For some reason this report did not get sent earlier. My apology for the late post. Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 9 August 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] The early fall migration continues to provide interesting sightings of bird species some of which are in confusing fall plumage. Two DOWITCHERS seen on the Shirleys Bay mud flats from July 30th through August 5th have caused some debate. These birds were reported last week as SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS however pictures provided this week by two birders are being discussed and identification is now under review. It seems likely that one and probably both are LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. A female SUMMER TANAGER was reported on August 6th and 7th by 3 fortunate birders west of the west end of Rue Lamoureux in Gatineau. Two female SCARLET TANAGERS, a CAROLINA WREN, AMERICAN REDSTART, YELLOW-RUMPED, NASHVILLE, BLACK-AND-WHITE, BLACKBURNIAN. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, one TENNESSEE WARBLER, RED-EYED VIREO, and families of CEDAR WAXWINGS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were also seen in the same area. An adult (molting out of breeding plumage) RED-NECKED GREBE which is extremely unusual for this time of year was seen at the Casselman lagoons on August 8th and 9th. A worn molting female BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was found August 7th at Ottawa Beach (east of Andrew Haydon Park). Smaller numbers of shorebirds continued to be seen this week. Highlights were; - St. Albert lagoons; 10+ WHITE-RUMPED, 10+ PECTORAL, 1 SOLITARY and 1 STILT SANDPIPERS, 10+ GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 SANDERLING, 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 1 WILSON'S SNIPE - Shirleys Bay mud flats; 1 juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, 30+ LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 4+ GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 30+ LEAST and 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, 7 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS - Russell lagoons; 3 juvenile female PECTORAL SANDPIPERS Many raptors were reported this week; SHARP-SHINNED and PEREGRINE at Shirleys Bay, juvenile PEREGRINE and adult SHARP-SHINNED at the St. Albert lagoon, MERLIN at the Embrun lagoons, Giroux quarry on August 9th there were one each juvenile GOSHAWK, RED-SHOULDERED and SHARP-SHINNED Other interesting sightings were; - NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD continues in Carleton Place - 2nd year LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL continues at the Deschenes Rapids - up to 8 CASPIAN TERN were seen at many locations on the Ottawa river - at the St. Albert lagoons on August 8th were 1 SORA, 12 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1 female REDHEAD and 2 GRAY PARTRIDGE Thanks to everyone who contributed bird observations - 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/
