Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 10 May 2011 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario,W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis [email protected], or [email protected]
Although local migration activity was a bit on the slow side last week, new species are still arriving and there is lots to enjoy out there every day! A large flock of SNOW GEESE was surprisingly still present along Frank Kenny Rd. north of Russell Rd. as of at least the 7th - they have been here for over 2 weeks. A single SNOW GOOSE was with the many CANADA's on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River in the marshes between Gatineau and Thurso on the 8th. Duck numbers were generally low in this area, however a male EURASIAN WIGEON was a nice find in Lochaber Bay west of Thurso on the 8th and was easily viewed from the constructed lookout along Hwy 148. The Alfred, Casselman and Embrun sewage lagoons were quite productive for ducks on the 8th, with 13 species observed including a few late-ish COMMON GOLDENEYE. At Shirley's Bay and Britannia Bay, the most common species has been LESSER SCAUP, with a few BUFFLEHEAD still around. Single WILD TURKEYS were spotted here & there - one in the Britannia woods last week was an unusual but not unprecedented occurrence. A couple of COMMON LOONS were on Shirley's Bay on the 6th, AMERICAN BITTERNS were observed in the marshes near Thurso on the 8th, 5 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were at Mud Lake in the Britannia Conservation Area on the 8th. There have been no recent reports of the GREAT EGRETS that were seen at various locations on the Ottawa River last month, but they are likely still present. Three BALD EAGLES were seen near Thurso on the 8th and an adult and immature were (again) at Shirley's Bay on the 6th. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, and AMERICAN KESTRELS and MERLINS on territory were noted in several locations, however there has been little information so far regarding breeding activity of Ottawa's downtown pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS. The Alfred lagoons are, as usual, a good place to observe COMMON MOORHENS and AMERICAN COOTS. A single SANDHILL CRANE was seen along Anderson Rd. south of Innes Rd. on the 4th. In shorebird reports: numbers of LESSER YELLOWLEGS have increased, along with GREATER YELLOWLEGS and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. SOLITARY SANDIPER was first reported on the 7th, and pairs of UPLAND SANDPIPERS were noted in the Constance Bay area as well as along Wall Rd. near 10th Line Rd. on the 6th. Six LEAST SANDPIPERS were new at the Embrun lagoons on the 8th. Four COMMON TERNS were at the Moodie Dr. quarry pond on the 4th and a singleton was at Britannia on the 9th. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS continue to arrive, the first local report of LEAST FLYCATCHER was on April 30th and several have been noted since then. GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS are now common on territory, CLIFF SWALLOWS are back at their traditional colony under the Champlain bridge over the Ottawa River near Bate Island. VEERY and WOOD THRUSH were new arrivals since the 6th, and the local warbler count is now up to 14 species. Again, YELLOW-RUMPED's were the most abundant and newcomers since the last update were NASHVILLE, BLACKBURNIAN, AMERICAN REDSTART and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. SPARROW diversity has also increased, with CLAY-COLOURED, GRASSHOPPER, LINCOLN'S and WHITE- CROWNED all reported since the 6th. More sightings of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS have come in, BOBOLINKS were first reported on the 6th, and there are still good numbers of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS moving through - sightings came in from all around the Ottawa-Gatineau area, and farther afield near Inkerman a flock of approx. 200 was seen on the 7th. PURPLE FINCHES, a few COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS were still at some local feeders last week, and the village of Pakenham continues to be the EVENING GROSBEAK capital of the region - over 80 were counted here in recent weeks and many were still present on the 8th. Thank you - Good Birding! _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
