admirably as a HNC by the Board but nominated by anyone in the Club. The Senior volunteer over many years in two areas; as a Sanctuary/Land Trust award is for someone who has given distinguished service to the volunteer, working on many sanctuary work parties, and as a Board Club and has been a member for over 15 years. The Junior award of Director member over eight consecutive years. As a sanctuary is for outstanding service and has been a member for less than maintenance volunteer, Michael has shared his knowledge, 15 years. It has nothing to do with age! Each of the winners has derived from being a tree planting and tree maintenance his or her name placed on our large, permanent HNC Volunteer professional in his (continued on page 42) Page 38 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 (continued from page 36) Windermere Basin Hagersville quarry ponds [HD] 11 May (RPo); 23 along Green Mtn Rd, 6 May (RPo,m.obs.), one there 29 May (EG,m.obs) and one there 31 Between 6th & 8th Rds E [HM] 12 May (RD,CE,DD); three at 8th Line May (RPo); 12 at Bronte Beach 21 May (GPr); seven at 6th Line, S of and Britannia Rd [HL] 12 May (IJ); 10 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 16 Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 22 May (LF) and one there 27 May (DH). May (TH), 12 there 19 May (AZ), and one there 27 May L (NH); 11 at American Golden-Plover#: One ba. at Windermere Basin ** 12-17 wetland at 407 and Britannia Rd [HL] 19 May (DPr); eight at Wyecroft/ May* (RPo,m.obs.); one at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] ** McPherson SWP [HL] 20 May (MJ); four on Lake at Burloak Park [HL] 23-24 May (LF/SMac). 25 May (YS); 14 at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 25 May (LF) Semipalmated Plover#: One at Windermere Basin 6 May* (DPr,m. and eight there 26 May RD,CE,DD). obs.), four there 15 May (YS) and two there 23 May (MMac); seven at White-rumped Sandpiper#: Three at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Hwy 54 and Stoney Creek Rd [HD] 11 May (RPo); four at 5th Rd E, S of Rd [HL] 24 May* P (SMac) and two there 26 May (LF); one at Hespeler Ridge Rd [HM] 9 May (RPo), 20 there 12 May (RPo,RD) and two there Mill Pond [WT] 24 May* (NH); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 25 May (TH); two at 10th Rd E at Green Mt Rd [HM] 14 May (KD); 27 May P (MJ/AD); one at Windermere Basin 31 May (RPo). one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 18 May (TH); one at 6th Line, S of Pectoral Sandpiper: One at 581 Sobie Rd, Grimsby [NG] 8 Apr* (RT); Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 22 May (DH) and 29 there 26 May (CE,DD,RD); three at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 19 Apr (LN,RPo) and one there 20 one at Wyecroft McPherson SWP 13 May (MJ) and eight there 23 May May L (LM); one at James Snow Parkway, 400m SE of Louis St Laurent (MJ); one at Powerline Rd and 5th Rd E [HM] 27 May L (MK,JW). Blvd, Milton 26-27 Apr (DPr/LF); one at Green Mtn Rd, 400m E of 7th Piping Plover#: One at Windermere Basin ## 23 May* (BCh,CE). Rd E [HM] (RPo); one at Windermere Basin 17 May (MCr,JWa). Upland Sandpiper#: One at S Grimsby Rd 15, S of Mud St [NG] 21 Semipalmated Sandpiper: Three at Windermere Basin 15 May* (YS), Apr* (JR) and four there 22 Apr (GRi,NMc); two on Woodburn Rd, N eight there 21 May (CSc), 20 there 22 May (RD,BCh), 12 there 26 May of Kirk Rd [HM] 22 Apr (WK); one at Smithville Rd at Concession 2 (RvT) and six there 31 May (RPo); 12 at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe [NG] P 24 Apr and two there 26 Apr P (KR); four in gravel pits along Rd [HL] 22 May (RE), 20 there 24 May (DH), 40 there 25 May (JV), and Hard Rd, Brantford 24 Apr (NR); one on Cheapside Rd, 0.8km S of 45 there 26 May (RD,CE,DD); 40 at Burloak Park [HL] 25 May (MJ); Indian Line [HD] 5 May (CB); one along Haldimand Road, 1.2km E of 20 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 25 May (TH); 16 at Bronte Harbour Indian Line [HD] 24 May (SMac); one at King & Benton property on 25 May (MJ). Oak Park Rd, N of Hwy 403, Brantford 27 May P (RW,MW). Short-billed Dowitcher#: Three at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 15 Whimbrel#: Five past Bronte Harbour May* (MJ); one at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP[HL] 15 May* (MJ); one 21 May* (GPr), 30 past 22 May (JVi), 50 (griseus subspecies) at Windermere Basin 21 May (KM), five there 22 past 24 May (GPr), 35 past 25 May [9:30 May (JP), 10 there 23 May (RD), and three there 24 May L (RPo). a.m.] (YS,BCa) and 20 past 25 May [2:30 Common Snipe: Two at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 1 Apr* (RPo), p.m.] (RB,RDr); 22 past J.C. Saddington five there 2 Apr (JR/MMac), 12 there 3 Apr (RPo), 16 there 7 Apr (NR), Park [PL] 21 May* (LF) and 13 past 15 there 20 Apr (CC) and two there 20 May (LM); four at Maltby Rd at 25 May (DDi); 19 past Pinedale Ave, RR tracks [WL] 2 Apr (DM); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr (RL); Burlington 24 May (BC); three at South three at Westover Rd and 6th Conc [HM] 22 Apr (CSc); three at 10th Shell Park [HL] 24 May (GPr) and eight Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 22 Apr (GRi,NMc) and four there 26 Apr there 27 May (MJ); 100 over Riverwood Whimbrel at Bronte, 24 May - (AWi,KWi); two at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 23 Apr (BP); eight at 8th Line Conservancy [PL] 26 May (DDi). photo Mike Veltri. and Britannia Rd [HL] 26 Apr (DPr); five at Grass Lake [WT] 29 Apr Marbled Godwit#: Two at Windermere Basin ** 21 May* P (BCh,m.obs.). (JN) and two there 8 May (DRo); 10 at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 2 Ruddy Turnstone#: One at Windermere Basin 16 May* (KSe,GSt), and May (TU); three at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 5 May (EG); one at 8th Rd E, two there 23-24 May (RPo,RD); one at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); 16 S of Ridge Rd [HM] 14 May (KD); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP 16 at Bronte Harbour 22 May P (DH,m.obs.) and one there 25 May L (MJ/ May L (MJ). RD); two at 6th Line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] (BC,M.obs.); six at Spotted Sandpiper: One at Paletta South Shell Park [HL] 22 May (MJ) and one there 25 May L (TM); one Park [HL] 21 Apr* (BMi); one at at Burlington Ship Canal 22 May (MC). Spencer Smith Park [HL] 21 Apr* Red Knot#: One at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] ** 22 May* P (RPo,KH); (CK); nine at Grand River, Brantford one at Windermere Basin ** 24 May P (RPo). 14 May (MH); eight at Great Lakes/ Sanderling#: 10 at Bronte Rebecca SWP [HL] 16 May (MJ). Harbour 25 May* P (HBa). Solitary Sandpiper: One at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 Apr* Dunlin: Five at Windermere Wilson's Snipe at 5th Rd E - 13 (DPr); nine at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd Apr - photo Rob Buchanan. Basin 23 Apr* (RD), and 13 there [HM] 12 May (RPo) and one there 20 6 May (RvT), 50 there 12 May May L (LM,RPo); four at 9th Line Sports Complex [HL] 15 May (TH). (RD,CE,DD), 40 there 20-21 Greater Yellowlegs: One at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 10 Apr* (AZ) and May (EG,NH/KM), 300 there 22 one there 29 May L (AZ,KT); four at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] (RPo); May (RD,BCh) and 22 there 26 nine at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr (RL); five at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd May (RvT); one at 6th Line, S of [HM] 20 Apr (DT), seven there 21 Apr (RB), 14 there 24 Apr (BCha), Red Knot at Bronte, 22 May - photo Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 27 Apr Garth Riley. three there 12 May (RPo), and one there (LF), 18 there 22 May (LF), 19 there 20 May (LN,RPo); eight on Middletown 24 May (SMac) and 15 there 25 May (LF); five at Great Lakes/Rebecca Rd, S of 4th Conc [HM] 28 Apr (RD); SWP [HL] 3 May (GPr); 70 at Bronte Harbour 22 May (MJ) and nine 15 at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 there 26 May (MJ/RD,CE,DD); 12 at South Shell Park [HL] 24 May Apr (DPr) and one there 13 May (DH); (GPr); 10 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd 25 May (TH); 10 at wetland at Hwy six at pond along Hwy 99, 1.5km E of 407 & Britannia Road [HL] 26 May (DDi). Lynden Rd [HM] 13 May (JL). Least Sandpiper: Two at Sawmill Rd and Glancaster Rd [HM] 6 May* Willet#: One at Fifty Point[NG] 5 and 13 there 18 May (both RD,CE,DD); two at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge May* P (RS); one at Bronte Harbour Willet at Fifty Point - 5 May photo Rick Snider. Rd [HM] 8 May (MMac) and 19 there 12 May (RD,CE,DD); five at 22 May P (BJ,CC).

