Celebrating 100 Years! - membership renewal inside! - Hamilton Naturalists' Club
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membership renewal inside!
JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB
Protecting Nature Since 1919
Volume 73 Number 1 September 2019
Celebrating 100 Years!
available in October 2019
Table of Contents
A Fond Farewell Ronald Bayne 4
HNC Centenary Commemorative Pin of a Wood Duck Beth Jefferson 5
HNC Hike Report - Butterflies and Dragonflies Paul Philp 6
Noteworthy Bird Records — December to February, 2018-19 Bill Lamond 7
Dates to Remember – September & October 2019 Rob Porter/Liz Rabishaw 12
Reflections From the Past - Wood Duck Articles from the mid-1950s Various authors 14
2018 Robert Curry Award and Wildfowl at Slimbridge Wetland Michael Rowlands 17
Great Egret June Hitchcox 18
Field Thistle in the Hamilton Study Area Bill Lamond 19
The Roots that Grow Deep: Trees, Heritage and Conservation Bronwen Tregunno 21
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the HNC – 15 Oct 2018 Joyce Litster 22
Building Hamilton’s Pollinator Paradise Jen Baker 23
100th Anniversary Dinner Tickets Now Available !!!
“A special anniversary should have a special celebration and when it’s your 100th
anniversary, that celebration should be extra-special!
We are capping our 100th anniversary year with a
prestigious dinner event at the beautiful Liuna Station
in downtown Hamilton on Saturday, 2 November.
Michael Runtz, a natural history lecturer, writer,
photographer, and broadcaster, will be our guest
speaker. See Debbie Lindeman after Club meetings
to purchase your ticket for $75.00. You don’t have the money right now? Don’t
worry, she’ll be selling tickets at the Monthly and Bird Study Group meetings in
September and October leading up to the big event. Ordering tickets is available
now on-line at EventBrite, with the link on our website, hamiltonnature.org.”
Page 2 The Wood Duck - September, 2019
Volume 73 Number 1 September 2019
CN ISSN 0049-7886 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074
http://www.hamiltonnature.org info@hamiltonnature.org
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 2019 - 2020 Executive
Past President Maggie Sims 905 331 1496 maggie.sims@cogeco.ca
President: Bronwen Tregunno 905 637 7136 brontreg@cogeco.ca
Vice-President: Chris Motherwell *** *** **** cmtrain@cmotherwell.com
Secretary: Joyce Litster 905 627 1203 jlister4@cogeco.ca
Treasurer: Jim Stollard 905 634 3538 jjstollard@sympatico.ca
Directors
Bird Study Group: Bruce Mackenzie 905 973 4869 kintail52@gmail.com
Conservation & Education: Gord McNulty 905 525 9927 gmcnulty21@gmail.com
Field Events: Rob Porter 905 920 3148 rob@inpictures.ca
Director-at-Large: Jackson Hudecki 905 516 4253 jacksonhudecki@gmail.com
Membership: Jill Baldwin 905 679 6447 jill.membership.hnc@gmail.com
Programs: Lou Mitton *** *** **** lou.mitton628@gmail.com
Publicity: Andrea MacLeod *** *** **** angreay@gmail.com
Sanctuary: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 brianwylie@cogeco.ca
Volunteer: Cleo Coppolino *** *** **** cleocoppolino@gmail.com
Wood Duck Editor: Bill Lamond 519 756 9546 bill-lamond@hotmail.com
Coordinators
Website Coordinator: vacant
Social Coordinator: Catharine Flatt 905 628 2030 cflatt@cogeco.ca
Junior Naturalists: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 brianwylie@cogeco.ca
Mailing: Jean Stollard 905 634 3538 jjstollard@sympatico.ca
Land Trust Program: Jen Baker 905 524 3339 land@hamiltonnature.org
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: bill-lamond@hotmail.com
MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to The Membership Director, HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order, contact Bill Lamond
Hamilton Naturalists’ Club P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5 519 756 9546 or bill-lamond@hotmail.com
Life Membership $900.00 Hamilton Nature Counts 2003 $75.00
Single Membership $45.00 Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2019 NEW $2.00
Senior Single Membership $40.00 Head of the Lake Nature Guide $8.00
Student Single Membership (on-line-only Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Study Area NEW$5.00
free
access 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
$25.00
Family Membership $50.00 (order from Glenn Barrett at ncc_images@hotmail.com)
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 - September, 2019 Page 3
Editor’s Notes........
Hello Fellow Naturalists. This is an exciting time for our Club in our centenary year. Our new book, "Hamilton Naturalists'
Club, 1919-2019: A Centennial Celebration in Stories and Pictures" (see front cover) will be available to purchase at the book
launch on 7 October, prior to the October Annual General Meeting. The launch will start at 6:30 with the regular meeting
starting at the usual 7:30 time. The book will cost $25.00 and can be paid for by cash or cheque. I have been involved in
reviewing it and I can tell you that it is a most interesting read with a wonderful assortment of photos to enjoy. In these 150
pages there are stories from 63 HNC members and photographs from over 40 members. Enough copies have been printed
that we won’t run short, but if you want to reserve a copy, please check the website in the next few days. You can contact me
if this does not work for you.
Also at the book launch, and at the September meeting, we will have our new Centenary Commemorative Pin available. You
can see details on the opposite page. Beth Jefferson was tireless in her efforts to get this idea off the ground and to make it
happen. Barry Cherriere has provided a great photograph of a Wood Duck for this pin - how appropriate.
I also want to remind you of our 100th Anniversary Dinner at Liuna Station on Saturday November 2. Information on this
gala can be seen on page 2 - inside the front cover - and tickets will be for sale at the 9 September Monthly Meeting as well
at the 16 September Bird Study Group meeting.
Other anniversary items available for sale at the September meeting are the new Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2019 ($2.00)
and the new updated Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Study Area ($5.00).
A Fond Farewell
by Ronald Bayne
C ongratulations to the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club on its 100th
anniversary! For its contributions and on-going support for the
identification and preservation of wildlife, its regular educational
Montreal where something is happening!”
But what a peaceful environment! Standing on the
High-level bridge I gazed down on Cootes Paradise
meetings, publication of the beautiful Wood Duck, and its continuing on one side and on the Royal Botanical Gardens on
efforts to protect and preserve the environment. For the coordination the other and absorbed the peace and beauty.
and cooperation with the Community Foundation, the Royal Botanical
Gardens and the Hamilton Conservation Authority – remarkable in Over the years we walked in the woods to Sassafras Point, parked at
this day of intense competition and exploitation – and the success in Princess Point where in winter the children slid down amid prickly
gaining control in preserving surrounding fields and forests for the burrs and thorns. We walked on the Marsh Boardwalk seeing herons,
enjoyments of future generations. In my 97th year and after almost 50 ducks and a small muskrat swimming between towering clumps of
years living here, I wish to express my appreciation and gratitude for cattails. I was able to slip my canoe under the bridge on Cootes Drive
the beautiful environment and the friendship my family and I have and stealthily creep up on a feeding doe. Prior to the creation of
enjoyed. the RBG fish-way that blocked carp from overpopulating the area,
a crowd of vultures would roost on a small tree killing it with their
I moved here with my family from Montreal in 1970 at the invitation “toxic” droppings.
of the newly created faculty of Health Sciences chiefly to promote
the care and welfare of the aging population that was widely ignored And of course the RBG is a paradise of blooms; one crept under an
and neglected in North America. My wife gave me strict instructions arch of climbing roses to enter a Rose Garden of lovely hybrids and
on purchasing a house for our family of four girls. It had to be near scented Austin roses carrying the names of Shakespearian heroines.
the schools and university, near grocery and clothing stores and In the spring there are small pink blooms on the black leafless
near cultural facilities. I sent the list to a recommended realtor and branches of redbud, and masses of cherry and magnolia blooms near
flew up that summer. The realtor had found two houses, one in the Nature Centre. The RBG provides space for exhibits and lectures
Waterdown and one in Westdale. The latter was most attractive and including the monthly meetings of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club.
suitable, so I made the purchase, arranged a mortgage, and returned Sarah and I have been persuaded by my two daughters now living
to Montreal that evening. We moved that autumn so the children in Victoria, BC, to move there. We moved in July, leaving the condo
could start school, new home site unseen! Each time on leaving we on Spencer Creek to live in a very suitable one on James Bay, within
had to pass inspection by the police as Quebec was under martial easy walking to everywhere. For anyone interested, the address is
law since the murder of Pierre Laporte and abduction of the British 620 Toronto Street, Apt 405, Victoria BC. V8V 1P7.
