Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler and transcriber Bob Cermak [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent reports to May 8, 2014 This is Chris Lewis covering for Bob Cermak while he's chasing Summer Tanagers and Blue Grosbeaks at Point Pelee..... ...Meanwhile in Ottawa-Gatineau, migration continues to advance in fits and starts. Highlights included a very early (for Ottawa) LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, previously mentioned as a Short-billed, in a wet field along Ramsay Concession 7 north of Carleton Place; the last report was on May 3rd. A very active and vocal BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was a nice find in the woods at the Britannia Conservation Area on the 4th. Unless there are observations that I am unaware of, the male HOODED WARBLER discovered at Terry Carisse Park on April 27th was last reported on May 1st. A report of an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER in Oxford Mills approx. 60 km south of Ottawa on the 7th is subject to confirmation when the observer submits a more detailed report. On the 5th, 2 SWANS (one reported as a TRUMPETER, the other a TUNDRA) flew together over Russell east of Ottawa. The Ottawa River continues to host good numbers of diving ducks, with rafts at Shirley's Bay consisting mainly of RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, GREATER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD and COMMON MERGANSER. A few COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were also in the mix. Puddle ducks including WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen in various locations. A large movement of GREBES occurred overnight on the 1st; the following day 51 HORNED and 83 RED-NECKED GREBE were counted at Shirley's Bay. 25 RED-NECKED were still here on the 4th and lesser numbers were seen elsewhere along the river. Two each of HORNED and PIED-BILLED GREBE were reported from Andrew Haydon Park on the 7th. Three GREAT EGRET continue at Conroy Island in Deschenes rapids, at least a half dozen GREEN HERON were noted at Britannia on the 4th, and 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON were here on the 7th. A few BROAD-WINGED HAWK continue to move through and 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were hunting south of the international airport on the 6th. VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, and COMMON GALLINULE were found in typical habitats. Apart from the LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, shorebird reports were few and in small numbers -- species noted were: SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WILSON'S SNIPE and AMERICAN WOODCOCK. Two BONAPARTE'S GULL flew over Shirley's Bay on the 4th and a late GLAUCOUS GULL was seen from the ridge at Britannia on the 7th. COMMON TERN were reported from Britannia on the 2nd. EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL are back on territory. A male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER made an appearance along the Mer Bleue boardwalk on the 4th. EASTERN KINGBIRD are back right on schedule, as are GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PURPLE MARTIN, BANK SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW, HOUSE WREN, GRAY CATBIRD, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Numerous RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET continued to move through this week, and CEDAR WAXWING are ubiquitous. The local WARBLER list continues to grow slowly but steadily; so far 15 species have been reported with the most recent arrivals being OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, MAGNOLIA, CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE and YELLOW. A few FOX SPARROWS were still around last week. Two LINCOLN'S SPARROW were on territory in the Mer Bleue bog on the 7th, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW visited a feeder in Alta Vista (Ottawa) on the 4th. Also at Mer Bleue, large flocks of RUSTY BLACKBIRD (numbers estimated at 1100 - 2000) were observed coming in to roost along the boardwalk on the evenings of the 6th and 7th. Thank you to everyone who contributed bird sightings. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