The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 39 Lesser Yellowlegs: Two at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 2 Apr* Common Tern: One at Bronte Harbour 16 Apr* P, 35 there 10 May, (RD,MM/JR,m.obs), six there 21 Apr (KM), 15 there 27 Apr (RB), 41 110 there 14 May, 210 there 15 May and 70 there 26 May (all MJ); one there 29 Apr (RPo), 38 there 5 May (RD,CE,DD); 18 there 10 May (MJa), at Oakville Harbour 16 Apr* (MJ) and 60 there 18 May (MJ); 14 at 30 there 11 May (SCa), eight there 15 May (LM) and one there 21 May Windermere Basin 23 Apr (RD), 120 there 6 May (DSz), 250 there 13 (JJ); 17 at 8th Line and Britannia Rd [HL] 29 Apr (DPr) and 10 there 13 May (HS), 400 there 15 May (YS) and 240 there 21 May (KB); eight at May (DH); 11 at Christie Reservoir [HM] 3 May (JL); 30 at Sawmill Rd J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 28 Apr (LF et al.), 40 there 11 May (CaW) and Glancaster Rd [HM] 6 May (RD,CE,DD); one at Hespeler Mill Pond and 150 there 20 May (RM); two at Wilkes Dam, Grand River, Brantford [WT] 24 May L (anon). 30 Apr (ANg) and four there 4 May (NFa); seven on Grand River at Wilson’s Phalarope#: One f. at 5th Road east, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 10- Ruthven Park [HD] 6 May (RL) and also on 13 May (RL); four at Suncor 12 May P (MJa,m.obs.); one m. at 6th line, S of Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] Pier [HL] 8 May (MJ), 18 there 22 May (YS) and 50 there 24 May (GPr); 24 May P (GPr/SMac). five at Puslinch Lake[WL] 11 May (RH); 20 on Lake at Sedgewick Park Bonaparte’s Gull: One at Bronte Harbour 1 Apr* (MJ) and 176 there [HL] 12 May (HvB); 44 at Cootes Paradise 15 May (DNe); 50 at Rattray 16 Apr (MJ); 30 at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr, 44 there on 26 Apr, 48 Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); 50 at Burloak Park 22 May (GPr); 27 on Lake on 28 Apr and eight on 8 May (all RL); 32 at Van Wagners Beach 15 Apr at Forty Mile Creek mouth [NG] 24 May (MMac). (KB,BH); 23 over Pinedale Ave, Burlington 16 Apr (BC); 149 at Oakville Forster’s Tern#: One at LaSalle Park 19-22 Apr* P (RD/JR/MJa,AD); Harbour 16 Apr (MJ); 92 at Beachway Park, Burlington 17 Apr (MJ) and one at Bronte Harbour 15 May (GPr); two there 16 May P (MJ), six 90 there 18 Apr (JR); 20 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 21 Apr (RPo); 50 there 25 May P (MJ) and one there 31 May (MJ); one at Windermere off Forty Mile Creek [NG] 29 Apr (RD,CE,DD); 35 at Windermere Basin Basin 6 May (DPr,m.obs.). 5 May (MMac); 30 over Hamilton Cemetery 6 May (PR); 15 at Fifty Point Red-throated Loon: Birds on Hamilton Harbour: Five 3 Mar (RPa,AD), [NG] 14 May (BD); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 19 May (AZ). seven 5 Mar P, nine 18 Apr (JL), ten 19 Apr (JP) and five 28 Apr (WK). Little Gull#: One ba. ad. at Three past CCIW 8 Mar (RD) and four there 18 Apr (RD); one over Bronte Harbour 1 Apr* P (MJ,m. Stoney Creek 10 Apr (LM); two past Bronte Harbour 26 May L (RD). obs.) and one ba. ad. there 13 Apr Common Loon: Three on Lake from Arkendo Park [HL] to Birch Hill (RPo/CE); one ba. ad. at Oakville Promenade [HL] 10 Mar (AK, AG); one over Beamer C.A. [NG] 31 Harbour 16-17 Apr [photo} (MJ/ Mar F (RPy); 19 past Bronte Harbour 12 Apr (MJ) and 47 past 26 May YS); one ba. ad at Windermere (RD,CE,DD); five at Mountsberg C.A.[HM] 18 Apr (MC); 14 at LaSalle Basin 20 May (BCh,RB); one 1st Park 18 Apr (JL); three at McNally Pit, Puslinch [WL] 21 Apr (CCo); summer at Suncor Pier [HL] 27 57 on Lake from Watersedge Park [PL] to J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 21 May P (MJa,AD). Apr (LF et al./RM); 10 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 22 Apr (WK); 14 at Valens [HM] Iceland Gull (Kumlien’s): Two Little Gull at Oakville Harbour, 13 C.A. 22 Apr (RD,MM); three at McMillan Pit, Puslinch 22 Apr at Windermere Basin 4 Mar (EG); April - photo Mark Jennings. (DMac); 12 over Beamer C.A. [NG] 23 Apr (AD); 27 over St George six (two ad. & four 1st winter at [BR] 1 May (JL); 11 over Ruthven Park [HD] 1 May, 41 over 5 May and Brantford landfill 10 Mar (JL); three (one ad., two 1st winter) at Bronte one over 16 May (all RL). Harbour 26 Mar P (MJ) and one 1st summer 17-18 (MJ); one 1st Double-crested Cormorant: 60 at summer at South Shell Park [HL] 19 May L P (MJ). 20 records of single Windermere Basin 4 Mar (RM,SM), 40 there birds (including those above) reported from around HSA in March-May. 9 Mar (OY,BCo,AG) and 75 there 14 Mar Iceland Gull (Thayer’s): One 2nd yr bird at Windermere Basin 3 Mar* (BS); 25 at Tollgate Pond 30 Mar (OY,BCu); (RD,MM). 852 at Bronte Harbour 12 Apr (MJ); 1556 Lesser Black-backed Gull#: One 3rd winter at Leander Boat Club 10 on Lake from Beachway Park [HL] to J.C. Mar (KM,LHF); one 2nd winter at Fifty Point[HM] 20 Mar (JL); one ad. Saddington Park [PL] (WELO-m.obs); 200 at Bronte Harbour 25 Mar P (MJ) and likely same bird there 8 Apr P (GC/ at Bayfront Park 21 Apr (WO); 350 on Lake MJ); one ad. at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 28 Mar (AZ) and likely same bird at Grimsby [NG] 25 Apr (RG); 83 over St there 13 Apr P (AZ); one ad. at Windermere Basin 31 Mar (NH). George [BR] 27 Apr (JL). Glaucous Gull: Two imm. at Bayfront Park 2 Mar P (JR); two at Tollgate American White Pelican#: One over Pond 1 Mar (RW,MW) and two on 30 Mar (OY,BCu); two at Windermere Cootes Paradise 8 May (PT). American Bittern at Basin 14 Mar (BSt) and two on 21 Mar (EP); four on Grand River at American Bittern#: One singing near Clappison's Corners Wetland Glenhyrst Gardens, Brantford (NFa); one imm. at South Shell Park [HL] 11th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 22 Apr* - photo Mike Veltri. ** 24 May L P (GRi,NMc,m.obs.). 18 observations of single birds were (DPr); one at Downey Rd – Teal Dr area, listed from the HSA in this period including the record above. Guelph 22 Apr* P (JSip); one at Kerncliff Park [HL] 25 Apr P (RB); Great Black-backed Gull: 15 at Tollgate Pond 11 Mar (QW); eight at one at Barrie’s Lake [WT] 26-27 Apr P (JRe/PC); one over Sunrise Cres, Van Wagners Beach 15 Apr (KB,BH); five at Spencer Smith Park 20 Apr Dundas 6 May (DD,CE); one at Clappison's Corner Wetland [HM] 6-7 (JP); one at Bronte Harbour 22 May (MJ); one at South Shell Park 24 May May P (KWi,AWi/DNe); one at Cootes Paradise 20 May (BLa); one over (GPr); 45 at Windermere Basin 3 Mar and one there 23-29 May (RD). Middletown Marsh [HM] 25 May Caspian Tern: One at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 3 Apr* (RT/AZ); one at (BCha); one at River & Ruins Trail, Franklin Pond, Cambridge 5 Apr (AZ) and seven there 25 Apr (NH); Lowville [HL] 25 May (BO); one 35 at Tollgate Pond 15 Apr (KB) and 80 there 19 May (KB); 80 at over Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 27 May Windermere Basin 21 Apr (JMe,MMe), 100 there 23 Apr 136 there 26 (BCha). Apr (THo), 250 there 6 May (DPr/DSz), and 430 there 18 May (BCr); 50 Least Bittern#: One at Shoreacres at LaSalle Park 22 Apr (BMi); eight at McNally Pit 22 Apr (KBl) and 17 Park [HL] 9 May* (BMi); one at Safari there 6 May (RvT); 14 at Puslinch lake [WL] 11 May (RH); five at Grand Rd Wetland [HM] 13-20 May (RD); River, Brantford 14 May (ANg). one at South Shell Park 24 May P Black Tern#: One at Cootes Paradise 17 May* P (SR); one at Windermere (JWa,m.obs.). Basin 19 May (MMac/RD); one at Tollgate Pond 19 May (KB); one at Least Bittern at South Shell Park, 9 May - photo Phil Waggett. Great Blue Heron: One at Riverwood Puslinch Lake [WL] 19 May (BH); one at 6th Line, N of Hwy 5 [HL] 22 Conservancy 1 Mar F (GRi,NMc,DPr); May (BC). one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP 1 Mar F (GPr); six at 8th Line, Lower

