Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 13 November 09 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 6:30 am, Friday November 13, 2009 this is Chris Lewis reporting. While nothing as exotic has appeared around here as some of the recent rarities in southwestern Ontario, several interesting birds were seen in our region. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found on the Ottawa River off Dick Bell Park as well as at the Moodie Dr. quarry pond on the 8th; the Moodie Dr. bird was still present on the 11th. A first-winter THAYER'S GULL was at Andrew Haydon Park on the 7th and 8th. A male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER found at the end of Greenland Rd. near Constance Bay on the 5th was seen again on the 6th. A GRAY JAY reported on the Quebec side in a ravine behind Rue Ravin Bleu in Hull on the 23rd was searched for the next day but was not seen again. A record late BLACKPOLL WARBLER first seen on the 7th in the trees near the lighthouse at Dick Bell Park was still actively feeding here until at least the 11th, and a late male EASTERN TOWHEE was scratching away in the leaves in Goldridge Park in the Kanata Lakes area on the 9th. The SNOW GOOSE numbers along Hwy 417 south of the Hwy 138 exit increased to at least 10,000 on the morning of the 9th. Although the lone BRANT has evidently not been seen at Andrew Haydon Park for over a week, a singleton was feeding on a lawn in the Billings Bridge area on the 10th. Two CACKLING GEESE were observed among the Canada's in a field west of the Moodie Dr. pond on the 11th. Several reports have come in, in recent weeks, of odd-looking geese in various locations, particularly the Ottawa River. Most of the descriptions and photos appear to represent CANADA GOOSE X DOMESTIC GOOSE hybrids. Considering the huge numbers of geese that appear in our area at this time of year, it's not surprising that a few odd fellows show up in the mix. It is usually impossible to determine the exact parentage of the really strange-looking ones, however most geese with Canada colours combined with weird white plumage and pink or orange-ish legs or bills likely have some barnyard blood. Numbers of BUFFLEHEAD and COMMON GOLDENEYE continue to build on our local rivers; among the goldeneye on the Ottawa and Rideau rivers were 2 male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and a male COMMON X BARROW'S hybrid most recently reported from the Rideau off Riverain Park on the 12th. Many locations also hosted numerous HOODED MERGANSERS last week, and a half-dozen female RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were on the river off Dick Bell Park on the 11th. A flight of RED-THROATED LOONS occurred on the 6th - 2 flocks totalling 48 birds briefly settled on the Ottawa River off Andrew Haydon before heading southeast. On the 11th, seven COMMON LOONS were behaving in a more leisurely fashion from Shirley's Bay through Constance Bay, as were a small number of RED-NECKED GREBES. Several BALD EAGLES were noted in flight over the Ottawa River from the 6th to the 11th. After a lengthy drought in shorebird reports, a single BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and DUNLIN were found along the beach at Petrie Island on the 8th. A somewhat late group of 36 BONAPARTE'S GULLS was observed at the Embrun sewage lagoons on the 9th. On the 6th a couple of NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen along Greenland Rd. and also at Carling Ave. and Rifle Rd., and the same day 75 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS put in an appearance along Riddell Rd. And finally, in keeping with the so far skimpy finch reports - a single COMMON REDPOLL was heard flying over Shirley's Bay on the 11th. 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/