Trade Commissioner. The streets were occupied by armed soldiers
How many wonderful memories we have to recall and share even
and a postbox had blown up injuring one of them. Over the next
though now separated by time and space! Many thanks to all.
several weeks the girls watched TV and remarked, “Oh to be in
Page 4 The Wood Duck - September, 2019
HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB
CENTENARY HAMILTON NATURALISTS’
HAMILTON
COMMERATIVE CLUB
NATURALISTS’
PIN OF A WOODCLUB
DUCK
CENTENARY
CENTENARY COMMERATIVEPIN
COMMEMORATIVE PINOF
OFAAWOOD
WOODDUCK
DUCK
Virtual Sample
ed to show details]
Virtual Sample
[Enlarged to show details]
Actual Size
Actual Size
Available at the Monthly Meeting on 9 September and
the BSG Meeting 16 September
his keepsake Memento of the 100th year of the HNC was designed by
This keepsake Memento of the 100th year of the HNC was designed by
Barry Cherriere
Barry Cherriere
$15.00 All profits to the HNC
2
$15.00 All profits to the HNC
ed Quantity Email to have one reserved for you:
Limited Quantity Email to have one reserved for you:
Beth Jefferson ejefferson@bell.net
Beth Jefferson
rs taken in the field by members ejefferson@bell.net
of the HNC. Sold at meetings.
Orders taken in the field by members of the HNC. Sold at meetings.
The Wood Duck - September, 2019 Page 5
H N C H i k e R e p o r t
Butterflies and Dragonflies in Brantford
by Paul Philp
T he pop-up outing led by Bill Lamond at the S.C. Johnson Trail
in Brantford on July 25 was very informative and enjoyable.
Our goal was to observe a variety of butterfly and dragonfly
have been a selfie of it on me. It may seem
like they are being friendly but in reality they
are gathering nutrients (often salt from our
species, and to experience an area that was new to some of us. bodies), and they are a bit territorial. A real
oddity for
the day was
s o m e t h i n g Paul Philp at kids
Christmas Bird
that most of Count - photo Bruce
us had never Mackenzie.
heard of. While taking a photo of
a female Powdered Dancer, there
was something hiding under the
leaf which I didn’t notice and
you can barely see in the photo.
Jerry Bloom came over to see
what had captured my interest.
The damselfly flew and then he
Hike leader Bill Lamond (R) and some of the hike participants - noticed something, a Mantisfly
photo Paul Philp.
(Mantispidae). This was definitely
The trail and surroundings proved to be a great spot to help something new and unique to most
maintain biodiversity. There were adjacent stormwater ponds, of the group. As hard as I tried, I
a surrounding woodland, a wide pathway with a meadow-like never did get a good photo of it.
border, and a very large meadow and wetland. In looking at This is just a glimpse into some of
Googlemaps some of the woodland appears to be natural and the observations of the day. I will
some appears to be planted. The trail is 14 km long and runs definitely return at different times
between Brantford and Paris. It is a natural wildlife corridor of the year to see what other gems
along the Grand River hosting various sized patches of woodland can be located. Next time I will
border and unfortunately some development. What a perfect mix pay more attention to the birds
of attributes for observing wildlife. As a relative newcomer to the and also try to see what is at the
Hamilton area it is wonderful finding another stone to be turned. stormwater ponds.
Powdered Dancer female with
For me there were a few Mantisfly lurking under-leaf (top) Lastly, I would like to thank Bill for
highlights and oddities. - close-up of Mantisfly (bottom)
25 July - photos Paul Philp.
this outing and others he has led in
There seemed to be very the past.
few skippers overall, but
the Silver-spotted Skipper
did keep showing up here.
They are a striking looking
skipper. The Powdered
Dancer damselfly, although
Tawny Emperor at S.C. Johnson Trail,
Brantford - 25 July - photo Ian Smith.
not rare is always a treat to
see and better still to get a
photograph of, as once settled, they do seem to like to pose. The
Widow Skimmer dragonfly is fairly common but with such high
numbers that day it was possible they had recently emerged. For Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Hickory Hairstreak at S.C.
Johnson Trail, Brantford - 25
me it was a real treat when the Tawny Emperor butterfly showed at S.C. Johnson Trail,
July - photo George Sims.
Brantford - 25 July - photo
up. It is one I have only seen a couple of times before. Fortunately Bonnie Kinder.
I was able to get photographs of them on two different shirts, two
different hats, and close by on a couple different leaves and at a few
points along the trail. Had I had my cell phone there also would
Page 6 The Wood Duck - September, 2019
Noteworthy Bird Records — December to February, 2018-19
by Bill Lamond
U nderlined species or dates require documentation to be submitted to the Hamilton Bird Records Committee [HBRC] (Barb
Charlton, Bob Curry, Rob Dobos, Bill Lamond, Ross Wood). Those records where documentation has been received are marked
with a double asterisk “**”. Records where documentation has not been received are marked with a double pound “##”. The new
Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Study Area is now available and gives documentation dates for all species. It can be obtained
at HNC Monthly Meetings or Bird Study Group meetings for $5.00. They can also be ordered from me by contacting me at bill-
lamond@hotmail.com. I will mail you a copy. It can also be downloaded for free from the Club website.
Underlined species below are geographic rarities in the Hamilton area. These rarities are listed in the new Date Guide but also in
the new Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2019, which is also available at all Club meetings for $2.00 each. The Checklist can also be
downloaded from the website.
Capitalized species require documentation by the Ontario Bird Records Committee. For species marked with “#”, all reported records
for the period are listed. For all other species, only highlights are listed. Note that the species order follows the most recent American
Ornithological Society's (AOS) checklist and supplements.
