Ontario
Ottawa/Gatineau
31 March 2009
Birds mentioned:
Snow Goose
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Gray Partridge
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
PECTORAL SANDPIPER
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Shrike
Eastern Bluebird
Bohemian Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak
Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Phone number: 613-860-9000
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Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W.
Quebec
Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis [email protected]
At 9:30 am, Tuesday March 31, 2009 this is Chris Lewis reporting.
As March migration marches into April, there has been no great change on the
local scene and most of the expected species have now been reported. The
lack of flooding in agricultural areas especially in the east again created
less than ideal conditions for waterfowl viewing. Snow Geese continue to
move through; between 1000 to at least 5000 birds were reported from the
Ettyville, St-Isidore and Riceville areas on the 28th and 29th. No
significant numbers of ducks were reported last week, but among the usual
suspects were a male Canvasback on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River at
Deschenes on the 28th along with several Ring-necked Ducks and both Greater
and Lesser Scaup.
Three Gray Partridge were found along Boileau Rd. east of Bourget on the
25th, Wild Turkeys were displaying on the 28th, and Great Blue Herons have
been widely reported since the 23rd. A brief warm spell on the 28th
encouraged a movement of raptors including Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier
and American Kestrel. On the 24th 2 adult Bald Eagles were at a carcass on
the ice above the Deschenes rapids and another adult was seen at Pendleton
on the 25th.
An early Virginia Rail was also evidently excited by the mild weather on the
28th as was a very early PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Both were heard calling several
times in the Munster area that evening. A couple of Sandhill Cranes were
noted in the Milton Rd. area as well as the Mer Bleue along Anderson Rd. on
the 28th and 29th and Killdeer were again sporadically reported.
Belted Kingfishes were very vocal at a creek near Lanark last week, single
Northern Shrikes were still around at Constance Bay on the 24th and Aylmer,
Quebec on the 28th, Eastern Bluebird reports came in from various locations,
and a few flocks of Bohemian Waxwings were still hanging on here and there
last weekend. An influx of American Tree Sparrows was noted on the 23rd and
24th, several Eastern Meadowlarks were reported from Anderson Rd. on the
28th, 2 Hoary Redpolls were at a feeder in Constance Bay on the 24th along
with nearly 200 Common Redpolls. The discovery of nesting Pine Siskins last
week was no great surprise considering the continuing presence of this
species this spring, and although a few Evening Grosbeaks were again
reported from the Larose forest, this year's champion flock remained
faithful to the feeders on Shawmorr Lane in Poland (west of Lanark) as of at
least the 25th.
Thank you - Good Birding!
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