Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
June 8, 2017 4 significant rarities highlighted the week. The most significant was an adult male BLUE GROSBEAK, a regional first, seen at a feeder near March Road and Dunrobin Road on the 3rd-4th. While not positively seen since, it may well be in the area as the habitat is suitable. On the 4th, a WESTERN GREBE was seen above the Deschenes rapids. An adult FRANKLIN’S GULL was in the Britannia area from the 3-5th, and was seen in Kanata on the 7th. These last 2 were seen by many. Finally, a CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen in the Mer Bleue area on the 5th, but was not relocated. While just outside the region, a CATTLE EGRET in South Mountain on the 7th was of interest. The weather was bad to appalling (on the 6th), but it may well have been a factor in the many rarities seen. An abrupt change for the better caused summer to return on the 7th. Migration is now over. Between now and August, only stragglers can be expected to arrive, and as always the hope is that there are some rarities among them. A few late WATERBIRDS were of note this week. 80 BRANT were at Shirley’s Bay on the 5th. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was at Innis Point on the 4th, and a SURF SCOTER was above the Deschenes Rapids on the 4th, COMMON GOLDENEYE was in the area on the 3rd, and 2 LESSER SCAUP were at Shirley’s bay as recently as the 8th. Finally among the waterbirds, 2 AMERICAN COOTS were at Embrun on the 5th, and one was at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 5-6th. 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES were at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 3rd, and a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER there on the 5th, but otherwise there were just a few lingering DUNLIN and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. ARCTIC TERNS were a disappointment this year. 2 were seen briefly at Britannia on the 3rd, but fortunately there was one at the Moodie Drive ponds on the 6-7th. A late LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was somewhat regular here as well. A late YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was on Blais Road on the 7th. The only thing notable in the PASSERINE department was a SEDGE WREN seen on Torbolton Ridge Road on the 2nd, but not since. Otherwise, birders are just enjoying the many nesting species during this nesting prime time. The best areas are large tracts of unbroken forest with water. Larose forest is excellent with 16 nesting species of WARBLERS including the scarce CAPE MAY WARBLER on Bertrand Road. Gatineau Park (north and west), and the Lac la Blanche area are as good or better. 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
