Horned Grebes [Bronte] Ruddy Ducks & Trumpeter[Hamilton]

[peter monahan]

I was at Bronte Harbour about 8:00 am this morning.  Hundreds of cormorants and a few Long-tailed Ducks, plus one White-winged Scoter outside the harbour.  In the marina area were a pair of Horned Grebes!     The female had something in her bill - nesting materials?  I got a good long look at the male but then the two swam behind some boats, right at the back [lake side] and I couldn't get onto the docks when I returned with my scope.

From Bronte I went west along the lake shore.  Hundreds of Long-tailed Ducks [aka 'Oldsquaw'].  Onto North Shore Blvd East and stopped at a parkette called "Bayshore Park".  A few metres offshore were two pair of Ruddy Duck in a small flock of Greater Scaup.   :lol:

Finally I followed North Shore to Plains Rd West and then followed Spring Garden Rd through Woodlands Cemetery.  Spring Garden dead-ends at two large ponds and there were a pair of the Wye Marsh reared Trumpeter Swans, distinguishable by the large yellow wing tags on their right wings.  They were completely unconcerned by pedesterians within 10 metres and posed obligingly for pic s!

[Margaret]

Lucky you seeing a pair of horned grebes. I was there on Saturday and saw only the red-necked. One pair was calling to each other on the small pond so I think we will be in to a nesting situation on the old tire again.
Were the 22 terns lined up on the ungrassed area behind the restaurant? They looked so comical all facing one way!
(In the past this area has been grassed and full of pooping canada geese - it will be interesting to see what is done with it.)
Saw my first white throated sparrow in the garden this week among the juncos
Margaret, Brampton
P.S. Can't resist commenting that I'm back from a week in Florida where I saw a pr. of bald eagles with young,
nr. Sarasota and a GBH with babies (Venice rookery.)

[peter monahan]

Lucky you seeing a pair of horned grebes. I was there on Saturday and saw only the red-necked. One pair was calling to each other on the small pond so I think we will be in to a nesting situation on the old tire again.  Were the 22 terns lined up on the ungrassed area behind the restaurant?
Margaret, Brampton
quote]

I forgot to mention the terns!  I saw about 12-15, all sitting on the breakwater.

If, as you suggest, there are usually a pair of Red-necked Grebes nesting at Bronte, that may be what I saw.  I got a good long look at the male, I thought, but they were a long way back for even good binos and, as i said, gone before I could get out the scope.  Either way, a nice sighting for a guy who lives in land-locked Alliston, Ontario and doesn't get down to the Lake very often any more.

I was actually on my way to Hamilton and had hoped to see the pergrine nest there but it is on the roof, not a window ledge [Sheraton Hotel].  The friendly desk clerk suggested I could go into the mall and see it on t.v..  I forbear to say that I could do that from my armchair!  Nevertheless, the grebes and ruddies made it a good trip.  

Good birding!