Hi Ontirders: Birding today with Jeff Harrison east of Ottawa, we discovered at about 11:30 am a Ross's Goose in a flock of about 300 Canada Geese and five Snow Geese just north of the town of Alfred. The birds were to the west of County Road #15, precisely three kilometres north of Highway 17 where the county road bends sharply to the right. The Ross's Goose was immediately beside two Snow Geese about 100 metres from the road and was about two-thirds the size of the Snow Geese with a tiny dark reddish bill. It was slightly more grayish than the Snow Geese. Also on the same road just south of where the geese were gathered was a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk in the top of a single tree in a field and a flock of Snow Buntings was heard flying overhead. Good birding Peter Hall Directions: From Ottawa, head east on Highway 17 until you reach the town of Alfred. As you are emerging from Alfred still going east turn left (north) on to County Road #15 (if you turn right you would be on Peat Moss Road). Follow County Road #15 for precisely 3 km at which point the road takes a sharp turn to the right. The flock of geese was to the north of the road at the bend. _______________________________________________ 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