Page 40 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Baseline rookery 11 Mar (RM) and 63 there 31 Mar (RM). Apr, 422 – 23 Apr, 62 – 1 May. 82 over East Hamilton 24 Apr (LM); 47 Great Egret: One at Windermere Basin 1 Apr* (LHF), two there 28 Apr over Dundas Valley 30 Apr (JL); 35 over Margaret Dr, Stoney Creek 15 (WK), 10 there 24 May (RPo), and seven there 26 May (RvT); two at May (RW); two over Dundas Valley 23 May (JL); one over Hardy Rd, Confederation Park [HM] 17 Apr (JP); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] Brantford 24 May L (EH,JH); one over Puslinch 7 [WL] 30 March (FU). 18 Apr (BD); two at Hendrie Valley 18 Apr - 4 May (DT,m.obs.) and Red-tailed Hawk: 105 over Beamer C.A. [NG] 26 Mar, 110 over 9 Apr, five there 5 May (AMac); one at Ruthven Park[HD] 20 Apr (RL); two and four there 14 May (NPH). at Osprey Marsh [PL] 1 May (DR); four at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 2 Rough-legged Hawk: 17 over May (AZ); three along Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 5 May (BD); four in Beamer C.A. [NG] in reporting hayfield along 3rd Line, S of 15 Side Rd[HL] (IJ); two at Cootes Paradise period including three on 13 Apr and 15 May (DNe) and two 30 May (RB). three on 21 Apr (all NPH). One on Snowy Egret#: One at Windermere Basin ** 13-14 May P (BCh,m. West River Rd, E of Pinehurst C.A. obs). [BR] 2 May L (DR); one ay southern Cattle Egret# Two birds at Big Creek Stables, Big Creek Rd, 1km E of boundary of HSA on Link Rd 2 Km E [HD] Mulligan Rd [BR] ** 14 May* (CJ/MH). of Kohler 2 May L (AT). Golden Eagle at Beamer C.A., Green Heron: One at 646 Castlegard Cres, Burlington 24 Apr* (EC); Golden Eagle#: At Beamer C.A. 18 Mar - photo Tom Thomas. three at Edgelake Park [HM] 11 May (MWo) and two there 15 May [NG]: one 17 Mar F, one 19 Mar, two (RW,MW); three at Ruthven park [HD] 27 May (RL). Eight records of high over observation tower 10 May (SD). One imm. over Spencer two individuals in HSA during period at eight separate locations. Gorge [HM] 18 Mar (BWyl); one imm. over Westfield Heritage Village Black-crowned Night-Heron#: One at Desjardins Canal 14 Apr F 18 Mar (TU); one over Cootes Paradise 25 Mar (WO). (RD); one at Windermere Basin 18 Mar (AN) and four there 6 May Snowy Owl#: One at Burloak Park [HL] 2 Mar (MJ); one along LINC (GSt,KSe); one at Bronte Marsh 3 Apr (MJ) and eight there 23 Apr (DT); at Mud St [HM] 2 Mar (RP); two along QEW at Fruitland Rd-Fifty Rd two at Water’s Edge Park [HL] 21 Apr P (NHi); three at Bayfront Park [HM] 2 Mar (DPe) and one there 29 Mar (RW); one at 8th Line and 21 Apr (WO); two at Burloak Woods [HL] 24 Apr (BC); three at Valley Britannia Rd [HL] 4 Mar (RN,SM); two at Meadowlands complex, Inn 27 Apr (WK); three at Shoreacres Park [HL] 16 May (DJ); three at Ancaster 4 Mar (JJo); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 7 Mar Cootes Paradise 17 May (SR); five at Bronte Harbour 21 May (GPr). (MJ) and again on 12 Apr P (RB); one at Brant St and QEW [HL] 8 Black Vulture#: One over Beamer C.A. [NG] 17 Mar* (NPH) and two 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 over Beamer C.A. 22 Mar, three overhead on ** 23 Mar P (RB) and one th [HM] there 25 Mar P (CEs); one over Dundas Valley ** 27 Mar P (JL); one Rd, W of 6 Rd E 18 Mar (WK) and one there 9 Apr (RPo); one at over Columbia College, Main St W, Hamilton ## 1 Apr (DNe); two over Hagersville quarry pond [HD] 22 Mar – 2 Apr (MF/BF); two at Bronte Stoney Creek Backyard ##11 May Harbour 23 Mar (MJ) and one there 25 Apr P (RPo); one at Haldimand [HD] (LM,LT). Rd 9, 2km E of Indian Line 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 Turkey Vulture: 40 over Little – 21 Apr (RSk/KSu); one at Lake at Millen Rd [HM] 30 Mar (RW); one John Park, Dundas 9 Mar (BRi). at Gairloch Gardens [HL] 30 Mar P (MR); one at Tollgate Ponds 1-28 Birds at Beamer C.A. [NG] 49 – Apr (EB/RPo); one at Oak Park Rd and Hardy Rd, Brantford 21 Mar - 11 Mar, 245 – 22 Mar, 790 – 1 Apr, 1 Apr (BL/NY); one at QEW and Burloak Rd [HL] 2 Apr (EB); three 1381 – 2 Apr and 1272 – 9 Apr (all along Mud St between Hwy 20 and 6th Rd E [HM] 2 Apr (BMy); one at NPH). 55 over Merrick Orchard, Empire Corners [HD] 6 Apr (MSm); one at 39 Fraser Ave, Hamilton 9 Dundas Valley 3 Apr (JL). Apr (AWi); one at Appleby Line and QEW 10 Apr (NW); one at QEW Osprey: One over Memorial Black Vulture over Beamer C.A., and Centennial Prkwy [HM] 14-28 Apr (RSp/RPo); one at Woodland Park, Oakville 1 Apr* P 23 March - photo Tom Thomas. Cemetery 17 Apr P (MV); one at S Grimsby Rd 15, S of Mud St [NG] 21- (DH); one over Hendrie Valley 1 24 Apr P (JR,m.obs./EH,JH); one at J.C. Apr* (JR); nine over Beamer C.A. [NG] 22 Apr (CEs). Saddington Park [PL] 21-28 Apr (LF/ Bald Eagle: At Beamer C.A. – 50 during period with six on 17 Mar, JWM et al.); one at QEW at Casablanca four on 31 Mar and one 10 May L (All NPH). 15 on Harbour along [NG] 24 Apr (DJ); one at Haldimand Rd Carroll’s Point 1 Mar (JH,BMc); six at RBG Arboretum 3 Mar (BCo, 66, 200m W of Tyneside Rd [HD] 28 Apr JHu); nine in air at one time from Woodland Cemetery 5 Mar (DH); (JS); one at Hwy 20 and Grimsby Rd 8 seven over Harbour and Cootes Paradise 13 Mar (WO); five over Grand [NG] 3 May (DWo); one at Windermere River, Brantford 18 Mar (MH); six (1ad., 3 sub-ad., 2 -1st summer) over Basin 7 May (BCh/SCa); one at 46 East [BR] [HD] St George 29 Apr (JL); four on Grand River at Ruthven Park Ave, Brantford ** 14 May L P (SDe). 3 May (RL). An amazing number of records in this Northern Harrier: One over Beamer C.A. [NG] 5 Mar F and two over period (at least 35 birds) but not too 14 May L (both NPH). Snowy Owl in Brantford, surprising considering the numbers in 14 May - photo Stephanie Sharp-shinned Hawk: Two over Beamer C.A. [NG] 17 Mar F and 30 February. Despite the bad news with early Dearing. there 11 Apr, 77 there 22 Apr, 141 there 23 Apr, 56 there 2 May and one road-kills in November, there were few there 14 May L (all NPH). observed road fatalities in 2018. Cooper’s Hawk: One over Beamer C.A. [NG] 13 Mar F and eight there Barred Owl#: One at 20 Side Road, 400 NE of 4th Line Nassagaweya 2 Apr (both NPH). [HL] 25 Mar* (YS); one calling in Dundas Valley 1 May (RD,CE,DD). Northern Goshawk#: One at 8575 1st Line, Campbellville [HL] 15 Mar Long-eared Owl#: One at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 10-17 Mar P (BT/ (KWo); one at Beamer C.A. [NG] 2 Apr F (NPH); one at Nipegon Trail, RPo/MJa) and one bird here 7 Apr L (RSp); one at Brant Park, Brantford Oakville 16 Apr P (DH). 