Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 19 July 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]
A welcome break in the extended heat wave has provided more comfortable temperatures for birding. Noteworthy sightings over the past few days included the following: An adult RED-NECKED GREBE discovered at the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. on the 17th was in itself a rare sight for Ottawa in July, but even more exciting was the fact that it was with a partially grown chick - a first breeding record for the Ottawa area and eastern Ontario. Please note that this site is an active sand and gravel quarry on private property. The pond can be viewed from the road. Do not cross the fence. As of the 17th up to five GREAT EGRETS have appeared together at Shirley's Bay (none of the birds appeared to have leg bands), and a sub-adult BALD EAGLE was also present here on the 18th along with an adult CASPIAN TERN. A Caspian Tern was also seen at the Deschenes rapids on the 16th. For permission to access the Shirley's Bay causeway please call the DND Range Control office at 613-991-5740. Shorebird numbers and species have remained quite static since last week; various sites on the mud flats along the Ottawa River again hosted mainly KILLDEER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED, SEMIPALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS. A couple of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER were also seen in recent days. At least seven COMMON TERNS were noted at Shirley's Bay on the weekend and a few were also seen at Andrew Haydon Park and the Moodie Dr. pond. The Shirley's Bay area has also been quite productive for a good variety of songbirds. 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/
