Ontario/Quebec
Ottawa/Gatineau
08 September 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 11:30 am, Tuesday September 08, 2009 this is Chris Lewis reporting.
A nice variety of birds was found over the past week, with everything from
waterfowl to warblers and more.
A significant drop in water levels on the Ottawa River has begun to make
river-watching more interesting. The BRANT at Andrew Haydon Park was most
recently seen on the 5th, and a slight increase in duck species and numbers
has become evident on the river and elsewhere. At the large quarry pond on
Moodie Dr. on the 2nd a REDHEAD was found among a few RING-NECKED DUCKS and
other more common waterfowl, as well as 3 AMERICAN COOTS. At least 3 GREATER
SCAUP were seen again on the river near the now well-developed sandbar at
the east end of Andrew Haydon on the 6th, PIED-BILLED GREBES with young were
noted in several locations, as was an increase in the numbers of
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. On the 3rd a GREAT EGRET was seen at Shirley's
Bay and 3 were here on the 7th. BALD EAGLES were spotted along the river on
the 5th and at Lac La Peche in Gatineau Park on the 6th, and sightings of
OSPREY, AMERICAN KESTREL and MERLIN were all of local fellows.
Shorebird reports came from widespread areas including (from west to east):
Constance Bay, Shirley's Bay, a wet area in a construction site northeast of
Terry Fox & Fernbank Rds. in Kanata, the stormwater ponds at Eagleson &
Fernbank Rds., the Moodie Dr. quarry pond, the west end of Andrew Haydon
Park, and the Embrun and St. Albert sewage lagoons. No large numbers were
noted, however among 18 species found this week the most intersting ones
were BLACK-BELLIED and AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, UPLAND, WHITE-RUMPED and
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.
A LITTLE GULL found on the Quebec side at the Deschenes rapids on the 2nd
was not seen on the 3rd, however BONAPARTE'S GULLS have begun to move
through with several seen at the rapids as well as the Moodie Dr. pond since
the 2nd. Up to three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were found at Deschenes on
the 3rd and a juvenile BLACK TERN was on the late side at both the rapids
and the Moodie Dr. pond the same day. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS continued to fly
over last week; on the evening of the 3rd approx. 120 were counted at
Deschenes and approx. 24 were seen at the Eagelson / Fernbank pond.
Good news for the RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at Constance Bay - the adult pair
had their 8th consecutive successful breeding season and were observed with
2 juveniles on the 3rd. A bizarre display of posturing between two male
PILEATED WOODPECKERS on the lawn near the Britannia water purification plant
was quite the sight on the 3rd. Five species of vireos were reported over
several days including a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO at Shirley's Bay on the 3rd,
as well as several sightings of BLUE-HEADED and PHILADEPHIA VIREOS. CEDAR
WAXWINGS remain abundant and ubiquitous. A good number and selection of
warblers were again noted in the local landscape, with 23 species now
reported since migration began last month. A female CONNECTICUT WARBLER seen
briefly near the east end of the "ridge" in Britannia on the 2nd was not
relocated. Rounding out the passerine reports were a GOLDEN-CROWNED KNGLET
at Shirley's Bay on the 3rd, a singing LINCOLN'S SPARROW near the Mer Bleue
boarwalk on the 4th, an influx of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and an
out-of-place juvenile EVENING GROSBEAK at Britannia also on the 4th.
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/
