Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 20 December 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) Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario,W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis [email protected], or [email protected]
The Ottawa-Gatineau Christmas Bird Count was held on Dec. 19th, with 74 species and 2 hybrids recorded in very pleasant weather conditions. Among a few record highs were 93 WILD TURKEYS and 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD on Rue Helene-Boulle in Aylmer, Quebec was a first for the count, and a CACKLING GOOSE in the Britannia sector was a 2nd record. Lingering waterfowl included CANADA GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, and both HOODED and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. A total of 5 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE were found in different locations on the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers, and a BARROW'S x COMMON hybrid was present on the Rideau south of the 417 bridge. A late COMMON LOON was found on the Ottawa near the Britannia filtration plant on the 19th. Raptors of interest during the past week included several BALD EAGLES with 8 found on count day, a late NORTHERN HARRIER at the Trail Rd. landfill on the 14th, 15 COOPER'S HAWKS, at least 4 MERLINS and possibly 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS in mainly urban areas. A few more "white-winged" gulls have begun to arrive: 1 ICELAND and 3 GLAUCOUS GULLS were found in the vicinity of the Trail Rd. landfill on the 14th and 5 of each species were also found in the Britannia area on the 19th. An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Moodie Dr. quarry pond on the 14th, and several hundred GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were found over the past week as well. The female RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was still present near the churchyard in Pakenham on the 20th, and the male on 6th Line Rd. in the Kanata / Dunrobin area was most recently reported on the 15th. Observations of NORTHERN SHRIKES came in from a wide variety of locations. While not a record high, over 16,000 AMERICAN CROWS were recorded on count day, and huge numbers have been noted at the major roost in the Alta Vista neighbourhood of Ottawa in recent weeks. Two CAROLINA WRENS continue to frequent the Lakeview area of Aylmer, Quebec with one on Prom. Lakeview and the other on Rue Farley on the 19th. Over 1,900 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were counted on the 19th with the majority found in the Gloucester sector. The PINE WARBLER first reported back on Dec. 3rd was still coming to a feeder on William McEwen Rd. south of Bankfield Rd. as of at least the 14th. Lingering sparrows included several SONG and WHITE-THROATED and a SWAMP SPARROW was seen in a wet area off Ogilvie Rd. near Hwy 417. DARK-EYED JUNCOS and SNOW BUNTINGS were recorded in good numbers for what is essentially an urban Christmas count. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD in Aylmer near the same location of the Eastern Bluebird was a rare find for Dec. 19th, and although the diversity of finch species remains low, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and COMMON REDPOLLS are definitely beginning to increase in our area. Merry Christmas and Good Birding to all! _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