18 Mar (MH); one at Hamilton Mountain 22 Mar P (TU). Red-shouldered Hawk: Continuing bird along rest stop at 401 [WL] 2 Short-eared Owl#: One over QEW at Walkers Line SWP 2 Mar F (MJ); Mar (DSz). At Beamer C.A. [NG]: two – 18 Mar, 12 – 19 Mar, 39 – 26 four at 10th Rd East, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 3 Mar (BCo et al.) and three Mar, 35 – 31 Mar, 26 – 9 Apr and one – 27 Apr L (NPH). Three over on 12 Mar (NS,RT); six along Zimmerman Rd at Philip Rd, Beamsville Margaret Dr, Stoney Creek 1 Apr (RW). [NG] 31 Mar P (RPo,LM), 10 there 6 Apr (LM) and nine there 19 Apr Broad-winged Hawk: At Beamer C.A. [NG] one 12 Apr*, 204 – 21 (LM); six in area (continued on page 43) The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 41 (continued from page 38) 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 Junior VOY winner Mike Fischer handing out prizes at the May Monthly me at [email protected] Meeting at Christie C.A. - photo Bronwen Tregunno.

Moments Caught in Time - Peregrines at the Lift Bridge by Bruce Mackenzie Photography by Barry Cherriere The 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.

f patience is a virtue, then Barry Cherriere is virtuous. Barry Ihas 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 Barry Cherriere at the West End Lake Ontario Important Bird Area information panel at Van Wagners Beach – a place where Barry yourself there for hours and or what turns out to be days, is what spends a lot of time - photo Bruce Mackenzie. has allowed Barry to be the photographer that he is. I have seen many of Barry’s photos. He has even published a In July, my wife Laurie and I were biking along the Waterfront book of his work. Many of his photos have graced the Wood Trail from Confederation Park to Burlington and “surprise”, we Duck including the cover, he was the major contributor of photos came across Barry and his wife Linda sitting on a park bench for Bob Curry’s book, Birds of Hamilton and more recently he just east of the Lift Bridge towers. Of course, the subject of the had the cover photo for the 2018 summer issue of Niagara Peregrine Falcons nesting at the Lift Bridge was the reason for Escarpment Views magazine. To date, my favorite was his shot Barry and Linda being there. During our chat we spoke about of a Cave Swallow flying low over the water of Lake Ontario used telling the Peregrine’s story and I asked Barry if he could send me on the cover of the March 2016 Wood Duck. The photo of the some pictures to help me focus on an article. bird was spectacular, but the background of the water was what The email arrived, and I was wowed. I opened the first photo and really caught my eye. It was a combination of lighting and the stopped. It was the background in a photo of a Peregrine Falcon movement of the camera aligned perfectly with the speed of the at the Lift Bridge that really caught my eye and from there I bird that left the still water ethereal. wanted to know the (continued on page 46) Page 42 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 (continued from page 41) bounded by Philip Acadian Flycatcher#: One m. at Sawmill Trail, Dundas Valley ** 30 Rd, Konkle Rd, Mountainview Rd and Walker Rd [NG] 8 Mar (BMac) May* (TU). and five there 22 Apr (KSw) – likely the Alder Flycatcher: Two SM along 8th Conc, Beverly Swamp [HM] 20 same birds as for the previous location. May* (RD,CE). Northern Saw-whet Owl#: One at Fifty Willow Flycatcher: One at Ruthven Park [HD] ## 12 May* (RL); one at Point C.A. [NG] 4 Mar L P (RPo); one Edgelake Park [HM] ** 12 May* (RPo,et al.); six SM at King & Benton flightless six week-old juvenile rescued Property, Oak Park Rd, N of Hwy 403, Brantford 23 May (SL,BL). from a property on Wilson St, Ancaster 19 Apr (fide JJo). Probably earliest nesting Least Flycatcher: One at Rattray Marsh [PL] 1 May* (RSp); one at record for Canada! Hidden Valley Park, Aldershot 1 May* (RD); 15 at Lakeside Park [PL] Red-headed Woodpecker#: One at 15 May (RM); eight at Jack Darling Park [PL] 15 May (RM). 7419 Boyce Dr, Aberfoyle [WL] 4 May Eastern Phoebe: One at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 28 Mar* (JP); F (QC); one at Sawmill Rd [BR] 6 May one at Hilton Falls C.A. (LFr) 30 Mar; eight along Oakville waterfront (RD,CE,DD); one at Edgelake Park [HM] (JVG); seven at Holcim Lakefront Mansion [PL] 18 Apr (JWa). Saw-whet Owl juvenile Great Crested Flycatcher 7 May (BMi); one at Cootes Paradise rescued in Ancaster, 19 Apr : One at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 2 8 May (PT); two at Cosby Rd, 400m N - photo Jeff Jones. May* (CE); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 2 May* (GPr); one at Ruthven of Yonge St [NG] 16 May (NS); one at Park [HD] 2 May* (RL). Tom Street Park, Hamilton 19 May P (CWh); one at Grove Park Dr, Eastern Kingbird: One at St George [BR] 2 May* (JL); one at Globe Burlington 22 May (JR); one at Twin Valley Zoo, Langford Church Rd Park [HM] 2 May* (CE,RD). 25 May (LM). Northern Shrike#: One at Forestell Rd, near Side Road 12 [WL] 1-6 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: One Apr P (MHa/ACa); one at Auburn Rd, Milton [HL] 7 Apr P (JR); one at at U of Guelph Arboretum 18 Dundas Valley C.A. 8 Apr P (TU); one a 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] Mar (TB); one at Stoney Creek 9-13 Apr P (RPo/JP); one at Mattamy Cycling Centre, Milton 22 Apr L backyard 4 Apr F (LM); two at (MJa,AD). Ruthven Park [HD] 13 Apr (RL); White-eyed Vireo: One at Riverview Park, Oakville ## 11 May F (GE); five at Globe Park[HM] 16 Apr one at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington ## 15 May (DD,CE,RD). (AWi,KWi); six at Confederation Yellow-throated Vireo: One at Hilton Falls C.A. [HL] 5 May* (Julie Park 16 Apr (DNe); nine at Scott); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 5 May* (RL) and four there 13 May Red-headed Woodpecker at Tom Street Edgelake Park [HM] 17 Apr (RPo); (RL); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 6 May P (BMy); four at Currie Tract Park, 13 May - photo Chris White. six at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [HL] 9 May (CaW); one at Shell Park [HL] 24 May L (GPr). [NG] 17 Apr (MMac); eight at Blue-headed Vireo: One at Jaycee Sports Beamer C.A. [NG] 17 Apr (RW); one Wilson St & Sulphur Springs Rd, Park, Brantford 22 Apr* (ANg); one at Forty Ancaster 20 May L (TU). Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 24 May L (BD). Northern Flicker: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 23 Mar F (RB); 12 at Philadelphia Vireo: One at Powerline Ruthven Park [HD] 24 Apr and 12 there 25 Apr (RL). Rd and Grand River, Brantford 13 May* American Kestrel: At Beamer C.A. [NG]: one 16 Mar F, five 23 Apr and (ANg); one at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby one 14 May L (NPH). [NG] 13 May* (MMac) and one there 24 Merlin: At Beamer C.A. [NG]: One 18 Mar F and one 7 May L May L (MMac); three at Ruthven Park [HD] (NPH); one territorial bird 3-12 Apr at MacDonald Rd & Douglas Ave, 14 May (RL); five at Sassafras Pt, Cootes Oakville (PSt); two territorial birds at Cedar Springs Rd and Hwy 5, Paradise 15 May (DMo); one at Ridgeside Burlington 18 Apr (RWo); one territorial bird at Millen Rd and Barton Lane, Oakville 24 May L (GPr). St, Stoney Creek 13 May (LM); one territorial bird at Montgomery Yellow-throated Vireo at Warbling Vireo: One observed at nine Park, Hamilton 13 May (PB); one territorial bird at Carolina Park, Confederation Park, 6 May different locations in HSA (2 May*) Brantford 23 May (SL). - photo Buddy Myles. (m.obs.); 11 at Cootes Paradise 15 May Peregrine Falcon: At Beamer C.A. [NG]: One 4 Mar F, three 12 Apr (DNe); 11 at Ruthven Park [HD] 16 May (NPH); one migrant over Bronte Harbour 4 Mar F (MJ); pair at Sheraton (RL) and 15 there 31 May (RL); nine at Oak Park Trail, Brantford 16 Hotel [HM] had one egg on 22 Apr (MS) and two chicks as of 4 May May (MH); nine at Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 May (YS). (MS); pair at Lift Bridge at Burlington Ship Canal 24 MarP (CSc); pair Red-eyed Vireo: One at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 3 May* (BD/ at quarry at 10th Rd E and Green Mtn Rd [HM] 24 Apr (KD). MMac); 12 at Ruthven Park [HD] 30 May (RL). Olive-sided Flycatcher#: One at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] Fish Crow#: One at Edinburgh Ave, Hamilton 28 Mar (AWi). Birds 14-18* May (BO); one at Burloak Woods [HL] 15 May (BC); two at at Bronte Harbour/Marsh: four 2 Apr P (MJ,m.obs.), three there 5 Apr Joshua’s Valley Park [HL] 20 May (BCa); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] (DD/MJa), three there 8 Apr (NR), three 12 Apr (MJ), two 15 May 20 May (YS); one at Blythe Cres, Oakville 26 May (JWa); one at Hunter (TH), and one 19 May (MJa). Four at CCIW 9 Apr (RD) and two there Estates Park, Stoney Creek 30 May (LM). 26 Apr (MC); one at Burloak Park [HL] 16 Apr (MJ); one at Lakeside Eastern Wood-Pewee: One SM at Dundas Park, Oakville 17 Apr (PSt); one at Ben Machree Park [PL] 18 Apr (LF Valley C. A. ** 3 May* (TU); one SM at et al.); two at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 23 Apr (BD), three there Sedgewick Park [HL] ** 4 May (AD); one 1 May (MMac) and one there 5 May (BD); two at LaSalle Park 19 Apr at Puslinch Lake [WL] 10 May (TH); 11 at (TU) and two there 24 Apr P (MJa); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 26 Ruthven Park [HD] 23 May, 11 on 26 May, Apr (CE); one over Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 30 Apr (BMac); one at Jack and 14 there 31 May (all RL). Darling Park [PL] 10 May (RM) and three there 20 May (RM); one at Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Two at Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 15 May (RM); two at Shoreacres Park Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May* (MJa); [HL] 17 May (MCr,JWa); one over Stoney Creek yard 29 May (LM). one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 15 May* Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Purple Martin: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 12 Apr* (MM) and 11 there (RD,CE,DD); two at Ruthven Park [HD] Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby, 24 Apr (BCha,JI). 16 May - photo Dawn 27 May (RL). Johnson. Tree Swallow: Three at Windermere Basin 31 Mar* (NH); one at The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 43 Beamer C.A. [NG] 31 Mar* (BCa); one at South Shell Park [HL] 31 Mar* 19 May (MJa,AD); 10 at Shoreacres Park [HL] 19 May (AD). (DD); one at Hendrie Valley [HL] 31 Mar* (PT); 20 on Grand River at Golden-crowned Kinglet: Two at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 1 York [HD] 1 Apr (EG); 107 at South Shell Park [HL] 14 Apr (MJ) and Apr F (DJ); 20 at Beamer C.A. [NG] 26 Apr (BCa); two at Lowville Park 80 there 14 Apr (MJ); 50 on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Apr 9 May L (BO); two at Shoreacres Park [HL] 9 May L (BMi). (RL); 55 over Grand River near footbridge, Brantford 18 Apr (GSi,JSi); Ruby-crowned Kinglet: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 12 Apr* (MM); 15 50 at Bronte Harbour 19 Apr (DJ); 100 at Hendrie Valley [HL] 20 Apr at Sedgewick Park [HL] 28 Apr (MJa) and 14 there 6 May (DJ); 19 at (BMi); 55 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 25 Apr (MMac); 50 over Puslinch Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 29 Apr (RD,CE,DD); 15 at River & Ruins Lake [WL] 28 Apr (MC,BWy); 85 over Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 12 May Trail, Lowville [HL] 1 May (BO); 30 at Lakeside Park [PL] 7 May (VC); (RWo,KWo); 150 over Windermere Basin 17 May (GPr); 200 at roost three at Edgelake Park [HM] 23 May L (RW). near Wellington Rd 32 near Little Lake [WL] 20 May (BH). Eastern Bluebird: Six at Brant Park, Northern Rough-winged Swallow: Three at South Shell Park [HL] 14 Brantford 28 Mar (MH); five at Ruthven Park Apr* (MJ); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 Apr* (RL); 12 at Christie C.A. [HD] 1 Apr, 10 there 9 Apr and nine there [HM] 24 Apr (BCha); 15 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 28 Apr (LF et al.). 25 May (all RL); six along Hardy Rd trails, Bank Swallow: One at South Shell Park [HL] 14 Apr* (MJ); 14 at 10th Brantford 8 Apr (MH); one in East Hamilton Rd E and Green Mtn Rd [HM] 2 May (KD); 28 at Cootes Paradise 17 17 May (TU); two at Arkendo Park [HL] 19 May (SR); 50 at Burloak Park [HL] 18 May (JVG); 35 at Bronte Beach May L (RM). Park 21 May (GPr); 500 at roost near Wellington Rd 32 and Little Lake Veery: Two at Edgelake Park 4 May* P (DWa/ [WL] 20 May (BH). RW); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville 4 May* Cliff Swallow: Two at Bronte (DH); one at Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 24 May Harbour 20 Apr* (MJ) and 30 L (GPr). Eastern Bluebird f. at there 14 May (MJ); eight at Glen Morris, 27 May - Gray-cheeked Thrush: One at Forty Mile photo Jerry Horak. South Shell Park [HL] 23 Apr Creek in Grimsby [NG] 4 May* (JHa,BHi) (MJ); 40 at Suncor Pier [HL] and one there 28 May (MMac). 8 May (MJ) and 100 there 24 Swainson’s Thrush: One at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 2 May* May (GRi,NMc); 50 at quarry (BD/MMac); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 May* (RL); one at Bronte at 6th Line Nassagaweya [HL] Harbour 2 May* (MJ); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville 2 May* P (DH); 11 May (LPu,MFa). 