- RBA
* Ontario
* Ottawa/Gatineau
* 20 October 2003
* ONOT0310.20
- Birds mentioned
Brant
Canada Goose
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Golden Plover
Great Horned Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Raven
Water Pipit
Northern Shrike
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
- Transcript
hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
date: 20 October 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]
OFNC BIRD STATUS LINE MONDAY OCTOBER 20 AT 7 PM
This is Chris Lewis reporting.
The 9th annual Ottawa-Gatineau fall bird count took place on the
weekend. A preliminary total of 138 species was found by 60
participants in four sectors within a 50 km radius of the Peace
Tower. Several record high numbers included Canada Geese, Ruddy
Ducks, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, Common Ravens, American
Pipits and five species of sparrows, particularly Vesper,
Savannah, Swamp, Song and White-crowned Sparrows.
A highlight on the 18th was an unprecedented flight of American
Golden Plovers totalling 376 birds, 320 of which were at the St
Albert sewage lagoons and additional 40 in the Cobb's Lake Creek
area. A flight of raptors was noted on the 19th light northeast
winds and partly sunny skies were ideal for spotting south-bound
Turkey Vultures and at least 150 Red-tailed Hawks, 5 Broad-winged
and 2 Red-shouldered Hawks, 3 Golden Eagles and a Bald Eagle were
also reported from the count area.
Other than Canada Geese and Ruddy Ducks, waterfowl numbers were
low overall. A flock of approximately 200 Brant seen on the
morning of the 18th, seen flying over Shirley's Bay, was probably
the same group found on the river at Andrew Hayden Park the
following day. Numbers of sea ducks on the Ottawa River continue
to increase 15 Surf, 17 White-winged and 2 Black Scoters were
found in the southwest sectors.
A few late warblers were still hanging on in various sectors.
Several were new for the fall count including Nashville, Black-
and-white and Pine. An Orange-crowned and a Wilson's Warbler were
also found as well as a moderate total of 95 Yellow-rumped
Warblers. Large numbers of American Pipits were mostly in the
agricultural areas southeast of Ottawa. 20 Lapland Longspurs were
at St Albert on the 18th. The first Northern Shrikes of the
season were counted with 2 each in the southeast and southwest
sectors.
Many thanks to all of the participants who birded on both the
Ontario and Québec sides and of course to all who organized and
assisted with compilation and the dinner this year. Final results
will be posted on the Ottawa Field Naturalists' website.
Aside from the fall bird count, 2 Great Horned Owls were in the
pines in the southwest corner of the Britannia Conservation Area
on the weekend. A Short-eared Owl was flying at dusk in the
fields along Earl Armstrong Rd on the 18th and a record total of
84 Northern Saw-whet Owls have been banded at the Innes Point Bird
Observatory since September 27. The owl-banding project continues
until the end of October.
Thank-you. Good birding.
- End transcript
Gordon Pringle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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