Legend:
* - first occurrence for the year Plumages, etc.: County/Region/City:
F - first occurrence for the m. - male Brant [BR]
migration f. - female Haldimand [HD]
L - last occurrence for the ad. - adult Halton [HL]
migration ba. - basic Hamilton [HM]
SM - singing male alt. - alternate Niagara [NG]
terr. - territorial bird imm. - immature Peel [PL]
SWP - storm water pond juv. - juvenile Waterloo [WT]
** - documentation received 1st yr. - first year Wellington [WL]
## - documentation not received yg. - young
Observers: Alfred Adamo (AA), Gerten Basom (GB), Robert Baumander (RBa), Robert Bell (RBe), Carol Benton (CB), Cheryl Burnett
(CBu), Sarah Bonnett (SB), Peter Booker (PB), Jody Bootsma (JB), Mike Boyd (MBo), Kaitlin Brough (KBr), Rob Buchanan (RB), Jim Burrell
(JB), Ken Burrell (KB), Mike Burrell (MB), Mike Cadman (MC), Ezra Campanelli (EC), Bruce Campbell (BCa), Alain Carriere (ACa), Simon
Carter (SC), Adam Chambers (ACh), Barb Charlton (BCha), Barry Cherriere (BCh), Sally Cheung (SCh), Quincy Clark (QC), Peter Coo (PC),
Barry Coombs (BCo), Barb Cowles (BCow), Bob Curry (BC), Ken Dance (KD), Sandy Darling (SD), Bill Davis (BD), Greg Derbyshire (GD),
Dennis Dirigal (DDi), Rob Dobos (RD), Andrew Don (AD), Dave Don (DD), Felix Eckley (FE), Rick Eckley (RE), Cheryl Edgecombe (CE),
Brandon P.M. Edwards (BPME), Neil Faulkenham (NFa), Luc Fazio (LF), Lev Frid (LFr), Brett Fried (BF), Denys Gardiner (DG), Gerry Gerich
(GG), Fraser Gibson (FG), Ethan Gosnell (EG), Gwyneth Govers (GGo), Monica Grantham (MG), Brad Gray (BG), Ryan Griffiths (RG), Jim
Guild (JG), Bev Hadler (BHa), Todd Hagedorn (TH), Dominik Halas (DH), Mike Hallett (MH), Lyn Hanna-Folkes (LHF), Marlene Hart
(MHa), Jeremy Hatt (JH), Karl Heide (KH), Eric Heisey (EHe), Erin Hellinga (EHel), Jim Hignell (JHi), Kyle Holloway (KHo), Nathan Hood
(NH), Jerry Horak (JH), Ellen Horak (EH), Frank Horvath (FH), Sandra Horvath (SH), Jackson Hudecki (JHu), Randy Husson (RH), Matt Iles
(MI), Mourad Jabra (MJa), Marcie Jacklin (MJac), Kiah Jasper (KJ), Simon Jeeves (SJ), Beth Jefferson (BJ), Mark Jennings (MJ), Dawn Johnson
(DJ); Marc Johnson (MJo), Carol Jones (CJ), Aailia Khan (AK), Bonnie Kinder (BK), Andrea Kingsley (AKi), William Konze (WK), Christina
Kovacs (CK), Sarah Labrie (SLa), Bill Lamond (BL), Eric Lamond (EL), Sarah Lamond (SL), Rick Lauzon (RLa), James Lees (JL), Rick Ludkin
(RL), John Lytwyn (JLy), Bruce Mackenzie (BMac), Stuart Mackenzie (SMac), Mike MacLeod (MMac), Dan MacNeal (DMac), Len Manning
(LM), Alexander Maracle (AM), Reuven Martin (RM), Kyle McCarrel (KMc), Sheldon McGregor (SMc), Kevin McLaughlin (KM), Nancy
McPherson (NMc), Janet Medelko (JMe), Marvin Medelko (MMe), Dawn Miles (DMi), Matt Mills (MM), Jason Miller (JMi), Nathan Miller
(NM), Kai Millyard (KMi), Joe Minor (JM), David Moffatt (DMo), Cathy Monrow (CM), Samreen Munim (SM), Kevin Murphy (KMu), Alec
Napier (AN), Dilia Narduzzi (DNa), George Naylor (GN), Deryl Nethercott (DN), Sharon Nethercott (SN), Josh Nieuwenhuis (JN), Derek
Neumann (DNe), Mike Norton (MN), Owen Novoselac (ON), William Olenek (WO), Don Page (DP), Rob Palin (RPa), Mark Peck (MPe),
Jason Pizzey (JPi), Jon Pleizier (JP), Peter Poldre (PP), John Pomeroy (JPo), Patricia Pomeroy (PP), Richard Poort (RPo), Brian Popelier (BP),
Ed Poropat (EP), Anna Porter (AP), Rob Porter (RP), Michael Press (MPr), George Prieksaitis (GPr), David Pryor (DPr), Joanne Redwood
(JR), Nicole Richardson (NR), Sarah Richer (SR), Dan Riley (DR), Garth Riley (GRi), Judy Robins (JRo), Christina Roarke (CR), David Rooke
(DRo), Greg Salter (GSa), Yves Scholten (YS), Caleb Scholtens (CSc), James Scott (JS), Stewart Scott (SS), Kevin Seymour (KSe), Joan Sims
(JSi), George Sims (GSi), Nancy Smith (NS), Fabian Soler (FS), Roy Sorgenfrei (RSo), Robert Spaul (RSp), Larry Staniforth (LS), Chris Street
(CS), Paul Strong (PSt), Greg Stuart (GSt), Paul Tavares (PTa), Greg Tilford (GT), Adam Timpf (AT), Matt Timpf (MT), Gail Trenholm (GT),
David Trumbell (DT), James Turland (JT), Tristan Uchida (TU), Fred Urie (FU), Randall Van Gerwen (RVG), Will Van Hemessen (WVH),
Rohan van Twest (RvT), Josh Vandermeulen (JV), Phil Waggett (PW), Mike Waldhuber (MW), Rob Waldhuber (RW), Riley Walsh (RWa), Jim
Watt (JWa), David Watters (DWa), Gord Watts (GW), Glenn Welbourn (GWe), Sharleen Weatherley (SW), Doug Welch (DW), Taylor Wilson
(TW), Daniel Wise (DWi), Karen Wood (KWo), Ross Wood (RWo), Barb Wright (BW), Anthony Zammit (AZ), many observers (m.obs.).
The Wood Duck - September, 2019 Page 7
Snow Goose#: One at Brant Park [BR] 4 Dec (MH); one at Shade’s Park [PL] 2 Feb (RM); four at 5th Road E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 6 Feb
Mills C.A. [WT] 21 Dec (FG); one (blue morph ad.) at Bronte (RPo).
Harbour 10-14 Feb {photo} (DPr/m.obs.); one blue morph juv. 11 “Brewer’s Duck” (Gadwall x Mallard)#: One m. at 5th Road E, S
Feb {photo} Oakville Harbour (MJ/KHo,LFr) and one white morph of Ridge Rd [HM] 24 Feb (CE,RD,DD).
there 28 Feb {photo} (PSt). American Wigeon: One at Windermere Basin 1 Dec (KJ) and
Ross’s Goose#: One at Forty two there 22 Feb F (SC); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 2 Dec
Mile Creek, Grimsby ** 9 Feb (RD,CE); one at Bronte Harbour [HL] 11 Dec (MJ); four at Grand
{photo} (DJ et al.), later that River, Brantford 27 Dec (WVH,GGo); one at Erindale Park [PL]
day at Nelles Park, Grimsby 23 Jan (MJo); one at 5th Road E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 24 Feb F
(RD,RPo), and later at 5 (DD,RD,CE).
Victoria Terrace (FE,RE) and Mallard: 500 at Sixteen Mile Creek in Milton [HL] 1 Feb (MJ);
at 176 North Service Rd on 10 100 at Powerline Rd, Stoney Creek 5 Feb (RPo) and 300 there 7 Feb
Feb (m.obs); one at 596 Ridge (RPo); 1000 at 5th Road E, S of Ridge Road [HM] 24 Feb (SR).
Rd W [NG] 13 Feb (RPo) - Ross’s Goose at Grimsby, 9 February Northern Pintail: One on Grand River at Glenhyrst Gardens,
2019 - photo Dawn Johnson.
possibly same bird as above. Brantford 11 Dec (NFa); two at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 31
Greater White-fronted Goose#: Three at Flamboro Downs [HM] 4 Dec (GPr); one at Sedgewick Park sewage basin [HL] 14 Jan (SS);
Feb F (RD,MM); 35 at 5th Road E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 5 Feb {photo} one at Christie C.A. [HM] 16 Jan (JL) and one there 13 Feb (JL); two
(RPo) and 15 there 6 Feb {photo} (RPo); five off Confederation Park at Sixteen Mile Creek in Milton [HL] 1 Feb (MJ); one f. at Flamboro
[HM] 9 Feb {photo} (DD et al.); two at Spencer Smith Park [HL] 9 Downs [HM] 4 Feb F (RD,MM); four at 5th Road E, S of Ridge Rd
Feb {photo} (CK,SLa); eight at 162 North Service Rd, Grimsby [NG] [HM] 6 Feb (RPo); one at Forty Mile Creek at Lake, Grimsby [NG]
10 Feb {photo} (DPr); five at 122 Forest Hill Rd, Grimsby 10 Feb 8 Feb (BD); one at Camp Onondaga (Tim Hortons) [BR] 10 Feb
(AD,RPa,MJa); four at Bronte Harbour [HL] 10-16 Feb {photo} (MJ, (JL); one at Gairloch Gardens [HL] 16 Feb (AA); three over Grimsby
m.obs.); seven at South Shell Park [HL] 10 Feb (WK) and two there Beach [NG] 18 Feb (MMac); four at LaSalle Park 21 Feb (JL); two at
14 Feb {photo} (JR,RPo,GPr); 11 at Highland Rd E [HM] 13 Feb 215 McLean School Rd [BR] 21 Feb (JL); two at Oakville Harbour
{photo} (RPo). 23 Feb (MJ/PSt).
Green-winged Teal: 16 at Windermere Basin 1 Dec (FH,SH) and
four there 22 Feb F (BCha); two at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 3
Dec (YS); one at Brant Park [BR] 27 Dec (MH); one at Christie C.A.
