Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler and transcriber: Bob Cermak at [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent reports to August 14, 2014 A photograph of three terns taken at Ottawa Beach (east of Andrew Haydon Park) on the 5th were later determined to be an adult FORSTER'S TERN with two adult COMMON TERNS. There was a report on the 12th of a possible adult ROYAL TERN seen at Baie Noir west of Plaisance Quebec on the 9th. The number and variety of shorebirds has increased as a result of the cold front which is moving through our area this week. The mud flats at the Shirleys Bay dyke and the shallow rain water in the west lagoon at St. Albert are now very active. The number of juvenile shorebirds birds is increasing and phalarope seem to be moving through our area. The mud flats west of the Shirleys Bay dyke continue to provide excellent shorebird birding. The numbers of LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPERS have been increasing with smaller but increasing numbers of SEMIPALMATED, SOLITARY and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. Also present were SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (since the 11th), BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (3) were found on the 12th and BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (2 on the 13th and 14th) and WILSON'S PHALAROPE (1 on the 13th). Along the marsh line one each SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL with COMMON GALLINULE (up to 7) have been seen. On the mudflats or pond there has been GREEN and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, HOODED MERGANSER, GREAT BLUE and GREEN HERON and GREAT EGRET (up to 15). Over the marsh and pond have been OSPREY, BALD EAGLE (1 ad and 1 juv), MERLIN and COMMON, BLACK (1) and CASPIAN TERNS. The western most cell (take Finch Cambridge Boundry Rd east from hwy 12) at the St. Albert lagoons which is often dry now contains shallow rain water and is extremely active. Today there were over 400 shorebirds, mostly LEAST SANDPIPER (200), LESSER YELLOWLEGS (150) and KILLDEER (20) with SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (7), PECTORAL (5) and WHITE-RUMPED (2) SANDPIPER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1). There were RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (2) at the Embrun lagoon today and one at Britannia Point yesterday. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE were found at the Russell lagoon and at Andrew Haydon Park on the 10th. Interesting sightings: PHILADELPHIA VIREO and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (3) on the 9th along the Shirleys Bay dyke, along the Britannia Conservation Area ridge 8 warbler species and PHILADELPHIA VIREO on the 9th and on the 10th BAY-BREASTED and CANADA WARBLER, SEDGE WREN continue to be heard east of the Nortel Marsh. Due to widespread concerns regarding disturbance of wildlife and property, the OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports OWL sightings on the internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to [email protected] for the local records. Thanks to everyone who contributed bird observations. _______________________________________________ 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
