Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler and transcriber: Greg Zbitnew at [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent sightings to March 12, 2015 Several significant thaws and the warmest day since December have resulted in some early signs of spring in the local bird population. On the 5th, an AMERICAN WIGEON, possibly a migrant, was seen north of the Hurdman bridge. On the 10th, on Greenland Road, there was an early KILLDEER, definitely a migrant. There are also some signs of some other birds coming north or at least moving around. For instance, a PINE GROSBEAK was seen in Manion Corners, a flock of 400 COMMON REDPOLL flew over Steeple Chase (the largest flock of the season), and a PINE SISKIN was in Britannia. The WHITE-WINGED SCOTER continued in Almonte. The first recent reports of RING-BILLED GULLS were this week. Very soon this species will be flooding into the region. The GYRFALCON was seen at the Laflèche landfill this week. Other raptors have been more active this week. There have been sightings of up to two PEREGRINE FALCON, possibly a sign of pairing. NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen twice in the Dunrobin area, and a ROUGH-WINGED HAWK was at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen in the Eardely-Masham Road area on the 9th. The BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER is still at the Jack Pine trail, and the AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was still at Chemin Grimes in Aylmer on the 8th. One HOARY REDPOLL was with 45 COMMON REDPOLL at a feeder on O’Hara in Dunrobin, and the first recent sighting of PURPLE FINCH was from the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. 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 purpose of maintaining local records. 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 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