[HM] 23 Jan (RD); three at LaSalle Park 24 Feb (RSp).
Canvasback: 150 on Harbour off Bayshore Park 26 Dec - 3 Jan
(RD,MM/JR) and 170 there 7 Jan (JR); 180 off LaSalle Park 13 Jan
Greater White-fronted Geese at Confederation Park, 9
February 2019 - photo Paul Tavares. (MPe); five at Windermere Basin 5 Feb (RM); 30 at Tollgate Pond 7
Feb (RPo); five on Grand River, Brantford 19-22 Feb F (MH,m.obs.);
Cackling Goose: Five at Confederation Park [HM] 1 Dec (RPo); six 10 at Burlington Ship Canal 28 Feb (RPo).
at Christies Corners [HM] 13 Dec (JL); six over King St, Dundas 20 Canvasback x Redhead#: One m. on Harbour off Burlington Golf
Dec (JHu); seven over Coldspring Valley [HM] 26 Dec (RP); 11 at & Country Club 3 Jan (JR) – likely the same bird that has returned
Bronte Harbour 14 Jan (MJ) and 19 there 17 Jan {photo} (MJ); seven to this location for the last few years.
at South Shell Park [HL] 15 Jan {photo} (DPr); six at Green Rd at Redhead: Four at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 17 Dec (MJ);
Lake [HM] 15 Jan (KM); 11 at LaSalle Park 18 Jan {photo} (RPo); six 32 at N shore of Harbour 26 Dec (RD,MM); 50 on Harbour off
at Desjardins Canal Feb 8 (RD). Hamilton Yacht Club 3 Jan (JP); one at Mountsberg Reservoir [WL]
Canada Goose: 2950 coming to roost at Bronte Harbour 11 Feb (BC). 6 Jan (FU); 22 at Bronte Harbour 14 Jan (MJ), 42 there 23 Feb (MJ)
Tundra Swan: One at CCIW on Harbour 1 Dec (MB,KB,JB,EG) and 35 there 25 Feb (NR); two on Grand River at Caledonia 30 Jan
and two there 2-26 Dec (RD); six at 127 Mud St [HM] 24 Feb F (MT); 24 off Lakeside Park, Oakville 31 Jan (PSt); 18 off South Shell
(RW,MW). Park [HL] 1 Feb (MJ); 150 at Burlington Ship Canal 3 Feb (RM).
Wood Duck#: Two at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 3 Dec (JT et al.); one Ring-necked Duck: 20 at LaSalle Park 1 Dec (KJ et al.); 16 on south
at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 13 Dec (YS); two at Bronte Creek shore of Harbour 26 Dec (SMac ); 45 on N shore of Harbour 26 Dec
P.P. [HL] 15 Dec (MPe); one at Desjardins Canal, Dundas 2-4 Jan (RD,MM); 52 at Windermere Basin 26 Dec (BC) and 20 there 18
(DMo/RD/CS); two at Princess Point, RBG 5 Jan (AD,RPa); one at Feb (KSe,GSt); 14 at Red Hill Creek at Woodward Ave [HM] 13 Jan
Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 23 Feb (AK). (AD,MJa); six at Pier 4 Park [HM] 17 Feb (JHu); one at Credit River,
Northern Shoveler: Two at Bayfront Park 2 Dec (WO); 13 at Streetsville [PL] 18 Feb F (AA).
Grimsby Wetlands [NG] Dec 2 (RD,CE); two at Hespeler Mill Pond Greater Scaup: 700 on Harbour off CCIW 1 Dec (MB,KB,JB,EG);
[WT] 4 Dec (TH); four off Bel Air Promenade [HL] 8 Dec (BCa); 14 500 at Burlington Ship Canal 1 Dec (EP,KH); 2000 off Holcim
at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 4 Dec (BD) and one there 1 Jan (BD); 61 Lakefront Mansion [PL] 6 Jan (RM); 1545 off Gairloch Gardens
on south shore Harbour 26 Dec (SMac et al.); 10 at Tollgate Pond [PL] 12 Jan (RM et al.); 420 on Lake off Forty Mile Creek [NG] 17
6 Jan (DT); three at LaSalle Park 6 Jan (DWi) and one there 17 Feb Jan (BD); 1000 off Rhododendron Gardens [PL] 26 Jan (RM); one
(MW,RW); 125 at Windermere Basin 12 Jan (GG), 100 there 2 Feb on Grand River S of Footbridge [WT] 17 Feb (WVH, SB); 800 at
(MPe) and 60 there 25 Feb (NR); one at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 4 Windermere Basin 19 Feb (SC); one on Grand River at Brantford 20
Feb (RPo). Feb (SL); two on Grand River at Caledonia [HD] 24 Feb (CJ).
Gadwall: 81 at Ben Machree Park [PL] 1 Jan (ACh); 50 at Lakeside Lesser Scaup: 52 at Tollgate Pond 1 Dec (FH,SH); 165 at Windermere
Page 8 The Wood Duck - September, 2019
Basin 8 Dec (BC), 110 there 26 Dec (BC), 250 there 3 Feb (RM) and Common Goldeneye: 300 off Sayers Park [HM] 1 Dec (MB,KB);
400 there 17 Feb (TH,RM); 12 at Fifty Point C.A. 5 Jan (SMac); one 300 off Shoreacres Park [HL] 8 Dec (BJ); 257 off Fifty Point C.A.
at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 24 Feb (NH). 8 Dec (WELO); 800 off Bayfront Park 17 Dec (MM); 200 on Lake
King Eider#: One imm. m. at Fifty Point C.A. 1 Dec (RPo,JN) and off Fruitland Road [HM] 5 Jan (RM,TH); 650 on Grand River from
one imm. m. there 5 Jan (SMac); one imm. m. at LaSalle Park 1 Dec Cambridge to Paris 27 Jan (NH); 200 off Holcim Lakefront Mansion
(JPo,PP); one at South Shell Park [HL] 3 Jan – 11 Feb (JP, m.obs.). [PL] 2 Feb (RM); 250 on Lake off Gairloch Gardens [HL] 9 Feb
Harlequin Duck#: One (MMe,JMe); 78 on Grand River at Brant Park, Brantford 19 Feb
at South Shell Park [HL] 8 (MH); 200 at Burlington Ship Canal 20 Feb (JP); 200 off LaSalle Park
Dec (KMi) and one there 25 Feb (NR).
3 Jan (JWa), and one imm. Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser#: One at Wilkes Dam,
m. there 9-13 Feb (MJ); Grand River, Brantford, 8 Jan {photo} (EH,JH).
two imm. at W Harbour Hooded Merganser: 54 on south shore of Harbour 26 Dec (SMac
Waterfront Trail 22 Dec et al.); 85 at Red Hill Creek at Woodward Ave 24 Jan (RD); 74 at
(RD,DD,CE). Windermere Basin 3 Feb (MPe).
Harlequin Duck, imm. male, at South Surf Scoter: 67 at Common Merganser: 650 on
Shell Park, 13 February 2019 - photo Burlington Ship Canal 26 south shore of Harbour 26 Dec
Barry Cherriere. Dec (WO); 235 on Stoney (SMac et al.) and 606 there 6 Jan
Creek lakeshore 5 Jan (RD); 75 at Creanona Blvd at Lake [HM] 6 (GN,RW); 200 off Bayfront Park 4
Jan (RPo,DN); 40 at Winona Rd at Lake [HM] 6 Jan (RPa); 40 at Jan (CSc et al.); 500 off Hamilton
Green Rd at Lake [HM] 29 Jan (NM); four at J.C. Saddington Park Yacht Club 24 Jan (SC).
[PL] 2 Feb (RM); 20 off Sayers Park [HM] 10 Feb (GSt,KS,RLa); 40 Red-breasted Merganser: One Common Goldeneye x Hooded
at Millen Rd at Lake [HM] 10 Feb (AT,MT); 20 at Fruitland Rd at at McMillan Pit, Puslinch [WL] Merganser - Wilkes Dam, Grand
Lake 10 Feb (NMc,GRi); three at Sioux Lookout [HL] 18 Feb (GPr). 23 Dec (RvT); 250 at Tollgate River Brantford - 8 January 2019
- photo Jerry Horak.
