Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at [email protected]
Another week, another vagrant! A Ruff showed up on the 10th at the Richmond Lagoons. Warbler diversity and numbers continue to increase, at the same time as more winter finches (Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Redpolls) show up at feeders on their way north. It's the best of spring and winter birding! Brant migrated up the river 8-9 May, along with Common Loons, Bonaparte Gulls, and more grebes. Blue Jays are passing through in large numbers during the day. Eurasian Wigeon - Britannia on May 9. Long-tailed Duck - Marais aux grenouillettes, and Parc des Cèdres, Gatineau. Black Scoter - Shirley's Bay. Not rare, White-winged Scoter also reported. Trumpeter Swan - Heaphy Road, Shirley's bay, and Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Sandhill Crane - Baskin Drive East (Arnprior), Fine Estate, Mer Bleue, and Petrie Island, Ottawa. Red-headed Woodpecker - Constance Bay, Ottawa. Red-bellied Woodpecker - Shirley's Bay, and Kanata Lakes, Ottawa. Rue de Saint-Malo, Gatineau. Parc de Plaisance, Papineau. Dunlin - Holland's Marsh, the ponds just North of the Moodie Drive Quarry, and Richmond Sewage lagoons, Ottawa. Black-bellied Plover - Dilworth road (Kemptville), Ottawa. Ruff - Identified on May 13 at the Richmond Conservation Area, Ottawa. An adult female spent the day mostly hiding in the vegetation in the North (mostly dry) lagoon, and occasionally flying or swimming with Lesser Yellowlegs in the middle Lagoon. This incredibly well camouflaged bird requires patience, and a scope wouldn't hurt. The bird was photographed but not identified on the 10th. Weird shorebirds are always worth a second or third look. Purple Sandpiper - Continues on the rock at the base of the Deschênes rapids on the Gatineau side. Some of the smaller shorebirds occasionally reported from Richmond lagoons, Wesley Clover park, and Petrie Island, Ottawa, as well as Parc de Plaisance, Papineau. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Andrew Haydon Park, Britannia Point, Ottawa. Moodie Quarry and Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa. Rapides Deschênes, and Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau. Neotropic Cormorant - Continues to the 13th. More variation in its travels recently. Reported recently from Dow's lake, Lemieux Island, Britannia Point, and still roosting at night in Gatineau. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Hurdman Wood, Ottawa. Yellow-throated Vireo - Vincent Massey/Hog's Back Parks, and Strathcona Park on May 9, Ottawa. Hoary Redpoll - Applewood Acres, Ottawa. Not satisfied with being an extremely late solo record, this bird has found a friend and the pair continues as of the 13th. Common redpoll - Everywhere in small numbers. White-winged Crossbill - Crazy Horse Trail, Ottawa. Evening Grosbeak - Everywhere in small numbers. Louisiana Waterthrush - Sentier Lauriault (Parc de la Gatineau), Gatineau Golden-winged Warbler - Birchgove Road (Sarsfield), Ottawa. Orange-crowned Warbler - Birchgove Road (Sarsfield), Ottawa. E-Bird tip from the local reviewers: One duo that occasionally trips up observers are the two yellowlegs. Their status changes over the migration period; Greater is the commoner in April, Lesser in May. If you are not sure, please record them as Yellowlegs species. The DND property at Shirley's Bay is now restricted to official business only. If this changes in the future, there will be an announcement. -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