28 at Sherwood Forest Park [HL] 15 May (RD); 15 at Edgelake Park Barn Swallow: Mink with Tree Swallow at South Shell One over Park, 14 Apr - photo Mark Jennings. [HM] 15 May (MWo). Grimsby C.A. [NG] 12 Apr* Hermit Thrush: One at Erindale Park [PL] 4-6 Apr F (RM/CaW); nine (MM); 40 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 28 Apr (LF et al.); 60 at Niebaur’s at Sedgewick Park [HL] 25 Apr (MJa); eight at Edgelake Park [HM] 1 Pond [WL] 28 Apr (FU); 50 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 28 Apr (MC,BWy); May (RW); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); one at Preservation 200 at roost near Wellington Rd 32 and Little Lake [WL] 20 May (BH). Park, Guelph 19 May (FU); one singing m. at Beverly Swamp C.A. [HM] Tufted Titmouse#: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] 4 Mar - 31 May (EF,m. ** 27 May L (JL). obs.), with four there 2 Apr (RL), five there 7 May (RL), six there 16 May Wood Thrush: One at Edgelake Park [HM] 29 Apr* (RD,CE). (RL) and four there 26 May (RL); two in Mineral Springs Rd – Sulphur Gray Catbird: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 2 May* (JVi) and 15 there Springs Rd area, Dundas Valley 8 Mar – 10 Apr (JL/GRi,NMc)/TU); 10 May (RD); one at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 2 May* (BD/ one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 17 Mar (RvT); one at Lions Park, Brantford MMac); 20 at 9th Line Sports Park [HL] 15 May (TH); 20 at Ruthven 19 Mar (DG); one at LaSalle Park 30 Mar – 24 Apr (BCr/MN/RD); one Park [HD] 24 May (RL). at McMaster Forest 31 Mar (RP); two on Caleb’s Walk, N shore Cootes Brown Thrasher [PL] Paradise 1 Apr (CSc); two at Beach Ave, Brantford 5 Apr – 3 May (MH); : One at Rattray Marsh 22 Apr F (JMe,MMe); [HM] one SM at Woodland Cemetery 22 Apr (RD,MM); one at Headwaters one at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd 22 Apr F (GRi,NMc); one at [HM] Trail, Dundas Valley 7 May (JL); one at D’Aubigney Creek, Brantford 8 Edgelake Park 17 May L (RD). May (MH); one at Waterworks Park, Brantford 9-20 May (MH). Northern Mockingbird: Two at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 9 Apr (NR); [HD] Brown Creeper: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Apr F (RL); six at two on Townline Rd W, just E of Grant Rd 9 Apr (NR); one along [HD] Edgelake Park [HM] 23 Apr (RPo); eight at Holcim Lakefront Mansion Hardy Rd, Brantford 10 Apr (NR); one at Lafortune Park 22 Apr [HD] 24 Apr (JWa); eight at Sedgewick Park [HL] 25 Apr (MJa); one at (CJ); one at Ruthven Park 22 Apr (RL); one along Hwy 3, 600m E [HD] Shoreacres Park 25 May L (TM). of Dry Lake Rd 8-20 May (EG/YS). Cedar Waxwing [HD] House Wren: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] 25 Apr* (RL). : 22 at Ruthven Park 21 May (RL) and 134 there 23 May (RL). Winter Wren: One at Hardy Rd Trails, Brantford 30 Mar F (NR); one at Joshua’s Valley Park [HL] 14 May L (BCa). American Pipit: Two over Fennell and Upper Sherman, Hamilton 9 [HL] Sedge Wren#: One SM NW of Valens Rd and 6th Conc [HM] ## 20 Apr F (TU); two at 3rd Line, S of 15 Side Rd 18 Apr (YS); 10 along th [HM] th May* (RD,CE). Powerline Rd, W of 5 Rd E 5 May (RD); two along 5 Rd E, N of Green Mtn Rd [HM] 17 May L (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); Purple Finch: Eight at Hilton Falls C.A. three SM at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 17 May (SD); one at Shoreacres [HL] 30 Mar (LFr); seven at Safari Rd Park 19 May (KMa); two at Rattray Marsh [PL] 20 May (MP); two at Wetland [HM] 22 Apr (RD,MM); one at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 13-21 May (RD/KE); one at Mountsberg C.A. Edgelake Park [HM] 6 May L (DGal). [WL] 26 May (RvT). Pine Siskin: 15 at Binbrook C.A. [HM] Carolina Wren: One at Middletown Marsh [HM] 1 Mar – 16 Apr 3 Mar (RP); 60 at Brant Park, Brantford (BCha); one at 8575 1st Line, Campbellville [HL] 1 Apr (KWo,RWo); one 12 Mar (MH); 19 at Westfield Heritage at Puslinch Lake [WL] 23 Mar (CCo); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 5 May Village [HM] 18 Mar (TU); 25 at HCA (EG); one at Wellington Rd 32 – Little Lake area [WL] 21-22 May (BH). HQ 22 Mar (JL); 20 at Edgelake Park Golden-winged Warbler at [HM] 5 May (RD); one at feeder at Sedgewick Park, 10 May - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: One at Fifty Point C.A. [HM] 29 Apr* (RPo); photo Randy Droniuk. 10 at Ruthven Park 11 May, 10 there 18 May and 10 there 31 May (all Oakville backyard 29 May L (PSt). RL); 10 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 May (DDi); six at Sedgewick Park [HL] Lapland Longspur#: 25 at Paris Plains Church Rd [BR] 24 Mar Page 44 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 (RD,CE,DD) and 120 there 14 Apr P (EG); 100 at West River Rd & at orange feeder in Brantford 15 May P (Donna Boyle); four at four W Dumfries Rd [BR] 13 Apr (NH); 12 at 10th Rd E, S of Mud St [HM] locations in HSA 21 May L (HvB/CSc/AS/JJ). 21 Apr (RD,CE,RD); 12 at 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] ** 9 May L P Cerulean Warbler#: One f. at Sedgewick Park [HL] 8 May* (MJa); one (RPo/JVi). SM 9-12 May at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] (BO/YS); one SM on Snow Bunting: Two at 8th Road East, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 2 Mar L 6th Conc, W of Valens Rd [HM] 13 May (RD). (FE,RE). Northern Parula: One at Nelles Beach Park [NG] 2 May* (MMac); Ovenbird: One at Clarkson [PL] 2 seven at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (VC/JW); seven at Sherwood Forest May* (DWat,PWat). Park, Burlington 15 May (RD,CE,DD). Louisiana Waterthrush#: One SM at Magnolia Warbler: One at Edgelake Park [HM] 2 May* (RW) and 12 Dundas Valley C.A. 21 May P (JL). 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). Northern Waterthrush: Two at Bay-breasted Warbler [HD] Puslinch Lake [WL] 30 Apr* (MC,BWy); : One at Ruthven Park 2 May* (RL); eight Louisiana Waterthrush at at Lions Valley Park, Oakville 15 May (DH); 10 at RBG Arboretum 19 one at 1st Line Campbellville Rd [HL] 30 Dundas Valley C.A., 27 May - May (JHu,BCo); 25 at Shell Park [HL] 19 May (AD,MJa), 14 there 20 Apr* (KWo,RWo). photo James Lees. May (ABa) and six there 24 May (GPr); 20 at Scenic Dr, Hamilton 20 Golden-winged Warbler#: One at May (ON). [HM] P [HL] Edgelake Park 6 May* (MMac); one m. at Sedgewick Park Blackburnian Warbler: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 3 May* BCa); 10 May P (RB,RDr). one at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 3 May* (MMac); 10 at Shell “Lawrence’s” Warbler#: One m. at Dundas Valley C.A. 21 May P (JL). Park [HL] 19 May (AD,MJa); four at Ridgeside lane, Oakville 24 May Blue-winged Warbler: Three at Ruthven Park [HD] 3 May*, six there (GPr); one at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 24 May L (YS). 6 May, nine there 9 May and eight there 31 May (all RL); eight at Currie Yellow Warbler: One at south shore Cootes Paradise 1 May* (MK); Tract [HL] 9 May (CaW); four at Berry Tract [HM] 15 May (JHu); five recorded from at least 14 locations on 2 May including seven on Hardy at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 20 May (KMi); four at Martins Rd, Rd trails, Brantford (NR), five at Ruthven Park [HD] (RL), four at Dundas Valley 23 May (JJ); four at McMaster Forest 27 May (RP,NH). Taquanyah C.A. [HD] (RP) and four at Waterworks Park, Brantford Black-and-white Warbler: One at Edgelake Park [HM] 28 Apr* (RPo); (MH). 