Ottawa/Gatineau: recent sightings to Mar 13, 2025 Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sighti...@ofnc.ca
The true harbingers of Spring have returned - parking lots full of Ring-billed Gulls. Warm weather and open water enticed many returning waterbirds and some raptors. Trumpeter Swan (1) Mar 11-12, Dunrobin (Constance Creek), Ottawa. (4) Mar 09, Burritts Rapids Spillway, Donnelly Drive, Ottawa. Green-winged Teal (3) Mar 11, Britannia, Ottawa. Barrow's Goldeneye (2) Adawe Crossing general location, Ottawa. 2 males reported. Getting near the end of their season. (1) Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa. Lesser Scaup (3)Mar 11-12, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Killdeer (1) Mar 11, Rockcliffe Airport, Ottawa. (1) Mar 10, Clifford Campbell Street, Ottawa. Lesser Black-backed Gull (1) Mar 12, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (2) Mar 12, Parc Moussette, Gatineau. Northern Shoveler (1) Nepean Creek Trail, Ottawa. Lesser Scaup (1) Mar 10, Maple Hill Park, Ottawa. Lesser Black-backed Gull (1) Mar 13, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. (1) Mar 12, Britannia Yacht Club, Ottawa. (1) Mar 12, River Trail at Island Park Drive, Ottawa. Pied-billed Grebe (1) Mar 12, Appleton Bay Park and Boat Launch, Lanark, Horned Grebe (1) Mar 12-13, Bate Island. May be visible from Remic Rapids Lookout, or other nearby spots. Check off the East tip of Bate Island. Golden Eagle (2) Mar 12, Ste-Marie Rd, Prescott and Russel. (1) Mar 11, Vance Side Rd. (1) Mar 10, Stonecrest, Ottawa. Not to be confused with turkey Vultures which are also back in small numbers. Red-shouldered Hawk (2) Mar 13, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa Belted Kingfisher (1) Mar 11, Cardinal Creek Karst Path, Ottawa. Wilson's Snipe (1) Mar 01-09, The Arboretum, Ottawa. Hanging in a stretch of open creek below the toboggan hill. Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Ch. Steele, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. (1) Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail), Ottawa. (1) Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (1) Mar 11, Chemin Wiggins, Quyon, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Varied Thrush (1) Feb 12-Mar 13 (at least), Stonecrest @ Galetta SR, Ottawa. A fair amount of patience or luck may be required. Excellent views NOT guaranteed. Chipping Sparrow (1) Richland Dr, Ottawa. White-crowned Sparrow (1) Mar 08, Deerlane Avenue, Ottawa. Canada Jay (1) Mar 13, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa. Unreported for a few days, but photographed on Mar 13. Eastern Towhee (1) Rue Alexis-Rajotte, Aylmer, Gatineau. Female. Atlas notes: The final year of the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas is now underway. As a direct result of the impressive effort of hundreds of volunteers across the province over the past four years, the Third Atlas is already a rich source of information on Ontario's bird life. Atlassing has been an exciting time of discovery: not only of breeding birds, but of bird behaviour. It has been a great opportunity to explore local patches and beyond. And for many participants, they have embraced the challenge of atlassing as an opportunity to refresh or improve their birding skills including birding-by-ear and the importance of recognizing habitat. There is still time to join in one of Ontario’s most ambitious and community science efforts here in Eastern Ontario. Though peak breeding season is still a few short months away, the Atlas welcomes all reports of both Crossbill species in suitable habitat at any time of year, and we are already into the breeding season for both Eastern Screech Owls and Great Horned Owls. Common Ravens have also been noted doing their mating rituals. Your observations – whether these species are seen or heard – are valuable and will provide essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. Participation is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird using the Nature Counts app. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at ott...@birdsontario.org -- 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: birdnews@ontbirds.ca. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at birdn...@ofo.ca. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
