Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 08 February 2011 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]
Winter lingerers were the main features on the local birding scene this past week. A female AMERICAN WIGEON first reported back in mid-January was still on Brewery Creek in Hull, Quebec on Feb. 6th, and another (perhaps the same bird?) was on the Rideau River near the Tennis Club the same day, though at a different time. A male BARROW'S GOLDNEYE and a male hybrid COMMON x BARROW'S were seen on the Rideau River south of the Hurdman (Hwy 417) bridge on the 2nd but not on the 6th, and another report of a male hybrid Goldeneye came from the Ottawa River east of Bate Island on the 4th. A female HOODED MERGANSER was seen again on the Rideau near the same location as the Barrow's on the 2nd but not on the 6th. Healthy wintering waterfowl can & do move around a lot! A very excited flock of at least 30 WILD TURKEYS were vocalizing and interacting at the base of the Gatineau hills off Eardley-Masham Rd. on the 5th; up to 60 were seen here earlier last week. The Mer Bleue area also hosted flocks of turkeys ranging in size of up to 50 birds on the 3rd and 6th. On the 3rd and 7th an adult BALD EAGLE was spotted in the Shirley's Bay area, and mild sunny weather on the 5th prompted several to soar over the Gatineau hills with at least 8 individuals noted. The wintering RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in Aylmer, Quebec was seen again at the north end of Rue du Golf on the 5th and 6th, and 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were found in the Ste-Rose area east of Ottawa on the 4th. Recent reports of PEREGRINE FALCONS came from the east end of the city - one near Industrial Rd. and the train station, and another by the National Reasearch Council complex off Montreal Rd. Once again, there seem to be almost no gulls in Ottawa! A female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER discovered at the Pine Grove trail off Davidson Rd. on Jan. 29th has not been seen again, and a male also flew off after a brief sighting near the north end of Farmer's Way on Feb. 3rd. At least 4 NORTHERN SHRIKES were reported over the past week from diverse locations. COMMON RAVENS have begun to display, pair up, and begin nest construction & renovations, as is usual at this time of year. A CAROLINA WREN was again reported from Prom. Oval in Aylmer on the 1st. The HERMIT THRUSH and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near the Hurdman bridge were still present on the 6th. It's been several weeks since AMERICAN ROBINS were reported, however at least 2 were in Deschenes, Quebec near the south end of Vanier St. on the 5th. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS continue roam around on both the Ontario and Quebec sides, with a flock of perhaps 100 the largest mentioned in recent days. A SONG SPARROW continues to hang out with a substantial group of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS along Trail Rd. east of the landfill, and a 2nd bird was discovered farther west along Trail Rd. on the 7th. LAPLAND LONGSPURS also persist in rural areas - several groups totalling over 30 were found again in the Ste-Isidore and Ste-Rose areas on the 4th and 6th along with over 60 HORNED LARKS and large flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS. Although RED CROSSBILLS have not been reported locally since late December when a small number was found along Eardley-Masham Rd., at least one was heard in flight in the same general area on Feb. 5th.. A single male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen again at a feeder in the Beacon Hill neighbourhood during the snowstorm on the 2nd. Good numbers of HOUSE FINCHES, small flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS (some including a HOARY REDPOLL or two) continue to visit local feeders, PINE SISKINS were seen again sporadically in various locations, and a total of 26 EVENING GROSBEAKS (mostly fly-overs) were noted in the Larose forest on the 6th. Thank you - Good Birding! _______________________________________________ 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/