White-winged Scoter: 150 on Harbour at CCIW 1 Dec Pond 5 Jan (KB,MB); 180 off Fifty
(MB,KB,JB,EG); 365 at Fifty Point C.A. 8 Dec (WELO); 170 on Point C.A. 9 Feb (WELO); 400 at Burlington Ship Canal 20 Feb (JP).
Lake at Forty Mile Creek [NG] 13 Dec (BD); 91 along south shore Ruddy Duck: 60 off LaSalle Park 1 Dec (JT et al.); 210 at Windermere
of Harbour 26 Dec (SMac et al.); 200 on Lake at Creanona Blvd., Basin 14 Jan (BC); 20 off Bronte Beach [HL] 9 Feb (CB).
Winona 5 Jan (RM,TH); 300 on Lake off Fruitland Rd [HM] 5 Jan Wild Turkey: 30 at Hwy 403 and old Hwy 52 22 Dec (SR); 35 at 697
(TH,RM); 180 off South Shell Park [HL] 18 Jan (JMe,MMe); 200 off Haldimand Rd 9 [HD] 4 Jan (SMac); 48 at 69000 16th Road, West
J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 2 Feb (RM); 150 off Lakeside Park [PL] 2 Lincoln [NG] (NS); 37 at Borer’s Falls C.A, [HM] 12 Jan (SN,DN);
Feb (RM); 250 on Lake off Waterford Place [HL] 9 Feb (BJ); 110 off 40 at East River Rd, Paris 31 Jan (JPi); 30 at Shellard Rd, North
LaSalle Park 25 Feb (NR). Dumfries [WT] 16 Feb (WVH,SB); 56 at Sobie Rd, Grimsby [NG]
Black Scoter: Ten on Lake off Green Road [HM] 1 Dec 22 Feb (RG).
(JB,MB,KB,EG); eight off of Sayers Park [HM] 1 Dec (MB,KB); 20 Pied-billed Grebe#: One at LaSalle Park 10-14 Dec (RPo,et al.); one
off Fifty Point C.A. 3 Dec (JT et al.); three on Lake off Forty Mile on south shore of Harbour 26 Dec (SMac et al.); one at Windermere
Creek [NG] 4 Dec (BD); two on south shore of Harbour 26 Dec Basin 26 Dec – 23 Feb (BC,m.obs.); one at South Shell Park [HL] 3-4
(SMac et al.); 50 at Fruitland Road at Lake [HM] 5 Jan (RM,TH); Jan (JP,m.obs.); one at Red Hill Creek at Woodward Ave 22 Dec - 24
44 on Stoney Creek lakeshore 5 Jan (RD); four off South Shell Park Jan (DD,CE,RD/JH,EH).
[HL] 18 Jan (JMe,MMe). Horned Grebe#: Four off LaSalle Park 1-2 Dec (KJ/RD,CE) and
Barrow’s x Common Goldeneye#: One male on Lake off Grays two there 17 Feb (RM); two at Fifty Point C.A. 1 Dec (RPo,JN); two
Rd [HM] 5 Jan (RD) and second male off Fruitland Rd [HM] 5 Jan off Bayshore Park 3 Dec (BCa) and one there 18 Feb (JM); one off
(RD). Burloak Park [HL] 10 Dec (GPr); one off Gairloch Gardens [PL] 15
Barrow’s Goldeneye#: One f. on Lake off Winona Rd [HM] ** 5 Dec (JWa,MPr); one at Bronte Harbour 16 Dec (GPr) and one there
Jan (RD,m.obs.); one f. at LaSalle Park 16 Feb {photo} (MV). 10 Feb (GPr/RD) and one there 23 Feb (GPr); one off Van Wagners
Beach 24 Jan (KM); one off South Shell Park [HL] 27 Jan (KMi) and
one there 20 Feb (LF); one at Burlington Ship Canal 20 Feb (EC).
Red-necked Grebe: One off LaSalle Park [HL] 3 Dec – 17 Jan (JM/
MJa) with two there 26 Dec (RD); three at W end of Harbour 21
Dec (RD); one on Lake
off Green Rd [HM] 5 Jan
(RD); one at Fifty Point
C.A. 5 Jan (SMac); one off
J.C. Saddington Park [PL]
26 Jan (MN/GPr).
EURASIAN COLLARED-
DOVE#: Two at Ferguson
Ave N and Wood St E, Eurasian Collared-Doves at Ferguson Ave,
Barrow’s Goldeneye (right) with Common Goldeneye at
LaSalle Park, 17 February 2019 - photo Mike Veltri.
Hamilton ** 18 Dec – 8 Jan N., Hamilton - 19 December 2018 - photo
(JV,m.obs.). Bob Curry.
The Wood Duck - September, 2019 Page 9
American Coot#: 15 at Bayfront Park 17 Dec (MM); seven at [PL] 6 Jan (RM).
Windermere Basin 26 Dec (BC); 24 on south shore of Harbour Double-crested Cormorant: Six at Desjardins Canal 9 Dec (JL);
(SMac et al.); 10 at Red Hill Creek at Woodward Ave [HM] 29 Jan 119 at Windermere Basin 26 Dec (BC), 42 there 14 Jan (BC), and 15
(NM); one at Sioux Lookout [HL] 18 Feb F (GPr). there 5 Feb (RM).
Sandhill Crane#: Eight over Brant Park 4 Dec (MH); two at west Great Blue Heron: Four at West Pond, RBG 1 Dec (JT et al.); two
side of Taylor Lake [WT] 4 Dec (KD). at Valley Inn [HL] 1 Dec (KJ); two at Waterworks Park, Brantford
Killdeer#: One at Little Buffalo, Six Nations I.R. [HD] 31 Dec L (MH); three at Gilkison Flats, Brantford 30 Dec (KMu); six at
(BP). Windermere Basin 5 Jan (RM,TH) and four there 3 Feb (MPe); three
Bonaparte’s Gull#: Two at Burloak Park 10 Dec (GPr); one ad. at at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 17 Jan (RH); two on Grand River at
Fifty Point C.A. 2 Dec L (CE,RD). Glen Morris [BR] 18 Jan (GSi,JSi); two at Grand River, Brantford 28
Ring-billed Gull: 20 at Windermere Bsin 6 Feb (RPo); 42 at Van Jan (JHi).
Wagners Beach 9 Feb (AZ); 250 at Bronte Harbour [HL] 12 Feb Black-crowned Night-Heron#: One at Desjardins Canal,
(MJ); 181 at Brantford dump 28 Feb (JL). Dundas 21 Dec (DD); two on south shore of Harbour 26 Dec
Herring Gull: 900 at Brantford dump 8 Jan (MH), 740 there 5 Feb (SMac et al.); two at Red Hill Creek at Woodward Ave [HM] 3 Jan
(JL) and 1124 there 28 Feb (JL). (MHa,LS) and two there 15 Jan (MH); one at Windermere Basin
"Thayer’s" Iceland Gull#: One ad. at Brantford dump ** 10-19 3-24 Jan (JP/m.obs.); two at 16 Mile Creek in Milton [HL] 12 Jan
Dec {photo} (DG/JL,m.obs.). – 1 Feb {photo} (AM/MJ); two at Confederation Park [HM] 9 Feb
"Kumlien’s" Iceland Gull: Two {photo} JR/JM).
at Brantford dump 10 Dec (DG), Turkey Vulture: Five at
five there 12 Dec (JL), six there 14 Papple Rd, Cainsville [BR]
Dec (BC,GS) and seven there 10 5 Dec (MH); five at Wayne
Jan (JL); two at Cambridge landfill Gretzky Pkwy, Brantford 12
27 Dec (NH); eight at Mohawk Dec (JH) and six there 22
Lake, Brantford 10 Jan (JL) and Iceland Gull, 1st winter at LaSalle Dec (KJ); 10 at Garden Ave,
six there 12 Jan (JL/RD); three (1st Park - 8 Dec 2018 - photo Mike Veltri. Brantford 13 Dec (RWa); 15 at
20 Field Rd, Ancaster 24 Jan Black-crowned Night-Heron at
ba., 2nd ba.,ad.) at Oakville Harbour 28 Jan (MJ); two at South Shell
Park [HL] 18 Feb (GSt,KSe). (JL); 28 at 1898 Smithville Rd Sixteen Mile Creek, Milton - 12 Jan
2019 - photo Alexander Maracle.
