Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
June 22, 2017 The highlight of the week was 2 WHITE PELICANS, west of Aylmer on the 16th, and seen flying over both Aylmer and Rockcliffe on the 17th, headed east. They have not been refound. Late news is of a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER found on the 13th in the South March Conservation Forest, and also not refound. Aside from that, summer doldrums persist in Ottawa, and not so many birders are out. Weather has been more or less seasonal, although at this time of year this may not matter. The best bet at this time of year is to visit the great swathes of forest north and west of Ottawa. The Greenbelt lands are also quite good. Another option is to explore the underbirded areas like agricultural lands south and east of Ottawa, and hope for a rarity. A few lingerers continue: BRANT at the Moodie drive ponds until the 19th, and a LESSER SCAUP at Shirley’s Bay earlier in the week and at Stony Swamp on the 20th. A report from the Shirley’s Bay causeway is not encouraging for the future. The part to the first island is damaged and very narrow in spots. Water levels are still high and the marsh is not well developed. Stay tuned for further developments. Some notable sightings were: 1. There was a late LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the Moodie Drive ponds until the 19th, as well as a GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 2. CASPIAN TERN is seen regularly on the Ottawa River west, but numbers have not built up yet. 3. LEAST BITTERN is still at Constance Creek as of the 18th. 4. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO continues to be vocal and visible on the Thomas Dolan Parkway. 5. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was on Montée Silver Creek on the 17th. 6. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was at the Mer Bleue Bog on the 17th. 7. SEDGE WREN continues at the nortel marsh at least until the 20th. 8. A NORTHERN PARULA was on Ridge Road near Anderson on the 17th. These more southern occurrences in the summer may be a sign of a range expansion. 9. For those who don’t want to travel to Burnt Lands PP, 3 CLAY-COLOURED SPARROWS were at the north end of High Road on the 22nd. In what is, we hope, not just a coincidence but a sign of some movement, there were 7 RED CROSSBILLS on Chemin Sauve near Lac McGregor on the 16th and 19th, and 4 of the same in the Pine Grove Forest east of Conroy on the 22nd. 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. _______________________________________________ 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
