Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 06 April 2010 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]
What a fabulous week and holiday weekend for enjoying the weather and life returning to the landscape! Recent waterfowl highlights included a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE south of Kars on the 30th, seven TUNDRA SWANS along Hwy 148 east of Thurso, Quebec, on the 25th and 31st, and a male EURASIAN WIGEON at Baie Noire in Parc National de Plaisance from the 28th until at least the 3rd. Over the past few days, the extensive wetlands on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River have contained GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, and HOODED & COMMON MERGANSER. On the Ontario side, many of the above were also seen, as well as up to 5 CACKLING GEESE and 20 RUDDY DUCKS at the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. Numbers of LESSER SCAUP have increased at Shirley's Bay, the first reports of a few RED-NECKED GREBES came from this location on the 4th, and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS have begun to arrive as well. The first reports of PIED-BILLED GREBE and COMMON MOORHEN came from the Masson -Thurso marshes on the weekend. A nice flight of raptors coincided with the southwest winds and warm temperatures from the 2nd to the 4th. Observations from both the Ontario and Quebec sides included impressive numbers of TURKEY VULTURES, as well as multiple BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIERS, COOPER'S HAWKS, NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, RED-SHOULDERED and RED-TAILED HAWKS. The 4th of April is an early return date for locally-breeding OSPREYS - pairs were seen at nests on Rifle Rd. by Shirley's Bay and Steeple Hill Cr. by the Jock River. A few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were moving through on the weekend, and a sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen near Kemptville on the 1st. All of our species of falcons were reported, with AMERICAN KESTRELS and MERLINS in the majority, and a report from Plaisance, Quebec on the 3rd included both a grey morph GYRFALCON and a PEREGRINE FALCON. VIRGINIA RAILS are back at the Bill Mason Centre in Dunrobin. The first report of GREATER YELLOWLEGS came from Constance Creek at Vances Side Rd. on the 30th. WILSON'S SNIPES and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS continue to be reported from appropriate habitats. A couple of adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were in fields along Carling Avenue on the 30th and Barnsdale Rd. on the 5th, and a 1st summer ICELAND GULL was also at the latter location. BELTED KINGFISHERS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and NORTHERN FLICKERS are back since the 1st as well. EASTERN PHOEBES were first reported on the 30th and are now widespread, as are TREE SWALLOWS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS. The first local WARBLER was a YELLOW-RUMPED on the 5th, the first SAVANNAH and SWAMP SPARROWS were heard on the weekend, and an early movement of FOX SPARROWS occured from the 2nd to the 5th. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS are back right on time, small numbers of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS have been found in widespread locations since the 30th, and at least 1 PINE SISKIN was discovered in Rothwell Heights where this species nested last summer. 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/
