Snow Buntings!!!!!

There are currently hundreds and hundreds of Snow Buntings in the fields across from our house. Very exciting!! This is our first 100% confirmed sighting of this bird (we've had quick sightings from a distance in the past). I'll post pics and video with the bird count tally later this week.


Here are some pics, but the buntings are not easy to see. I'm trying to upload some video too.

Project FeederWatch Count for Dec 11/12

A quiet weekend overall. It was rainy out most of the weekend. Most of the usual sightings, just in some higher numbers than we've seen over the last few weeks.

Checklist for FeederWatch Ontario Birds
Canada Goose 10
Cooper's Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 12
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 23
American Tree Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 18
House Sparrow 15

Long-eared Owl in Oakville!!

Dave just sent this my way and I wanted to share it with any local birders:


Subject: Long-eared Owl in Oakville
From: Bill
Date: Tue, Dec 7, 2010, 2:55 PM

My neighbor has had one sitting in his spruce tree most of the day. I was
able to get some good pics within 25ft.
Area of Burton Rd and Rebecca street south west Oakville

Here's a link to the whatbird.com profile for this beautiful bird.

Project FeederWatch Count for Dec 4/5

Our winter numbers are starting to rise, especially in terms of the various Finches and the Juncos. The suet feeders are particularly busy with all the woodpeckers. We were happy to see two American Tree Sparrows and surprised to see three Cowbirds (2 males, 1 female). Cardinals have been scarce. We did see one female on Monday. The Pileated Woodpecker made a rare appearance on Friday, the day before the count started for the week. The crows have been hanging out in the front yard quite a bit. We usually see them up in the trees, but they've been on the driveway and on the lawn more than usual. I'm not sure what they're snacking on, but my mom reported she saw them eating peanuts in her front yard.



Checklist for FeederWatch Ontario Birds
Canada Goose 40
Cooper's Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 8
Common Raven 4
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 13
American Tree Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
House Finch 16
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow 15

Project Feeder Watch count for Nov 27/28

Checklist for FeederWatch Ontario Birds
Canada Goose 12
Cooper's Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 16
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 3
European Starling 13
American Tree Sparrow 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Northern Cardinal 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 7
House Sparrow 20


In addition, to this list, we saw a Northern Mockingbird on Monday and just today had a Pileated Woodpecker in the backyard.