Hi Yesterday, December 1st, I spent a few hours birding along the Ottawa River between Lemieux Island and Shirleys Bay.
Among other birds, I observed: - 2 Barrow's Goldeneyes, male, 1 along the Québec shore, seen from Lemieux Island, and 1 at Bate Island; - 1 Great Blue Heron at Mud Lake, which is almost all frozen; no ducks there; - Buffleheads at Bate Island, Britannia peer, Andrew Haydon Park, and Shirleys Bay; - 1 adult Bald Eagle, seen flying West over the river from Andrew Haydon Park; - 2 Black Scoters and 1 White-winged Scoter at Andrew Haydon Park (maybe a Surf Scoter as well); - 2 Lesser Scaups at Andrew Haydon Park; - 2 Common Loons off Grandview Rd (another loon flew far away while I was watching the Common Loons, paler and slimmer, maybe a Red-throated Loon); - 1 Red-breasted Merganser at Shirleys Bay (not much at Shirleys Bay - I walked on the dike, with permission; everything is pretty well frozen West of the dike); - no white goose among the 1000+ geese that flew to the river in late afternoon at Andrew Haydon Park; I did not check the gulls. Anyone wanting direction to any of the location mentioned in this message, please email me privately and I will be glad to oblige. Good birding and good winter listing to anyone doing it. Langis Sirois, Ottawa