Glaucous Gull: Three at Brantford dump 12 Dec (JL), four there 15 [NG] 25 Jan (NS); 16 at 6468
Dec (NH), four there 1 Jan (RD) and five there 8 Jan (MH); four at Sixteen Rd, Smithville [NG] 29 Jan – 16 Feb (RSo/BD); 47 at 2060
Mohawk Lake, Brantford 15 Dec (RD), five there 2 Jan (RD), eight Port Davidson Rd [NG] 15 Feb (BHa); one at Tapleytown Rd [HM]
there 5 Jan (BL,SL); and 12 there 12 Jan (JL); four on south shore 22 Feb F (RD,CE).
of Harbour 26 Dec (SMac et al.); two at Cambridge landfill 27 Dec Black Vulture#: One over Alton Ponds, Burlington ** 5 Dec (MJ).
(NH); two at Burlington Ship Canal 29 Dec (JL); four at Hespeler Golden Eagle#: One over Arkell Research Station [WL] 16 Dec (MI).
Mill Pond [WT] 4 Jan (TH); five over Dundas Valley 5 Jan (JL). Bald Eagle: Three at Brantford dump 30 Dec (SL) and three there
Lesser Black-backed Gull#: At Brantford dump: Two there 12 Dec 28 Feb (JL); four on Grand River in Glen Morris area [BR] 18 Jan
(BL,SL), two there 19 Dec (JI), one there 1 Jan (RD), one there 10 (GSi,JSi); 12 on ice of Harbour 24 Jan (RD) and 17 there 9 Feb (RD);
Jan (JL) and one there 5 Feb (JL). At Mohawk Lake, Brantford: Five 12 off LaSalle Park 11 Feb (LFr, KHo); pair at nest in Brantford near
on 5 Dec (MH), nine on 7 Dec (MH), three on 10 Dec (MH), five Wilkes Dam incubating eggs 20 Feb (EL,SL); four on Grand River
on 12 Dec (MH), three on 16 Dec (MH), three on 30 Dec (MH) and from Cambridge to Paris 23 Feb (NH).
two on 6 Jan (MH). Two at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 21 Dec (BF); one Northern Harrier: Two at 336 Fifty Rd 27 Dec (BD); two at Stoney
ad. off Woodland Cemetery 26 Dec (RD,MM); one at Cambridge Creek mountain 1 Jan (RPo); two at 10th Road E 5 Jan (EH,JH).
landfill 27 Dec (NH); one at Princess Point, RBG 5 Jan (AD,RPa); Northern Goshawk#: One ad. at 8575 1st
one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 10 Jan (TH). Line, Campbellville {HL] 17 Feb {photo}
SLATY-BACKED GULL#: Two ad. at Brantford dump/Mohawk (RWo,KWo).
Lake 11-15 Dec (RPo/JL,m.obs.) with one ad. continuing until 24 Red-shouldered Hawk#: One at Glen
Dec at Mohawk Lake (MH). First records for HSA. Morris [BR] 9 Dec – 16 Feb (EH,JH/m.
Great Black-backed Gull: 56 at south shore of Harbour 26 Dec obs.); one at Aberfoyle 25 Dec (RvT), and
(SMac et al.); 79 at Mohawk Lake, Brantford 31 Dec (TH) and 68 on 6 Jan (RD,CE,DD) and on 16 Feb {photo}
there 12 Jan (JL); 15 at Cambridge landfill [WT] 9 Jan (NH); 61 at (BK); one near Hwy
Tollgate Pond 9 Jan (EHe); 82 at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 10 Jan (AZ). 401 rest stop, E of
Red-throated Loon#: Two off CCIW 1 Dec (MB,KB,JB,EG); two Wellington Road 32 Northern Goshawk
off Fifty Point C.A. 2-4 Dec (RD,CE/JM); two off LaSalle Park 15 Jan [WL] 29 Jan – 17 at 8575 1st Line
(NMc,GRi) and 18 there 9 Feb (RD), nine overhead 18 Feb (MM), Feb (MN/ACa) – Campbellville - 17
February - photo Ross
and five there 22 Feb (BCha); one off Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 2 previous two records Wood.
Feb (BD); three at Burlington Ship Canal 22 Feb (DPr). may refer to the same
Common Loon: Three at Burlington Ship Canal 1 Dec (KHo,EP); returning bird for many years. One at Bronte
two off LaSalle Park 2 Dec (RD,CE); one off Bayshore Park 3 Dec Red-shouldered Hawk Creek P.P. [HL] 2-16 Feb {photo} (DH/CBu).
at Bronte Creek P.P.
(BCa); one on Lake off Confederation Park [HM] 28 Dec (RB); one Rough-legged Hawk: Two at 1094 3rd Line,
- 2 Feb 2019 - photo
on Harbour at Hamilton Yacht Club 3 Jan (JP); one off Lakeside Park Dominik Halas. Cayuga [HD] 16 Feb (MMe,JMe,AD).
Page 10 The Wood Duck - September, 2019Snowy Owl#: One at Tollgate Pond 2 Dec – 6 Jan (RD,CF/LF/DT); JL); one at Sheldon Creek,
one at Bronte Harbour [HL] 4 Dec – 9 Feb (MJ/m.obs.); one at CCIW Burlington 15 Dec – 18 Feb
{photo} (QC,CM,MJ,m.obs.);
one at Concession 4 and Side
Road 12, Puslinch [WL] 16 Dec
{photo} (RvT); one at Starkey
Hill C.A. [WL] 30 Dec {photo}
(RVG); one at Bronte Creek P.P.
[HL] 2 Jan {photo} (MJ); one
at Grey Doe Trail, Cootes
Paradise 26 Jan - Feb (DW/
KMc).
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker#:
One at 90 River Rd, Brantford Barred Owl in SE Burlington - 7
12 Jan {photo} (GD); one f. January 2019 - photo Cathy Monrow.
at Sulphur Springs Rd [HM] 31 Jan (RBe,RD,CE); one at Conc 4
Puslinch, W of Donkey Sanctuary
[WL] 2 Feb (DMac).
Northern Flicker: Nine at Spencer
Creek Trail, RBG [HM] 2 Jan (DMo).
Eastern Phoebe#: One at Hespeler
Snowy Owl at Fifty Point C.A. - 22 January 2019 - photo Bill Davis. Mill Pond [WT] 12 Dec – 4 Jan
{photo} (DRo); one at Great Lakes/
9 Dec (JS) and two there 26 Dec (RD,MM); one at Burloak Park Rebecca SWP [HL] 16 Dec (fide CE);
[HL] 10 Dec (PB/GPr) and from 18-24 Jan (MJ); one along Hwy one at Hewick Meadows, Mississauga
401 near on route rest-stop [WL] 11 Dec (WVH); one on Harbour 19 Dec – 10 Jan {photo} (RPa/RM);
off Hamilton Yacht Club 17 Dec (KM,LHF) and two there 20 Dec Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
at River Rd, Brantford - 12
one at Jaycee Sports Park, Brantford
{photo} (JG/PTa); one at Lakeside Park [PL] 24 Dec – 6 Jan (MN/ January 2019 - photo Greg 14-15 Jan (JPi/DG/RD); one along
RM); one at Grimsby at Forty Mile Creek [NG] 24 Dec (RB); one Derbyshire. Spencer Creek Trail, W of Cootes Dr,
at Hagersville [HD] 30 Dec – 27 Feb (CS/RWo); one at 140 North Dundas 18 Jan (DW).
