Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Greg Zbitnew at [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent sightings to October 15, 2015 The best bird of the week was a RED PHALAROPE (not seen in Ottawa for a few years) which was seen briefly on the 11th at Shirley’s bay. Unfortunately it was not relocated. Weather remained dry through Monday with seasonal or above average temperatures, becoming cooler and rainier after that, but with no dramatic weather changes. That may have been a factor in the relatively quiet birding this week. Waterbirds continue to build up in numbers and variety. Regionally 3 species of GREBE, 2 species of LOON, 9 species of puddle ducks and 13 species of other ducks have been seen this week. Shirley’s Bay remains the best spot to see most of them. Numbers of all ducks there approach 2000 some days. SURF SCOTER and LONG-TAILED DUCK were some of the more uncommon fall ducks to be seen. RED-THROATED LOON was seen as recently as the 12th at Deschênes. SHOREBIRDS continue to thin out in numbers and variety. Habitat remains good in many places, but there are just not many birds around. The best areas are currently Shirley’s Bay, Richmond Conservation area, Giroux Ponds, Petrie Island, Constance Bay and Almonte. As always with shorebirds, there is a huge variability at any given spot, and mixed flocks at these locales may arrive or leave unpredictably. There have been a few highlights. 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were joined by a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at the Richmond Conservation area; both were still there on the 15th. HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at Constance Bay on the 15th. The mix of shorebirds is changing-DUNLIN are becoming more common, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were seen in large flocks as recently as the 14th. Regionally, 16 species were seen this week. PASSERINE variety continues to plummet, as expected. A few species continue to be rather common, such as both KINGLETS and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. Regionally 9 species of WARBLER were seen this week, but as of now anything other than YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER is becoming exceptional. Some late sightings include: 1. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER at Manotick on the 14th. 2. NELSON’S SPARROW at Constance Bay on the 12th. Finally, and perhaps an unfortunate sign of winter’s approach, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were sighted in Pakenham on the 10th and 15th; EVENING GROSBEAKS have also returned there. 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
