Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
November 30, 2017 There was a real heartbreak this week-an unidentified large ALCID was at Shirley’s bay on the 24th, but was never relocated or identified. Otherwise, the birds of the week were 2 MUTE SWANS at the Giroux Road Ponds on the 26-28th. The origin of these birds is not positively known, but most birders are considering them wild based on circumstantial evidence. Meanwhile, 2 of the previous rarities continue. The BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER is still at Britannia as of the 29th, and the YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD continues on and off at Trail road as late as the 29th. Despite a bit of snow, real winter has not yet arrived in Ottawa, with bare ground and reasonable temperatures still. So there still will be quite a few late-season birds to chase when birding winter starts tomorrow, with lingering SONGBIRDS and still many WATERBIRDS around. There was still a good variety of WATERBIRDS around, although only the wintering ones were here in larger numbers. 20 species of DUCKS were seen this week, including all 3 SCOTERS on the Ottawa, and BARROW’S GOLDENEYE on the Rideau. Both species of LOON were also seen. The Mississippi River near Carleton Place has a decent variety too. A ROSS’S GOOSE was at the Moodie Drive ponds on the 25th. Getting very late, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was on Huntmar Drive on the 26th, and 2 were on Cope Drive on the 25th. An AMERICAN COOT was at the Giroux Road ponds on the 25th, and a PURPLE SANDPIPER was on Britannia Pier on the 26th, but neither stuck around. A dark morph GYRFALCON flew over Britannia on the 26th, and 4 GOLDEN EAGLES were on the Eardley escarpment on the 30th. In other miscellaneous sightings: 1. A BELTED KINGFISHER was at Petrie Island from the 27-29th. 2. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at the Arboretum on the 26th and 28th . 3. As usual, Britannia near the filtration plant is a great place for late birds: a. A WINTER WREN was in Britannia as late as the 26th. b. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was in Britannia to the 29th. c. A HERMIT THRUSH was in Britannia to the 29th. 4. COMMON GRACKLE on the Walkley/ Ramsayville trail on the 24th. Finally, we are still waiting for WINTER FINCHES. There were 15 COMMON REDPOLLS at Baskin’s Beach on the 26th, and 20 on the Eardley Masham Road on the 24th which also had 11 RED CROSSBILLS. The OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to sighti...@ofnc.ca 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. *Reminder regarding access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway:* DND has amended our access procedure. You must call Range Control (613-991-5740) for permission, state that you are an OFNC member and give your name. DND will be provided with a list of OFNC members who HAVE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED access. DND will check, so make sure that your membership is up to date and that you have requested to be on the access list. Finally, you must call again when you have left the area. DND would also like to be informed if you see anyone on the property who should not be there, such as boats in the bay or people fishing on the causeway. They are trespassing and DND will deal with the situation. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