Service Rd near Green Rd [HM] 1 Jan (JN); one along QEW near Fish Crow#: One over Mohawk College, Stoney Creek 4 Dec (LM);
McNeilly Rd [HM] 5 Jan (FE,RE); one at Fifty Point C.A. 5-24 Jan one at Dale Ave, Hamilton 8 Dec (RPo); one at Canada Post building
(RM,TH); one at Holcim Lakefront Mansion [PL] 6-12 Jan (RM/ at Millen Rd, S of QEW 9 Dec (LM); one at Margaret Ave, Hamilton
JMe,MMe); one at Petro Canada Pier [HL] 8 Jan – 14 Feb (GPr,m. 12 Dec (RW); one at Fiesta Mall, Queenston Rd, Stoney Creek 16 Dec
obs.); one at 336 Hwy 52 [HM] 9 Jan (JL); one at Gairloch Gardens (LM); one over Dundas Valley HQ 19 Dec (JL); one at Woodward
[HL] 12 Jan (RPa,JMe,MMe); one at Oakville Harbour 15 Jan – 2 Ave at sewage treatment plant [HM]
Feb {photo} (MJ/PSt); one at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 2 Feb (RM); 26 Dec (GN).
one at Penn Dr, Burlington 16 Feb {photo} (FS); one at Casablanca Horned Lark: 20 at Paris Plains
Blvd at QEW [NG] 16 Feb (RB); one at North Service Rd and Fifty Church Rd [BR] 20 Jan (TH); 53 at
Rd along QEW [HM] 26 Feb (DP). Many of these records of birds in W. River Rd, W of Glen Morris [BR]
lakeshore areas are likely the same birds moving around. Impossible 29 Jan (EH,JH); one over Springbank
to know, so all records included. Park, Mississauga 3 Feb F (RM); 41 at
Short-eared Owl#: One at Vinemount Meadows Sanctuary [HM] North Service Rd, W of Sutton Dr [HL]
16 Dec – 19 Feb (m.obs.) with three there 24 Jan (PW); one at Army 11 Feb (MJ); 32 at Middletown Rd, N
Camp Rd, S of Hagersville [HD] 21 Jan (SMac); one over QEW at Eastern Phoebe at Jaycees
Sports Park Brantford, 14 Jan of Hwy 5 [HM] 14 Feb (GRi,NMc);
Merritt Rd [NG] 2 Feb (MI). 51 at Brantford dump 14 Feb (JL); 16
2019 - photo Jason Pizzey.
Long-eared Owl#: One at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 16 Dec (DD,CE), at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL]
one there 2 Jan (MJ) and four there 20 Feb (MJ); one at Amaolo 16 Feb (MJ); 40 at Fallsview
Sanctuary, Ancaster 18 Jan (RP); two at Eramosa Karst C.A. [HM] Rd, Dundas 17 Feb (JP); 350 at
20 Feb (SC). McLellan Rd, S of Hwy 54 [BR]
Northern Saw-Whet Owl#: One at Fifty Point C.A. 1-12 Dec 18 Feb (KMu).
(JN,RPo/JL); one along Bruce Trail, Grimsby 15 Dec (BD); one Tufted Titmouse#: One at 346
found dead at Central Park off Bay St, Hamilton 27 Dec {photo} (fide Haller Place, Caledonia [HD]
JP); one at 40 Auchmar Place, Hamilton 6-7 Jan {photo} (JR,BK/ 8 Dec – 2 Feb (GSa); two at
RD); one at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 11 Jan (MJ) and two there 19 Gravel Pit Rd, Dundas Valley
Jan (MMe,JMe); one at Silver Creek/Jaycees Sports Park, Brantford 8 Dec (SMc); one at Wilkes Horned Lark at Fallsview Rd,
13 Jan (NR); one at N shore Cootes Paradise 4 Feb (MM,RD); one at dam, Brantford 18 Dec – 17 Jan Dundas, 10 February 2019 - photo
Stone Rd at Eramosa River, Guelph 16-19 Feb (MC et al.). (NFa); four in Dundas Valley Doug Ward.
Barred Owl#: One in Dundas Valley 5 Dec – 8 Jan {photo} (TU/ 26 Dec (RWo,MBo); (continued on page 15)
The Wood Duck - September, 2019 Page 11D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9 1 September (Sundays) 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. HNC - Sunday Morning Birding. Sunday morning birding group, meets at various locations around the Hamilton area. Also on 8, 15, 22, 29 September. Everyone including new birders are welcome. Please bring binoculars and appropriate footwear. Locations vary week to week depending on the sightings. Contact Colleen Reilly for locations and meet up points colleenplus2@gmail.com. 1 September (Sunday) 2:00 p.m. - 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 weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404. 2 September (Mondays) 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. HNC - Larks Birding. Larks Monday morning ladies birding group meets at various locations around the Hamilton area. Also on 9, 16, 23, 30 September. Locations vary from week to week depending on the sightings. New birders are welcome. Please bring your binoculars and appropriate walking shoes. Contact Elaine Serena for locations and meet up points serene238@gmail.com. 6 September - 1 December. Cootes Paradise: A Place Above All. The spectacular landscape of Cootes Paradise has been many things to many people over time, from a sustainable source of sustenance over thousands of years of Indigenous stewardship, to a place to be exploited for human gain, a landscape to be protected for its rich biodiversity, and a source of inspiration for human creativity and wellness for all. This exhibition looks at Cootes Paradise through the eyes of artists and naturalists who have immersed themselves in its natural beauty. It also celebrates the founding of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club by a group of concerned community members who had the foresight to work to protect the area beginning 100 years ago. Location: Jean and Ross Fischer Gallery, Art Gallery of Hamilton. 8 September (Sunday) 2 - 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. 9 September (Monday) 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. HNC Monthly Meeting - Lynx and Landscapes: How prey and habitat influence the behaviour of Canada lynx in the Yukon. Rachael Derbyshire will share her stories from the field and preliminary results of her work as she studies the Canada lynx, a keystone species with population cycles that closely follow those of snowshoe hare, including how lynx behaviour changes they cope with periods of low hare availability and other environmental factors. Building upon previous work in southwestern Yukon where lynx and hare populations have been tracked through several population cycles, she has seen dramatic fluctuations in lynx and snowshoe hare numbers. Rachael’s talk will focus on general lynx ecology in the context of broad-scale environmental changes. Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington. 14 September (Saturday) HNC - Dundas IBA Survey 4. Tentative Date. Please contact rob@inpictures.ca for more info. 15 September (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. In inclement weather, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404. 16 September (Monday) 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. HNC - BSG Meeting. Songbird Conservation: hazards, recovery strategies and what we can do to help seasonal migrants with Jane Hudecki. Meet & greet at 7 p.m. Please bring your own beverage, although snacks provided. For more information, contact Bruce - kintail52@gmail.com. At Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St, Burlington. 19 September (Thursday) 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. HNC - Biodiversity Volunteer Team. As part of HNC’s Biodiversity Team we’ll be undertaking several stewardship activities to maintaining HNC’s urban pollinator habitats that are in parks across the city, planting native plants, and managing invasive species at HNC’s local nature sanctuaries with the guidance of HNC staff and volunteers. Activity and location will be confirmed closer to the date. Please contact Jen to be added to the list, land@hamiltonnature.org. 21 September (Saturday) 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. A Trail Called Home: Tree Walk Series with Paul O’Hara. Paul is a local field botanist, landscape designer and native plant gardening expert. Paul is promoting his new book, A Trail Called Home: Tree Stories From The Golden Horseshoe, published by Dundurn Press (https://www.dundurn.com/books/Trail-Called-Home). The book will be available in book stores on May 4, 2019. Paul will have copies for sale at each of the hikes. Each hike will last about 1.5 to 2 hours. We’ll meet at the Dundas Driving Park Wading Pool and explore the original trees in the park and at Grove Cemetery. 21 September (Saturday) 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra/HNC event. First Ontario Centre [Hamilton Place], 101 York Blvd, Hamilton. See page 20 for details. 22 September (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. In inclement weather, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404. 28-30 September Ontario Field Ornithologists’ Conference. At Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, 116 King St W, Hamilton. OFO is hosting their annual conference in Hamilton this year to help the HNC celebrate their 100th anniversary. Field birding trips with a Friday evening meeting and Saturday dinner. Details to come. 29 September (Sunday) 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike. Rock Chapel; meet at the Rock Chapel trailhead parking lot, Hamilton. In inclement weather, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404. Page 12 The Wood Duck - September, 2019
