Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 02 November 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]
Again, most of the local excitement was concentrated on the Ottawa River. The RAZORBILL first discovered on Oct. 22nd was still present and doing well below the Deschenes rapids on Nov. 1st. The WESTERN GREBE found in the same area on the 23rd was last reported on the 29th. Other exciting finds were a brief appearance by an adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE on the river off the north end of Thomas Dolan Parkway on the 25th, and a juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER was found northwest of Bate Island on the 27th - a JAEGER SPECIES was also seen flying the same general area on the 29th but not since then. SNOW GEESE are beginning to move through in increasing numbers - approx. 200 -300 were seen in and near the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. on the 29th and at least 17 were present in the pond on the 1st. Approx. 500 flew over the St. Albert sewage lagoons, also on the 29th. A few BRANT are still around - singletons and duos were seen on the river, as well as on the lawn in front of the R.A. Centre on Riverside Drive near Billings Bridge. A CACKLING GOOSE was reported from Britannia Bay on the 30th, and surely more are tucked-in among the multiple 1000's of CANADA GEESE all over the region. Duck numbers continue to be good - highlights included 2 female CANVASBACKS on the river off Andrew Haydon Park on the 30th, good-sized flocks of LESSER SCAUP, all 3 species of SCOTERS, and several LONG-TAILED DUCKS and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Numbers of COMMON GOLDENEYE are increasing every day. At least 2 RED-THROATED LOONS and a few COMMON LOONS were on the river on the weekend. Many HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBES were noted as well, and were given "special attention" because of the elusive WESTERN GREBE! A visit to the Lac Lablanche area north of Mayo, Quebec on the 29th was productive for eagles - 9 BALD and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES were observed in this area. The only recent SHOREBIRD reports were of single birds: an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at the mouth of Graham Creek at Andrew Haydon Park on the 25th, a WILSON'S SNIPE at the east end of Andrew Haydon on the 28th, and a RED PHALAROPE still at the Casselman sewage lagoons on the 25th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER appeared briefly at a feeder in Carleton Place on the 28th. On the 1st a NORTHERN SHRIKE was hunting in the Shirley's Bay area. A CAROLINA WREN is still active in what may become its winter territory in the Britannia Conservation Area. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD found last week on a farm along Ch. Proulx north of the Gatineau airport was seen again on the 30th. Lots of DARK-EYED JUNCOS are around in their "prime time", approx. 50 SNOW BUNTINGS flew over Andrew Haydon Park on the 30th, and on the 29th an unspecified number of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were noted in the Lac Lablanche area along with the first seasonal report of a COMMON REDPOLL. 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/
