Ontario/Quebec
Ottawa/Gatineau
30 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]
Most of the past week's reports again came from areas along the Ottawa
River, especially the ever-popular Britannia Conservation Area and the
causeway at Shirley's Bay. Gatherings of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL
and COMMON MERGANSERS are increasing, and three COMMON GOLDENEYE were seen
near the Champlain bridge on the 30th. An amazing 30 GREAT EGRETS were
counted roosting on the island in the Deschenes rapids on the evening of the
21st; singletons were found in a wide range of locations in and around
Ottawa since then, and at least 13 were at Shirley's Bay on the 27th. GREEN
HERONS were noted in several locations, and 13 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS of
various ages were seen on the west end of the Deschenes island on the 26th.
A good variety of raptors have been hunting along the river including
several OSPREYS, an adult and 2 juvenile BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIER,
SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWKS, a female AMERICAN KESTREL in the same tree
with a male MERLIN at Shirley's Bay, and at least two PEREGRINE FALCONS were
noted by many observers at Andrew Haydon Park and in the Carlingwood area.
Assortment and numbers of shorebirds continue to vary from day to day, with
moderate concentrations at Shirley's Bay. SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, KILLDEER,
GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and up to 50 LEAST
SANDPIPERS were joined by three BAIRD'S, two PECTORAL and one STILT
SANDPIPER from the 25th to the 29th. A juvenile RUDDY TURNSTONE and three
STILT SANDPIPERS were at the Casselman sewage lagoons on the 28th, and a
SANDERLING was among small scattered groups of mostly Killdeer and Lesser
Yellowlegs at Andrew Haydon Park on the 24th.
On the 27th three BONAPARTE'S GULLS were on the river east of Britannia and
a juvenile has been hanging around Shirley's Bay where at least 6 CASPIAN
TERNS were still present on the 27th. An impressive 47 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS
were observed at Deschenes on the 21st and from the 23rd to the 25th good
numbers were also reported at Britannia and in Carleton Place.
A visit to the Embrun sewage lagoons on the 28th produced some good
sightings including a very early female BUFFLEHEAD, seven juvenile COMMON
MOORHENS, and large numbers of SWALLOWS, including approx. 1,000 TREE and
smaller numbers of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, BANK, CLIFF and BARN. Several
hundred swallows (mainly Tree) were also noted at Deschenes on recent
evenings.
Songbird migration has finally stepped up! A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was
singing at the base of the Shirley's Bay causeway on the 29th, BLUE-HEADED,
WARBLING, PHILDELPHIA and RED-EYED VIREOS were all reported over the past
week, and a movement of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES was noted on the weekend.
From the 25th to the 29th, 19 species of WARBLERS included TENNESSEE,
NASHVILLE, NORTHERN PARULA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, CAPE MAY,
BLACK-THROATED BLUE, YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACKBURNIAN,
PALM, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, BLACK-AND-WHITE, WILSON'S and CANADA. LEAST
FLYCATCHERS, SCARLET TANAGERS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAKS and BALTIMORE ORIOLES have become more evident in the local
landscape as well.
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/
