Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
January 2, 2020 A minor highlight this week was 7 GRAY PARTRIDGE off Hazeldean west of Terry Fox that were seen there regularly on the 1-2nd. Suitable habitat for the species in that area is in rapid decline but they will likely attempt to stay the winter. Continuing fairly mild temperatures and calm conditions prevailed during the week, despite the wintery blast on the 30-31st that has finally coated the ground with a normal depth of snow. While there was little change to the bird population, conditions were good for a number of local Christmas Bird Counts (CBC), where there was a small assortment of lingering birds. The new birding year started off fairly well, with at least 60 species found in the region to date. The regular winter DUCKS continue to be seen, exceptions being a GREEN-WINGED TEAL continuing at the Arboretum as of the 31st and 2 WOOD DUCKS continuing at Billings Bridge as late as the 31st. Other notable sightings this week included: · A GREAT BLUE HERON in Stittsville on the 29th. · Up to 3 GOLDEN EAGLES are being seen on the Eardley Escarpment. · A NORTHERN HARRIER off Hazeldean Road on the 2nd. · A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen on the Carleton Place CBC on the 27th. · A NORTHERN FLICKER was in the Richmond area on the 28th-1st, and another was off Steele Line Road on the 1st. · An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was near Steele Line Road on the 1st. · HERMIT THRUSHES were seen at Hurdman, Pine Grove Trail, and Lac Leamy this week. · WINTER WRENS were in Britannia and Almonte on the 1st, and a CAROLINA WREN was in Britannia on the 1st-2nd. · NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD continues in Gatineau as of the 2nd. · A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD near Richmond on the 28th. · BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at the Trail Road landfill on the 1st. · A COMMON GRACKLE was in or near Richmond on the 28th-31st. · CHIPPING SPARROWS continue at feeders in Constance Bay as of the 2 nd and Carleton Place as of the 31st. · A COMMON REDPOLL in the Fallowfield area on the 29th. Again this week there were multiple and seemingly random sightings of both RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, but except for the Eardley-Masham Road (both species as well as PINE SISKIN) and a near-inaccessible area of the Mer Bleue (WHITE-WINGED), they are just flying over. 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 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
