Ontario/Quebec
Ottawa/Gatineau
24 August 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 main local highlights were GREAT EGRETS and CASPIAN TERNS, with record
high numbers of both seen along the Ottawa River. For at least the past 2
weeks up to 18 GREAT EGRETS have been roosting every evening on or near the
island in the Deschenes rapids, and up to 14 have been spending the day at
Shirley's Bay and elsewhere along the river; three were also seen at the
large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. on the 18th. At least 16
CASPIAN TERNS were still on the river off Innis Point on the 18th and
varying numbers continue to be reported almost daily from Shirley's Bay.
Fluctuating water levels on the Ottawa River and the eastern sewage lagoons
provided mixed success for shorebird seekers. During heavy intermittent
thundershowers on the 14th and 15th up to 16 species of shorebirds dropped
in on the mudflats at Shirley's Bay including BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER,
WHIMBREL, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SANDERLING, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE, but most did not linger. The most frequently reported species
continue to be KILLDEER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and SEMIPALMATED,
LEAST and BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. On the 22nd nine STILT SANDPIPERS were observed
on the Quebec side at the Aylmer marina, and on the 23rd Shirley's Bay and
the Moodie Dr. pond each hosted three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.
Other reports of note included an early SNOW GOOSE in flight over Andrew
Haydon Park and Britannia on the 22nd, and multiple sightings of BALD EAGLES
and PEREGRINE FALCONS at Shirley's Bay as well as other locations. Several
AMERICAN KESTRELS were out and about in rural areas last weekend, including
a family group of six all lined up on the wires along Giroux Rd. off Frank
Kenny Rd. on the 21st. On the 20th an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was
spotted among the increasing numbers of regular gull species on the river at
Andrew Haydon, and a 2nd-year bird continues to frequent the Deschenes gull
roost. The same evening, good numbers of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were noted in the
Carp and Dunrobin areas.
Still not much news on the passerine front; the most interesting report was
of two RED CROSSBILLS at Britannia on the 22nd.
Thank you - Good Birding!
_______________________________________________
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