Apologies for the lateness of this post--I simply did not have time to post yesterday. I hope the information will still be relevant, despite today's very bad weather in Ottawa.
Yesterday in early afternoon the Harlequin Duck was still present on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River just to the east of the Champlain Bridge. The bird is apparently a female, and not a first-winter male as I reported yesterday. Also among the Common Goldeneye feeding at this location, Tom Hanrahan and I found a female Long-tailed Duck, a male hybrid Barrow's x Common Goldeneye and a female Barrow's (we're assuming it's not a hybrid!). The last-mentioned can be told from Common by head shape and the smaller all-yellow bill. Unlike most female Barrow's in our area, the yellow on the bill of this bird is not very bright, so look carefully! Earlier in the morning at #4544 Torbolton Ridge Rd we had a Hoary Redpoll among the many Commons. This bird is presumably a female, and not as "frosty" as some, but we carefully observed the overall paler colouration, reduced streaking, white rump, almost completely white vent, paler head, and comparatively tiny bill. As is typical of redpolls, the birds were very flighty, constantly flushing and moving, and patience was required to get good looks at the Hoary. Also at the feeders at this address were 4 (2 male and 2 female) Evening Grosbeaks. The feeders here can be readily viewed from the road, though a scope is helpful for getting good views. At #4670 a bit further up the road, the owner was using a snowblower and few birds were present. In mid-afternoon we found a good flock (close to 100 birds) of Bohemian Waxwings near the intersection of Patricia and Pontiac, close to the south end of Champlain Bridge. The day before (Friday), some 200 gulls, including Glaucous and Iceland, had come in to roost on the ice at Remic Rapids, but yesterday they were nowhere to be found, either at Remic or Kitchissippi. Paul Matthews, Ottawa Directions: Harlequin Duck: Champlain Bridge is the north "extension" of Island Park Drive, which can be accessed from the 417 coming from the east (downtown); from the west, exit at Carling, then turn north (left) on Merivale and north again (left) on Island Park. At the north (Quebec) end of the Champlain Bridge, turn right on Lucerne and park about 100 metres down (there's space at the side of the road to do so). Take the well-trodden (at least before today's snow!) path south to the edge of the river, exiting left from the main path (a bike path in summer) in order to take a secondary path (which may get wiped out by today's snow!) near a small house-like structure. Hoary Redpoll: Torbolton Ridge parallels the Dunrobin Rd, which is a couple of roads over to the east. Take the 417 west and exit at March Rd in Kanata. Go for 8 km or so, then turn right onto the Dunrobin Rd. Several kms further down turn left onto the Kinburn Side Rd to get to Torbolton. Once at Torbolton turn right to get to #4544 several kms up the road. Bohemain Waxwings: Go north on Island Park, then turn right (east) on Clearview just before the Ottawa River Parkway. Turn left (north) on Patricia and go to the end for the intersection with Pontiac. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
