Hello Apologies for the late post. Yesterday I arrived at the Moodie ponds shortly before 6 PM. Larry Neily and Phil (terribly sorry--forgotten the last name!) were already there and had located as many as 4(!) possible kittiwakes sitting on the water. Because of the number (4 as opposed to the reported 2) and the great distance, they could not be sure that they were not just Bonaparte's Gulls. One such bird was in Phil's scope and I was pretty certain it was a kittiwake, but I'm no expert on this species and it was indeed very distant. I did not see the other birds. All of this was rendered somewhat academic, however, when a very definite juvenile kittiwake started making flying passes, often quite close to us, for excellent views with the binoculars. It would sometimes settle briefly on the water and then fly up again. As far as we could tell, only one bird was behaving this way. I left at 6:15 or so when it started to rain. For me the mystery of just how many kittiwakes there were remained unresolved.
Paul Matthews, Ottawa. Directions to the Moodie Dr. pond, courtesy of Neily World Birding Ottawa: Independent Directions to this Site: From Highway 416 take exit 66 (Fallowfield Road). If southbound, a 0.4 km off ramp dumps onto Fallowfield, where you will turn right or west. If northbound, the 0.4 km off ramp brings you to Fallowfield, where you will turn left or west onto it and in 0.5 km join the southbound off ramp traffic. Both groups will now follow Fallowfield Road west for an additional 0.4 km to reach Moodie Drive. Turn left or southeast onto Moodie Drive and go 5.3 km, passing Cambrian Road to reach the quarries (second gate on the left). Park along the side of the road without blocking the access. Please do not enter the property! _______________________________________________ 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
