Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 15 March 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]
More early spring migrants have begun to arrive. The first local report of SNOW GEESE came from Hallville south of Ottawa where 300 were seen in a field, then flying towards Winchester. Although the large seasonal influx of CANADA GEESE has yet to begin, groups and pairs have been showing up everywhere. Two adult and 4 immature TRUMPETER SWANS on the Mississippi River in Carleton Place on the 11th are likely the same family that was discovered in this vicinity last year. Not much new yet in the duck department, however that is likely to change soon with the forecast for warm temperatures this week. A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen again above the Deschenes rapids among several displaying male COMMON GOLDENEYE. Another report of a male BARROW'S on the Ottawa River came from Petrie Island on the 13th. GRAY PARTRIDGE have been very scarce and elusive, so good fortune was with the observer who spotted 2 in a field along Rushmore Rd. west of Richmond Rd. on the 15th. On the early side was a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT flying over the river near Remic rapids on the 12th; this species has been breeding in Ottawa-Gatineau since at least 2006, and it would be no surprise if more began returning to the colony by the Lemieux Island filtration plant in the coming days. The first local report of TURKEY VULTURE came in on the 12th south of Ashton, a MERLIN checked out the feeders by Shirley's Bay on the 13th, and SANDHILL CRANES appear to have returned to the Mliton Rd. area southwest of Navan - at least one was heard here on the 13th. Local gull numbers continue to increase, with RING-BILLED GULLS now numerous and ubiquitous. An adult ICELAND GULL was seen again near the Trail Rd. landfill on the 12th along with 4 GLAUCOUS GULLS of various ages. On the 9th an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was spotted among RING-BILLED, HERRING and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the ice east of the Britannia filtration plant. Single NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen at Shirley's Bay and Petrie Island on the weekend. Small groups of HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS continue to be seen in rural areas. The HERMIT THRUSH near the Hurdman (Hwy 417) bridge over the Rideau River was still alive and well as of the 13th. AMERICAN ROBINS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and COMMON GRACKLES were noted by many observers in recent days, and flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS remain widespread. DARK-EYED JUNCOS were singing in the Clyde Ave. woods in Carlington on the 15th, small numbers of both RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen last week in the Beacon Hill North neighbourhood, and many local feeders continue to host good numbers of COMMON REDPOLLS, with some flocks containing single HOARY REDPOLLS as well. 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/
