Ontario Ottawa/Gatineau 11 May 2009 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Rare bird alerts are now included in the introductory message Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis [email protected]
At ____am, Monday May 11, 2009 this is Chris Lewis reporting. Again a week of changeable weather prevented any great movement of migrants, but there was still lots of activity in our local landscape. The most intriguing bird was an immature swan at the Embrun sewage lagoons. First reported on the 4th, it was still present until at least the afternoon of the 10th and it has been determined based on independent observations to be a 1st summer TRUMPETER SWAN. It has been following a small group of Canada Geese and may likely remain in the area for a while. In other waterfowl reports, a Greater White-fronted Goose was seen along Hwy 148 near Masson, Quebec on the 5th, and many of the common expected duck species were noted in various locations, albeit in smaller numbers in the past week. A GREAT EGRET was seen again on the 5th on both the Quebec and Ontario sides of the Ottawa River at Baie Carpentier and Petrie Island. Other wetland species such as American Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora and Common Moorhen were again widely reported. A Bald Eagle was noted at Petit Baie Clement on the 5th, and several observations of territorial Cooper's Hawks and Merlins continued to come in, as well as a couple of sightings of Broad-winged Hawks. Shorebird sightings were few and far between, but not surprising for our region given the early date and the recent weather. Small numbers of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, approx. 40 Least Sandpipers, 10 Dunlin and a pair of Wilson's Phalaropes were seen at the Embrun lagoons on the 10th. A RUFF found at the Marais aux Grenouillettes on the 5th was last reported on the 7th, and American Woodcocks continue their courtship displays in suitable habitat. The first local report of Bonaparte's Gulls was of 8 adults on the Ottawa River off Innis Point at Shirley's Bay on the 9th. A pair of terns at Britannia were confirmed to be Common Terns, and were still present as of the 9th. Three Common Terns were at Shirley's Bay on the 10th. The first report of Black Terns back at the breeding colony in the marshes on the Quebec side of the river came in on the 5th. Whip-poor-wills were heard again in the Marlborough forest on the 6th, the first report of Ruby-throated Hummingbird was on the 7th, Chimney Swifts have arrived in increased numbers as of the 7th, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers are back right on time, and Blue-headed Vireos were again seen and heard in Britannia and other locations along with countless Warbling Vireos. A flight of Blue Jays occurred on the 8th and hundreds of swallows were sheltering from the strong winds at the Embrun lagoons on the 10th, predominantly Tree and Barn Swallows with a few Bank and Cliff Swallows in the mix. Five swallow species were also noted at Britannia the same day. Another report of a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER came from Britannia on the 4th, and a couple of Wood Thrushes were heard among the ardent din of Gray Catbirds and Brown Thrashers at Britannia and Shirley's Bay. Warblers continue to trickle in - 18 species have now been reported - of note on the 8th and 9th were Orange-crowned, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, American Redstart and Ovenbird. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have begun to increase, a male Indigo Bunting dropped in at Britannia on the 8th, approx. 20 Rusty Blackbirds were noted at Petrie Island on the 4th, and we're almost getting tired of hearing and seeing those Pine Siskins...just kidding - enjoy the presence of these great little finches while they're here this year! Thank you - Good Birding! _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
