Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 30 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]
Another somewhat static week for bird sightings, but not without highlights and the beginnings of some changes in the local scenario. Increased numbers of waterfowl noted at Shirley's Bay on the 29th included WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, LESSER SCAUP and HOODED MERGANSER. RUDDY DUCKS with downy young were seen at the Embrun sewage lagoon on the 25th along with several COMMON MOORHENS with young of various ages. An adult PIED-BILLED GREBE with two flightless young were noted on Mud Lake in the Britannia Conservation Area on the 28th, and the adult RED-NECKED GREBE at the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. was still present as of at least the 24th; no young were observed on that day, but evidently 2 were seen here last week. Up to seven non-banded GREAT EGRETS have been seen at Shirley's Bay as of the 28th, and five were seen roosting on the same evening at the island in the Deschenes rapids. A few juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at the Deschenes island on the 25th, and five were observed at Mud Lake on the 28th. Also at Britannia on the 28th an immature PEREGRINE FALCON was being harrassed by a COOPER'S HAWK. Although the habitat along the Ottawa River continues to be excellent for shorebirds, only ten species were reported from the 21st to the 29th, mostly the expected ones with KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPERS constituing the majority. Otherwise, a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY, SEMIPALMATED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were noted from the 20th to the 29th. An adult BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was a stand-out at "Ottawa Beach" (the east end of Andrew Haydon Park) on the 20th. The scenario was similar at the sewage lagoons east of Ottawa, with the Casselman lagoons having the best habitat on the 25th and at least 200 LEAST SANDPIPERS present. Single adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen at the Moodie Dr. quarry pond on the 24th, and at Shirley's Bay and Britannia on the 28th and 29th, and a very young BLACK TERN was spotted at the Embrun lagoons on the 24th. On the passerine front, Shirley's Bay and Britannia were quite active in recent days. Among the vanguard of post-breeding migrants reported since the 21st were the first YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS of the season! 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/
