Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected] or [email protected]
August 18, 2016 Finally, we had a highlight this week. A juvenile male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at the Almonte sewage lagoons on the 13-14th. There was also finally a change of weather, which brought a few birds in with it. A major day-long rain on the 13th with brisk winds from different directions was undoubtedly a factor in the small shorebird fallout and the arrival of a greater variety of migrant songbirds. There was another deluge on the 16th (but no fallout). Temperatures were seasonal between the rains. WATERBIRDS were not particularly notable this week, but that is not surprising given the time of year. A SNOW GOOSE at Britannia on the 17th was very unusual, while a LESSER SCAUP at Shirley’s Bay on the 18th was less so. SHOREBIRDS were the highlight this week aside from the rarity noted above. Overall, 19 species of SHOREBIRD were in the region this week. While the rain was badly needed, it did eliminate shorebird habitat along the river. However, there are still modest numbers at the inland ponds and lagoons. A WHIMBREL was flying near Ottawa Beach on the 12th. On the 12-14th, up to 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWTICHERS were at Andrew Haydon Park. At Ottawa Beach on the 13th, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SANDERLING, and BAIRD’S SANDPIPER touched down briefly, but only one SANDERLING stuck around until the 14th. A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was also at Parc Brébeuf on the 17th. 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were at Almonte on the 14th and at Shirley’s Bay on the 17th. Some recent sightings: 1. Shirley’s Bay to Ottawa Beach: Virtually no SHOREBIRDS from the 14th-18th. 2. Petrie Island: Virtually no SHOREBIRDS on the 15-18th. 3. Almonte: 65 birds of 8 species on the 14th; 42 BIRDS of 6 species on the 15th. 4. Winchester: Little habitat or birds this week 5. Embrun: 64 birds of 10 species on the 15th (a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was seen this day as well). 6. Parc Brébeuf : 9 birds of 3 species (including BAIRD’S SANDPIPER) on the 17th. 7. Richmond CA: 70 birds of 8 species on the 14th; GULL numbers and variety are building up a bit. The place to see them is Deschênes in the evening (mostly RING-BILLED), or the Moodie Drive Ponds (1000 birds there on the 16th, mostly HERRING). A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Deschênes on the 17th and 2 were at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 16th. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are on the move. Groups of up to about 40 were seen a few evenings this week. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at the Richmond CA on the 14th was the first fall sighting and another was at Lac Taylor in Gatineau Park on the 17th. SONGBIRDS were really on the move this week. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was at Shirley’s bay on the 17th and at Britannia on the 14th. A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was also at Britannia on the 14th. 22 species of WARBLER were seen this week, although numbers are still rather low and only 5-10 species are typically seen in an outing in the better areas. 11 species of WARBLER were at Britannia on the 15th, including the first of the fall WILSON’S WARBLER. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER at Shirley’s Bay on the 15th was an unusual sighting outside of the breeding grounds and season. Finally, there was an EVENING GROSBEAK at Lac Taylor in Gatineau Park on the 17th. 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. We encourage everyone to report their bird sightings on eBird for the benefit of the entire birding community. Good birding. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