50 at Ruthven Park 12 May (RL). six at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (RM); one at Bronte Bluffs Park[HL] Chestnut-sided Warbler: One at Erindale College [PL] 2 May* P 25 May L (YS); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 25 May L (EC/BCa); one at (anon); 14 along Escarpment rail trail near Albion Falls [HM] 10 May Churchill Park [HM] 22 Jun (YS). (TU); 15 at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 15 May (RD,CE,DD); Tennessee Warbler: One at Nelles Beach, Grimsby [NG] 3 May* nine at Shoreacres Park [HL] 15 May (BO); eight at Shell Park [HL] 19 (MMac); 15 at Ruthven Park [HD] 18 May (RL) and 10 there 20 May May (AD,MJa); 20 at Scenic Dr, Hamilton 20 May (ON); one at Beamer (RL); 15 at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 19 May (RM,RPa,GL); 12 at C.A. [NG] 30 May L (BD). Jack Darling Park [PL] 20 May (RM); 12 at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville Blackpoll Warbler: One at Nelles Beach Park [NG] 3 May* (MMac); [HL] 21 May (BO); 12 at Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 24 May (GPr); one at one at Shoreacres Park 10 May (XF); 10 at RBG Arboretum 20 May Dundas Valley C.A. 29 May L (JL). (BCo); one at Forty Mile Creek at Grimsby [NG] 28 May L (MMac). Orange-crowned Warbler: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 5 May* Black-throated Blue Warbler: One at Beamer C.A. [NG] 2 May* (DE); (WK); one at Shell Park 5 May* (WK) and one there 22 May (RPo); one eight at Escarpment rail trail near Albion Falls [HM] 10 May (TU); one at Hardy Rd area, Brantford 23 May L (MH). at Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 24 May L (GPr). Nashville Warbler: One at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 1 May* (RM); Palm Warbler: One at Bronte Bluffs Park[HL] 22 Apr* (GPr); three at one at Edgelake Park [HM] 1 May* (RW/JR/AWi); 10 at Escarpment rail 5th Rd E, S of Ridge Road [HM] 27 Apr (SCa); 14 at Confederation Park trail near Albion Falls [HM] 10 May (TU); one along Brantford Rail [HM] 5 May (WK); 14 at Fifty Pt 5 May (RD,CE,DD); 17 at Ruthven Trail near Copetown Bog [HM] 24 May L (JP). Park [HD] 7 May (RL); one at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 22 May L Connecticut Warbler#: One banded at (NH). Ruthven Park [HD] 23 May* P (RL); one Pine Warbler: Two at Jaycee Sports Park, Brantford 22 Apr* (ANg); banded at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] two at Hyde Tract [HM] 22 Apr* (MM,RD); two at Sedgewick Park 24 May L P (BO). [HL] 22 Apr* (DH); one at Britton Tract [HL] 22 Apr (MJa,AD); one at Mourning Warbler: One at Riverwood Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May L (SCa). Conservancy [PL] 5 May* (LF). Yellow-rumped Warbler: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 1 Mar (RDr) Common Yellowthroat: One along Hardy Rd and 40 there 4 May (AD); one at Spencer Creek at Cootes Dr [HM] 10 Connecticut Warbler Mar (BS); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville 1 Apr (DH) - likely a wintering trails, Brantford 2 May* (NR); one at Forty banded at Lowville, 24 Mile Creek at Grimsby [NG] 2 May* (MMac); May - photo Ben Oldfield. bird. Three at Ruthven Park[HD] 16 Apr F (RL) and 35 there 7 May 14 at Ruthven Park [HD] 8 May (RL) and 25 (RL); one at Franklin Pond [WT] P 16 Apr F (NH) and 15 there 5 May there 17 May (RL). (NH); seven at Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 19 Apr (NR); 20 at Edgelake Hooded Warbler#: One m. at Martins Rd, Dundas Valley 11-29 May Park 28 Apr (RPo), 25 there 1 May (RW) and two there 24 May L P (JL/m.obs,/JJ); pair at Mt Nemo [HL] 18 May P (DH); one at Hardy (MWo); 30 at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 3 May (MMac); 75 at Rd trails, Brantford 23 May L (MH); one SM at Dundas Valley along Fifty Pt 5 May (RD,CE,DD); 24 at Shoreacres Park [HL] 5 May (WK); G. Donald Trail 28 May (JL); one m. along Spring Valley Trail, Dundas one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 24 May L (SB). Valley 29 May (MJa). Yellow-throated Warbler#: One at Shell Park ** 16 May (DMof,LMo). American Redstart: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 3 May* (CE/DH); 10 Prairie Warbler: One at Lakeside Park [PL] ** 5 May* (CK). at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (VC); nine at Edgelake Park [HM] 15 May Black-throated Green Warbler: One at Shell Park [HL] 1 May* (GPr); (MWo); 10 at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 19 May (NH). seven at Hamilton Cemetery 6 May (PR); 10 at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 Kirtland’s Warbler#: One SM in NE Brantford ** 15 May* P (ANg). May (VC); one at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 28 May L (BD). Cape May Warbler: One at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 2 May* Canada Warbler: One at Escarpment rail trail near Albion Falls [HM] (CE); one at Blythe Cres, Oakville 2 May* (JW); one at Erindale Park 10 May* P (TU); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 25 May L (EC/TM). [PL] 2 May* P (anon); 12 at Shell Park [HL] 19 May (AD,MJa) and Wilson’s Warbler: One at Blythe Cres, Oakville 9 May* (JW); six at six there 20 May (ABa); six at Lakeside Park [PL] 15 May (VC); one Lakeside Park [PL] 15 (continued on page 47) The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 45 (continued from page 42) rest of the story. As At first sight one might think that all of this movement, you can see from the front cover disturbance and noise would always thwart a top predator – photo, Barry’s timing was perfect, an endangered species – from nesting there. But to Barry’s and the subject is portrayed better observations the opposite might be true. All of this seems to than in real life. Our eyes cannot simply make the environment more dynamic for the birds and 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 The Lift Bridge at the Burlington Ship Canal - the location of the have rewarded Barry with seeing Peregrine Falcon nest. just about every aspect of Peregrine behavior; from courtship, to hunting, training the young, watching the young take their first Adult Peregrine heading for "the dumb-waiter". flights, and death. All of this has taken place in a most unique gives them more opportunities. It certainly makes the watching environment. 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. Young Peregrine Falcon exercising its wings before first flight from ledge Barry first observed this type of feeding behavior from Mackenzie at the Lift Bridge. in July 2011 the year he showed up at the bridge. His mate was To the urban dweller we are used to hearing about Peregrines Cirrus who had nested here since 2009. Mackenzie, no relation nesting on the ledges of tall buildings in downtowns. Peregrines to the writer, was her mate from 2011 to 2015. Cirrus appears are cliff nesters and building ledges are cliff ledges to them. As to have learned the behaviour from Mackenzie. Over the years long as there is enough avian prey nearby, then the nest site Barry observed Mackenzie hunting this way 14 times right up can work, keeping in mind of course that Peregrines are very until 2018. Barry maintains a journal of the birds’ daily activities territorial and there might be only room for one pair in town. and highlights to accompany his photos. A treasure trove indeed.

