Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 6 January 2012 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club (OFNC) 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: Bob Cermak [email protected] or [email protected] Happy New Year and best wishes for an enjoyable 2012 birding year. I will be looking after and reporting for the OFNC Bird Status Line from now on. Many thanks to Chris Lewis for looking after this service for the last 11 years. Chris's years of dedicated and superior service to the Ottawa/Gatineau birding community via this status line has been really appreciated by the local and provincial birding community. Her good humour, excellent ornithological commentary and dedication to getting the "birding news" out has been really appreciated. Thanks also to Bob Bracken for his expert advice and unwavering support to her and to the entire naturalists community. The first week of 2012 has seen an interesting mix of lingering birds and some that are more expected for the season. Some of the most interesting lingering birds have been; - a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD continues on Grandview Road - a CAROLINA WREN continues in the Britannia Conservation Area (Mud Lake). It has been seen/heard since early September, most often along the fence line about 100 meters south of the Rowatt Street entrance - a BROWN THRASHER was seen at a feeder in the same area on January 1st and 2nd - an EASTERN BLUEBIRD was seen on January 2nd on Rue du Golf in Gatineau - a YELOW-RUMPED WARBLER seen at a feeder on Trim Road in Navan on January 1st and 4th has probably been present all winter - flocks of AMERICAN ROBINS are being found in many areas - RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS continue at the feeders on Hilda road - single WHITE-CROWNED and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were seen in Orleans and Barhaven - single RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS have been seen in Pakenham and on Gouralay Lane near the Old Carp Road - a single BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was reported in the cemetery woods in Pakenham on January 3rd - an AMERICAN COOT continues (since December 18th) on the Rideau river at the Bank street Billings Bridge - a NORTHERN FLICKER continues in the Britannia Conservation area Some of the more interesting seasonal birds have been; - BALD EAGLES at many locations - RED-CROSSBILLS on the Eardley-Masham road and in Larose Forest - a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at the north end of Kennedy road near Eardley on December 31st - GLAUCOUS and ICELAND GULLS were reported near the Ottawa river Deschenes rapids - BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continue on the Rideau river (behind the tennis club and near the 417 bridge) and on the Ottawa river between the Champlain bridge and the Remic rapids - a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK has been seen again this year near Rue du Golf (January 2nd) - EVENING GROSBEAKS (7 on January 5th) are being seen again this year at the feeders near the east end of the Clarence-Cambridge road - 4 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen at the Maple Grove Road City of Ottawa public works garage - the flock of 40 HORNED LARKS being seen on Giroux road included a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR on January 5th Appreciate receiving your bird observations, 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/
