Back at Princess Point

Princess Point

Hamilton, ON

15 September 2013

    Princess Point was a great spot to be birding with lots of activity on the water, as well as small flocks of warblers and vireos moving through. It was frustrating trying to i.d. some of these passerines flitting around in trees still fully leafed out, but a Black-and-White Warbler Mniotilta varia and an American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla put on a great show. A Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus was a first sighting of the year and for the briefest moment perched in the open. There seemed to be a migratory movement of Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura and a lone Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus (3rd year?) was a great addition to the day's birding.

    Opportunities for photographs were not great, but it's interesting to see the range of species in the image below: Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus, in various stages of development, Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis, Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias; and in the second picture a Great Blue Heron and a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax side by side.