At the Lift Bridge, the urban environment is dynamic. During Mackenzie’s mate since 2016 has been a female that fledged in the nesting season, the bridge is raised every half hour or more if Michigan. She displaced Cirrus or took up Cirrus’ absence and required by commercial shipping. The Peregrine nest is located at her name is unknown. In 2018, two chicks fledged but shortly the top of the west tower on a window ledge facing the canal and after their first flights they became unknown birds. Between 2011 the water below. The bridge below the nest is literally raisedto and 2015, 18 Peregrine chicks have fledged from the tower site. the nest every time the bridge is lifted. Beside the bridge, a very Over the last couple of years there has been major construction short flight away, is the Burlington Skyway with a never-ending and maintenance taking place at the Lift Bridge site that has made stream of 150,000 vehicles daily. The drone of tires on pavement is observing the Peregrines difficult. Hopefully in 2019, things will constant. And to top this off, right beside the bridge at nest level, be back to normal around the area and Barry and others can find is a bevy of high tension wires held high above the passing ships the optimum observation points again. by massive towers. The whole area is suspended infrastructure in one of the busiest bottlenecks in Canada.

Page 46 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 (continued from page 45) May (VC/RM); one at Lakeside Park [HL] 15 May (RM); one at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby Ruthven Park [HD] 26 May L (RL). [NG] 27 May L (BD). Yellow-breasted Chat: One banded at Lowville ** 16 May* P (BO). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 11 birds Eastern Towhee: One at Ray St, Hamilton 16 Apr F (BCo); one at Shell from seven HSA locations on 2 May* Park 24 May L (GPr). by seven observers; six at Edgelake American Tree Sparrow: One at Park [HM] 15 May (MJa); 13 at Ruthven Park [HD] 1 May (RL); one at Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 16 May St George [BR] 2-4 May L (JL). (MH); one at St Paul Ave, Brantford Chipping Sparrow: Two at Ruthven 30 May L (CSt). Park [HD] 3 Apr* (RL), 14 there 23 Apr Indigo Bunting: One at Dundas (RL) and 20 there 28 Apr (RL). Valley C.A. 3 May* (TU); one at Hamilton Cemetery 6 May (PR). Clay-colored Sparrow#: One at Summer Tanager f. banded at Hume Rd at Watson Rd S [WL] 3 May* Dickcissel#: One m. at Big Creek Ruthven Park, 9 May - photo (FU); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 4 Yellow-breasted Chat banded Stables, Big Creek Rd, 1km E of Mulligan Rick Ludkin. May P (DH/AD); one at Franklin Pond, at Lowville, 16 May - photo Ben Rd [BR] 15 May* (JSm,DS,DSm). Oldfield. ** Cambridge 5 May (NH); two 10-31 May Bobolink: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 May* (RL); 12 in field opposite at Dragonfly Park Hills, Guelph (CCo/DMac); one at St George [BR] 11 Grass Lake [WT] 8 May (DRo); 20 at Sanders Farm, S. Grimsby Rd 7, May (JL); one at Nassagaweya-Puslinch Townline Rd, S of Arkell Rd S of Conc 7 Rd [NG] 13 May (MSa); 15 along Smithville Rd, 300m N [HL] 15 May (FU); one at Lower Baseline Rd, Oakville 15 May (PBu); of Conc Rd 2 [NG] 20 May (NS,RT); 15 in field along Waynco Rd and one at Fern Hill School, Oakville 15 May (RL); three on Hardy Road Cheese Factory Rd [WT] 28 May (NH). trails, Brantford 16 May (MH); two at Westover Tract [HM] 18 May Eastern Meadowlark: One at Lynden Rd near 5th Conc [HM] 4 Mar F (JP); one at Preservation Park, Guelph 21 May (FU); eight (7 SM) at (RD); one on 4th Conc. near Hunter Rd [HM] 4 Mar F (RD); one at field King & Benton property, along Oak Park Rd, N of Hwy 403, Brantford across from Grass Lake [WT] 5 Mar (RB); three along Hardy Rd trails, 23 May (BL,SL); two at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 30 May P (DH). Brantford 18 Mar (MH) and six there 27 Apr (ANg); nine at Heritage Field Sparrow [HD] : One at Ruthven Park 1 Apr* (RL); one at Fern Hill Green Park [HM] 23 Apr (RP). School, Burlington 12 Apr (JC); 16 along Hardy Road trails, Brantford Rusty Blackbird: One at Binbrook C.A. [HM] 3 Mar F (RP); four 27 Apr (NR). at Elm St and Park Rd, Grimsby [NG] 12 Mar (MMac); seven over Vesper Sparrow [HL] P : One at Auburn Rd, E of Trafalgar Rd 6 Apr* Stoney Creek 21 Mar (LM); 10 at Lakeside Park [PL] 26 Apr (JW); six [HM] (DPr/LF); one at 10th Rd E, S of Ridge Rd 9 Apr (RPo). at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 May (RL); one at Savannah Sparrow: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Apr* (RL,EG); 15 at Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington 15 May Heritage Green Park [HM] 23 Apr (RP). L (RD,CE,DD). Grasshopper Sparrow: One at Hardy Road trails, Brantford 24 Apr* Baltimore Oriole: 30 individuals from (MH), three there 27 Apr P (NR/ANg), 25 SM there 10 May (MH) and 14 HSA sites on 2 May* (m.obs.); 20 at th 20 SM there 27 May (RW,MW); eight SM NW of Valens Rd & 6 Conc Burloak Woods [HL] 15 May (BC); 15 at [HM] 13 May (RD); 12 SM at King & Benton property N of Hwy 403 at St George [BR] 15 May (JL); 27 at Hardy Oak Park Rd, Brantford 23 May (BL,SL); five SM at Preservation Field, Rd trails, Brantford 16 May (MH); 10 at Guelph 24 May (FU). Jack Darling Park [PL] 20 May (RM); 13 Fox Sparrow: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 Apr F (RL); five at Beamer at Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 May (ABa); 14 C.A. [NG] 19 Apr (RSp); one at Hidden Valley Park, Aldershot 1 May at Preservation Park, Guelph 21 May (FU). L (RD). Orchard Oriole: One at Shoreacres Park Song Sparrow: Two at Middletown Marsh [HM] 1 Mar (none present Kirtland's Warbler m. in [HL] 2 May* (PT); one at Nelles Beach prior to this) (BCha); two at Lakeside Park [PL] 18 Mar (SM) and 18 NE Brantford, 15 May Park, Grimsby [NG] 2 May* (MMac); photo Andrew Nguyen. there 31 Mar (anon). one at Bronte Creek trails, Burlington 6 Lincoln’s Sparrow: One at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby [NG] 1 May* May (MJa); five at CootesParadise 8 May (PT); six at Ruthven Park (MMac); one at St George feeder [BR] 3 May P (JL); four at River & [HD] 14 May (RL); seven on Hardy Rd trails, Brantford 14 May (MH); Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 9 May (BO); one at South Shell Park [HL] 26 one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 16 May (LF) and one there 27 May May L (MJ). L (TO); two at Dragonfly Park Hills, Guelph 19 May (RH); three at Fern Swamp Sparrow: One at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 13 Apr F Hill School, Oakville 22 May (RL). (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). Hooded Warbler at Martin Rd, Dundas Valley, 21 May - photo David Welch. 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 The Wood Duck - October, 2018 Page 47 Hamilton Naturalists' Club Protecting Nature Since 1919 Getting Ready for Our 100th Year!

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.

40048074 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: The Hamilton Affix Label Here Naturalists’ Club Westdale P.O. Box 89052 Hamilton, ON L8S 4R5