Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 25 May 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]
25 May 2010 this is Chris Lewis reporting. Unseasonably warm weather continues, and birds continue to move through with many species now on their breeding gounds or well on their way. The only report of BRANT so far was of a single bird at Shirley's Bay on the 24th, and back on the 18th 60 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS briefly appeared here. Most of the regular puddle ducks could be found at this location, as well as at some of the sewage lagoons east of Ottawa. Four GREAT EGRETS at Shirley's Bay on the 23rd was an unusual number for this time of year in our region; two were also reported from Alymer, Quebec on the 20th and a single bird was again sporadically seen in or near the Britannia Conservation Area. A couple of BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were noted in the vicinity of Andrew Haydon Park and Britannia, and a MERLIN evidently had some success preying on the PURPLE MARTIN colony at Dick Bell Park on the 20th. Shorebird-watching was rewarding at Shirley's Bay as well as the Embrun and St. Albert lagoons on the Victoria Day weekend, with LEAST SANDPIPER the most numerous species. Many SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a couple of rather late GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a few LESSER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN were noted, and the first reports of SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER came from the 22nd to the 24th. The LITTLE GULL at the Deschenes rapids was last reported on the 21st and most of the BONAPARTE'S GULLS have cleared out, with only two present at the rapids on the 24th. At least 50 BLACK TERNS are back on their breeding grounds in the Marais aux Grenouillettes east of Gatineau, Quebec and good numbers of COMMON TERNS were seen on the Ottawa River from Britannia though to Shirley's Bay. Both species of CUCKOOS were found in Gatineau Park on the weekend and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was also noted elsewhere. The first local report of WHIP-POOR-WILL came from Chelsea, Quebec on the evening of the 22nd. ALDER and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS have arrived, a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was found among the numerous RED-EYED VIREOS along a trail off the Champlain lookout in Gatineau Park on the 24th, and CLIFF SWALLOWS are once again nesting under the Champlain bridge between the provinces. Also back on territory was a SEDGE WREN along the drive to Marais aux Grenouillettes, and two MARSH WRENS were singing at Shirley's Bay on the 23rd. Clear nights from the 19th to the 23rd prompted a flight of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. Among 17 species of warblers found in Gatineau Park on the weekend were TENNESSEE, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, BLACKBURNIAN, MOURNING, BLACKPOLL, WILSON'S and CANADA, and SCARLET TANAGERS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, INDIGO BUNTINGS and BALTIMORE ORIOLES are now abundant and vocal in their breeding areas. 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/
