Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 18 June 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]
The most interesting reports from the past week involved breeding or potentially breeding species. The discovery of two adult TRUMPETER SWANS with four young on the Jock River near Carleton Place on June 13 created some local excitement. Most recently spotted on the evening of the 17th, they are not always easy to see among the vegetation near the bridge on 9th Line Beckwith. Their fidelity to this site seems to indicate that they nested nearby, and would make this the first breeding record for the Ottawa-Gatineau 50 km area. Many reports of GREAT EGRETS have come in from both the Ontario and Quebec sides of the Deschenes rapids since the middle of April. Since June 11, at least three have been seen flying around and disappearing into the vegetation among the Ring-billed Gull colony on the islet in the rapids. Although this may just be a roosting site, possible nesting activity cannot be ruled out. If this is confirmed, we have yet another first breeding record for the 50K. Breeding evidence for YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was also noted in the Cumberland area - an adult was heard earlier in the month, and on the 15th one was seen carrying a fecal sac. (The specific location is not given, as this is a rare local breeding species). It's been an interesting season for Yellow-billed Cuckoos in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, with reports from widespread locations including Gatineau Park and the Low-Poltimore area in Quebec, and the Shirley's Bay and Cumberland areas in Ontario. An excursion along Paugan Rd. from Poltimore to Low on the 13th was successful for many breeding species including pairs of RED-SHOULDERED and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, a singing male OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and other territorial passerines. Other recent reports of note were three RED KNOTS in breeding plumage and a few SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS at the St. Albert sewage lagoons on the 14th. The Embrun lagoons also hosted a few SEMIPALMATED and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and a BLACK TERN on the 12th. 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/
