- RBA
* Ontario
* Ottawa/Gatineau
* 22 September 2003
* ONOT0309.22
- Birds mentioned
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Merlin
Semipalmated Plover
AMERICAN AVOCET
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
FORSTER'S TERN
Winter Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush
Blue-headed Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
- Transcript
hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
date: 22 September 2003
number: 613-860-9000 press 2
to report: 613-860-9000 press #
coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Can. Nat. Capital Reg.), E.Ont., W.Que.
compilers : Chris Lewis
: Terry Higgins
: Colin Bowen [EMAIL PROTECTED]
transcriber: Michelle Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED]
internet : Gordon Pringle [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ONFC BIRD STATUS LINE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22 AT 9 AM
This is Chris Lewis reporting.
Although hurricane Isabel brought no exiting aftermath birds to
Ottawa, couple of rarities arrived before she did. A FORSTER'S
TERN in nearly full winter plumage discovered at Shirley's Bay on
September 18 was still present until the morning on the 20th,
flying and perching on rocks between the end of the dyke and Innis
Point.
An AMERICAN AVOCET discovered at Chesterville sewage lagoons on
the 14th was last reported on the 20th. It has been seen in both
the northern and southern cells.
Any subsequent observations of these birds would be appreciated by
the status line. Please remember that you must call Range Control
to access the dyke at Shirley's Bay. Call 991-5740. The
Chesterville lagoons may be entered from Water Street on the south
side or with permission from the Nestle Plant office on the north
side. The plant office is closed on weekends.
Aside from rarities, shorebirds of note included a HUDSONIAN
GODWIT west of Shirley's Bay dyke, seen on and off until the 18th
along with 11 additional species including up to 14 Pectoral and 4
Stilt Sandpipers on the 19th and the season's first White-rumped
Sandpiper on the 21st. A juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher, also the
first of the season, was at the Chesterville lagoons the same day.
Good numbers of Lesser Yellowlegs, a few Greater Yellowlegs,
Semipalmated Plovers, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers were also
still present in a wide variety of locations.
A somewhat bizarre occurrence, noted over several days, were large
flocks of Turkey Vultures along the shore and in the trees along
Shirley's Bay dyke. 40 or more were here on the 16th and 17th. On
the 19th, 26 were counted along the dyke, again along the shore,
as 11 along the sandbar at Andrew Hayden Park. About a dozen were
still at Shirley's Bay on the 21st.
Other raptor sightings included a juvenile Bald Eagle and a Red-
shouldered Hawk at Shirley's Bay on the 16th and at least two or
more Merlins hunting the shorebirds here on the 21st.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls continue to be seen in the area. Four
were at the Irish Hills Golf Course in Carp on the 21st and
several were reported from the Ottawa River at Shirley's Bay
during the week.
It is getting late for Common Terns; however, 2 adults and 4
juvenile birds were still at Shirley's Bay on the 21st.
The most interesting event in songbird migration was a large
flight of thrushes during the nighttime hours on September 18. Up
to 50 Swainson's Thrushes were heard between 1 and 4 am and
several more flew over later than evening between 9 pm and
midnight.
Nine species of warbler were found at Shirley's Bay. A small
flock in the parking lot included an Orange-crowned Warbler.
Surprisingly few Yellow-rumped Warblers have been noted. A Blue-
headed Vireo and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were with this group on the
21st and a Palm Warbler and Winter Wren were on the dyke.
Otherwise still a strangely quiet season for songbird sightings.
Thank-you. Good birding.
- End transcript
Gordon Pringle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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