Well, what can we say except it is difficult to determine who are migrants and who are among the many hundreds that wintered over, particularly in Prince Edward County where some estimates along the Long Point Peninsula toward Prince Edward Point ranged from 500 to 1,000 individuals.

Above the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, an estimated 5000 SCAUP at LaSalle Park and 12,000 SCAUP at the mouth of the Buffalo River. At Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, numerous LONG-TAILED DUCKS and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS close to shore.

On Sunday the Park was overrun with WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, one estimate placing the numbers in the low thousands. There have also been many WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCOES. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR on Gull Island and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD in the marsh were of interest. PINE SISKINS have appeared in good numbers.

For this late date, an estimated 40 AMERICAN COOTS today was an unusually large number. Likewise, the eight PURPLE SANDPIPERS on December 18 and 21, down to seven on December 22, were more than usual. Seven BONAPARTE'S GULLS were still present today, as was an ICELAND GULL first discovered a week earlier and seen twice since.

BROWN CREEPERS have been arriving all week with an estimated total of 120 around on the 14th, the first HOUSE WREN of the spring was singing away merrily on the 19th and WINTER WRENS numbered 10 on the 14th.GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS made a big push this week with at least 800 being seen on the 14th with 290 of them being banded, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS increased

(Hirundinidae sp.) 75 estimated > Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 3 > House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1 > American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 11 > Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 4 > Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 3 > American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1 > Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 1 > Song Sparrow (Melospiza

One estimate was 40-50 birds by one observer. Three AMERICAN PIPITS were on Gull Island on Tuesday. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was present on Sunday. SNOW BUNTINGS first appeared on Sunday, and by Tuesday 29 were counted. The only warblers seen this week were an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on October 27.

February 12 in the Lake Ontario Plains, a record flock of SNOW BUNTINGS, estimated at 5000, on Hulbert Road in the Niagara County Town of Wilson. Among the buntings, 100 HORNED LARKS and 12 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. In Genesee County, 250 SNOW BUNTINGS with several HORNED LARKS and a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR on McLernon Road in Bethany.

Estimates of the HORNED GREBE numbers in Popham Bay have varied widely, with 150 and 300 being the high numbers. An adult BALD EAGLE was seen on September 30, and a PEREGRINE FALCON on September 26. A COMMON GALLINULE was seen on October 1. There were sightings of AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS (including one in the marsh).

It is difficult to spot, and views are often fleeting, among the immense numbers of SNOW GEESE, estimated to be at least 100,000 on the 31st. Incidentally, this is one of Eastern Ontario’s great wildlife spectacles. Birders should beware, when trying to see this bird, of the traffic on the very busy Highway 138.