D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R - O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 5 October (Saturday) 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. HNC - Tour HNC’s Cartwright Nature Sanctuary. Lead by Warren Beacham, this hike will explore the Cartwright Nature Sanctuary, which is part of a wildlife corridor that runs from the Niagara Escarpment to Cootes Paradise. Within this HNC sanctuary are old orchards, woodlands and a distant view of the Hamilton’s downtown. The sanctuary is also home to a number of native flora and fauna, and a kilometre long loop trail. This is an approximately two kilometre walk total with some hilly sections. For more information, contact Warren at 905-627-3343. Meet at the dead end of Wesley Avenue, Dundas. Park on the west side of Wesley. 6 October (Sundays) 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. HNC - Sunday Morning Birding. Sunday morning birding group, meets at various locations around the Hamilton area. Also on 13, 20, 27, October. Everyone including new birders are welcome. Please bring binoculars and appropriate footwear. Locations vary week to week depending on the sightings. Contact Colleen Reilly for locations and meet up points colleenplus2@gmail.com. 6 October (Sunday) 2:00 p.m. - 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 weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404. 7 October (Mondays) 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. HNC - Larks Birding. Larks Monday morning ladies birding group meets at various locations around the Hamilton area. Also on 14, 21, 28, October. Locations vary from week to week depending on the sightings. New birders are welcome. Please bring your binoculars and appropriate walking shoes. Contact Elaine Serena for locations and meet up points serene238@gmail.com. 7 October (Monday) 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. HNC Annual General Meeting and Book Launch of "Hamilton Naturalists' Club, 1919- 2019: A Centennial Celebration in Stories and Pictures" - Book Launch starts at 6:30 and AGM at 7:30 followed by guest speaker Chantal Theijn of the Hobbitsee Wildlife Refuge. Join us for this free talk about this wildlife sanctuary that helps heal and release wildlife. Learn more about this great organization http://www.hobbitstee.com/ RBG, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington. 13 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. 19 October (Saturday) HNC - Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary Annual fall work party and guided hike. The fall Work Party at Spooky Hollow is scheduled for Saturday, October 19. We will be meeting at The Egg and I Restaurant, corner of Rymal and Wilson Streets, behind the Tim Hortons, 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. This is a good opportunity to visit the HNC’s first nature sanctuary and to experience a work party. You can also go on a tour of the property to see this magnificent old-growth Carolinian forest and to see some of the current stewardship activities. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Warren Beacham at 905-627- 3343 or email wbeach808@sympatico.ca 20 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. In inclement weather, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404. 27 October (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. In inclement weather, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404. 28 October (Monday) 7:30 p.m. - 9:00. HNC - Bird Study Group. Birds of Australia. Our speaker Dr. Paul Eagles will take us through his experiences with birds in Australia and their importance to the continents ecology and conservation. Many of Australia's birds are endemic. His talk will highlight parrots and the Important Bird Areas of Australia. Paul is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo. He specializes in environmental, recreation and tourism planning, with 45 years of experience. He has undertaken planning and research in this field in over 30 countries. He recently spent four years at Murdock University in Perth, Australia at the School of Environmental Science. For more information please contact Bruce - kintail52@ gmail.com. At Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St, Burlington. 31 October (Wednesday) 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. HNC - Biodiversity Volunteer Team. As part of HNC’s Biodiversity Team, we’ll be undertaking several stewardship activities in maintaining HNC’s urban pollinator habitats that are in parks across the City, planting native plants, and managing invasive species at HNC’s local nature sanctuaries with the guidance of HNC staff and volunteers. The activity and location will be confirmed closer to the date. Please contact Jen to be added to the list, land@ hamiltonnature.org. The Wood Duck - September, 2019 Page 13
R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M T H E P A S T
Wood Duck Articles from the Mid-1950s
Beverly Swamp Hike - Wood Duck Vol: 8 No. 1 page 11 (1954) were also found, and Solitary Sandpipers, and Stilt Sandpipers -
- Laurel North. and one Wilson’s Snipe caused a flurry of excitement.
For the third year in a row, Professor F. Montgomery of the Florida Gallinule walked boldly on the mud like chickens, and
Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph came to lead it. Beverly Sora Rails were there too but they were more cautious and
Swamp is an area that Professor Montgomery knows well and constantly darted back into the bulrushes. We saw one Virginia
one that he enjoys. This year 53 people in 22 cars followed him Rail, also very shy. Two Great Blue Herons were fishing off
from place to place. Spencer Creek and at the Hydro location we noticed a flock of
The big pink-and-white and Yellow Lady’s Slippers seemed more about eight, and two Black-crowned Night Herons. Ducks were
beautiful than ever. Each part of the area seemed to have certain also there. Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Black Duck,
plants growing. One open grassy swamp had hummocks on Mallard, Pintail, and four Shovellers.
which there were certain associations of plants. There were one Supper time came all too soon as we sat in the late afternoon sun
or two small cedar trees with Pyrola, the sweet bog orchid, and and it was with reluctance that we made our way home.
the vivid Grass Pink at the foot of the trees. Growing all over
the hummock we found Small Bog Cranberry and the pink, The Tufted Titmouse - Wood Duck Vol: 8 No. 5 page 10 (1955)
bell-shaped flowers of the Twinflower. The Bog Cranberry has - Bill Sargeant
tiny pink flowers from which develop fat cranberries which The Tufted Titmouse is an unusual bird in these parts. He will go
seem enormous for such a small plant to produce. To see the as far north as New York, but rarely any further. A few weeks ago
beauty of these small flowers, it’s worthwhile to bend over with a though, a male bird invaded and stayed around the district east
magnifying glass in your hand. of Kenilworth Avenue.
Loesel’s Twayblade was a find for some people who were visiting Bob Stamp, Bob Henry, my father and I left home shortly after
the swamp for the first time. It has two leaves and a spike of eight a.m. We picked up George North after which we went down
greenish white flowers which are an interesting shape. to the home of Mr. Frank Schneider at 142 Cope Street where the
I can’t remember all the plants we saw, but we really had a good bird had been seen. We went down his basement where we had
day. a good view of his feeding station. We stayed quiet for nearly
half and hour and suddenly the Tufted Titmouse arrived. We
Spencer Creek Hike - Wood Duck Vol 8: No. 2 page 8 (1954) watched it for awhile; then it flew away but returned again. It
- Dorothy Falladown did this several times. Mrs. Schneider put out some food and we
The weather was cool, cloudy and windy as we gathered at the were able to observe its feeding habits. It took the seed and then
Spencer Creek bridge on Highway 102 at 2 p.m., September 11, flew to the fence, cracked the seed and ate it.
“to see shore-birds and warblers”. The bird is about 6 inches long, mostly grey, with a tuft on his
The wind kept the warblers under cover and though a Redstart head, a black forehead and the lower part of his breast is brick-
was recorded, and two or three other species were seen vaguely red. I wish somehow we could induce more of these beautiful
through the leaves, warblers were not in evidence that day. birds to come across the border to live in Canada.
What we did see, to our joy, were hawks in migration - soaring,
Ross Thompson Trophy - Wood Duck Vol: 9 No. 4 page 11
soaring, often in flocks of a hundred or more. Admittedly the
(1955)
larger flocks were at a height that made them almost invisible to
The annual presentation of the Ross Thompson Trophy was
the naked eye. In fact, scarcely larger than mosquitoes, though no
made at the November 7 meeting of the Hamilton Nature Club.
mosquito could float and drift with such grace and majesty, but
The winner was Peter Hamel who compiled an amazing total of
enough of them came down to reasonable heights to be identified
217 species of birds (excluding Rock Doves) for a single year’s
even by us who were not so familiar with them. Most of us were
observing in southern Ontario. Bob Henry was close with 214
able to identify Sparrow Hawk, Pigeon Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,
as was Bob Stamp at 193, Glen Meyers with 197, George Meyers
Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks
with 193, and a number of other members saw between 100 - 200
and no doubt members with sharper eyes found other species
species.
too. All day we were aware of them drifting past over our heads.
We reached the mudflats, our destination. Next year the trophy will be awarded for observations from
January 1 to December 31, 1956 inclusive. However, a prize will
Shore-birds, it seems, are not easily frightened and paid little
be offered for the best list during the interval September 15 to
attention to us there. The little Lesser Yellow-legs walked without
December 31, 1955.
fear within a few yards of us. Most numerous were the Lesser
Yellow-legs, the Pectoral Sandpiper and Killdeer. Least Sandpipers
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