Another one for Waterloo -- YTWA

Just when I figured I had seen all the good birds in Waterloo Region for the year, the Yellow-throated Warbler found by Darlene Lamarre on the 11th, was refound by Darlene yesterday am (Nov. 27th).

At a site visit in Burlington, I headed back to work, where I was going to pick Nathan up and we'd try for it, since both of us didn't have too much going on at work. Walking down the trail, both Nathan and I commented that we didn't expect to see it, since there wasn't too much details provided, however, this was not to be, because after only a few minutes (<5) I picked it out with some Juncos and Kinglets!

We were to able to get some good views of it over the next 20 or so minutes as it fed not too far away. I was even able to get some record shots with my phone through my binoculars.

I was pretty happy with my shots; I've been finding it alot of fun trying to get 'digi' shots with my phone through my bins and scope.

Anyways, as I'm sure many of you know, Yellow-throated Warbler is exceptionally rare in Waterloo Region, with only 1 previous record: April 30, 2010 (Kitchener). And needless to say, was another new county tick for myself.

Given the date that it was found, it'll be interesting to see how long it sticks around. Another interesting note, is that the location is 500m from the Linwood CBC circle...!! Oh well.

A new bird for Waterloo Region

Birding in Waterloo Region has its ups and downs. Generally speaking there aren't too many reasons for birders to visit the region, with the exception of the exciting discovery by Anthony Vanderheyden of a female Mountain Bluebird at Snyder's Flats on Saturday (Nov. 18th).

While not the expert photographer that others may be, I've been having a lot of fun with my (relatively) new phone and my phoneskope adapter.

Mountain Bluebird was somewhat overdue(ish) for Waterloo Region, bringing the cumulative species list to 304 - not too bad, considering the region is land-locked, with some Hamilton birders affectionately referring to Waterloo Region as the 'Dead Zone'! In all seriousness though I don't blame them for this label, however, it's definitely satisfying having out of town birders visit.

This past year has also seen some other good birds found nearby, with a juv. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron stationed in the town of St. Jacobs, representing another first for the region (along with a Laughing Gull in Cambridge).

All in all, it's been a great year in Waterloo Region.

Almost there...

I'm almost there...Ontario's third, and my first Anna's Hummingbird in Ontario I'm sitting one shy of the elusive 400 species mark. This has had me speculating what will be my next Ontario lifer.

Record shot of the Anna's Hummingbird

2017 has been another great year for myself in terms of rarities and new Ontario birds. In March a Brambling showed up to feeders in Brockville that I was fortunate to see.

Following a rather uneventful spring, a female Violet-green Swallow showed up in Thunder Bay. While I don't really get up to Thunder Bay too often, my colleague and good friend, Nathan Miller and I were well positioned to twitch it while we were up in Sault Ste. Marie for work with a partial day off.

Following this great rarity, one of my early years nemesis showed up in mid-August at Point Pelee - a Wood Stork. Lillian and I didn't have any plans that weekend and spent the afternoon chasing it, before camping at Wheatley Provincial Park.

  

Back on Thanksgiving, Lill and I were up at her family's cottage near Tobermory when we amazingly stumbled upon this Rock Wren - the first in southern Ontario since 1991 and only 5th record for the province!

Needless to say I was pretty ecstatic to find this!

With the Anna's Hummingbird my 399th species that I've seen in Ontario, my top 10 targets are as follows:

1. Fork-tailed Flycatcher
2. Little Blue Heron(!)
3. Thick-billed Murre
4. Bell's Vireo
5. Wilson's Plover (I've missed 2!)
6. Northern Wheatear
7. Ivory Gull
8. Cinnamon Teal
9. Ash-throated Flycatcher
10. Variegated Flycatcher (....)

My bet is on something like a Black-headed Grosbeak, but who knows.