Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 22 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]
Along with the usual temperamental mix of mid-March weather, a really nice influx of spring migrants has begun. A report of a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flying over Moodie Dr. in the south end of Ottawa on the 19th was followed by reports of SIX along John Shaw Rd. east of Kinburn Side Rd. on the 20th and the same number (possibly the same group?) in a flooded area along the Carp River south of Carp on the 21st. Two ROSS'S GEESE were seen in several locations in the vicinity of Brophy Rd., Moodie Dr., Twin Elm and Barnsdale Rd. on the 19th and 20th; they appear to be following the large numbers of CANADA GEESE that are now in this area as well as many rural and suburban locations. SNOW GEESE began to arrive in significant numbers in eastern Ontario around March 12th, and an impressive flock of 50,000 - 100,000 were at Green Valley south of Alexandria on the weekend. The first local reports of CACKLING GEESE came in on the 20th and 21st. A pair of adult TRUMPETER SWANS discovered on a partially-frozen section of the Jock River along 9th Line Beckwith west of Ashton on the 19th was still present the following day. Migrant duck numbers are still low, however WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BUFFLEHEAD and HOODED MERGANSER have all been reported over the past week. A covey of 10 GRAY PARTRIDGE were a surprise on the 17th near the intersection of Ettyville and Johnston Rds. southeast of Bourget, as this species normally starts to pair up at this time of year. WILD TURKEYS remain widespread in flocks of 20 or more birds. The first migrant GREAT BLUE HERONS have begun to arrive, along with numbers of TURKEY VULTURES and NORTHERN HARRIERS. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was noted near St.Pierre-de-Wakefield on the 19th, and a few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen east and west of Ottawa over the past few days. At least 4 SANDHILL CRANES are back along Smith Rd. west of Milton Rd. near Navan, and a singleton flew over Brophy Rd. on the 20th. KILLDEER are back as of at least the 17th, as are AMERICAN WOODCOCK and WILSON'S SNIPE. On the 19th and 20th, 2 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and an adult GLAUCOUS GULL were on the still-frozen quarry pond along Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. as well as the Deschenes rapids of the Ottawa River; these may be they same individuals moving back & forth between the two locations. A male EASTERN BLUEBIRD was right on time in the Mer Bleue Conservation Area on the 20th, AMERICAN ROBINS are now everywhere and flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still in evidence. SONG SPARROWS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES are now in full territorial mode and the first seasonal report of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD was on the 18th. HOUSE FINCHES and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are singing as well, and reports of COMMON REDPOLLS continue to come in; some local feeders also had up to 3 HOARY REDPOLLS last week. A striking leucistic Common Redpoll has been irregular at the feeders on Hilda Rd. by Shirley's Bay, and was most recently reported on the 19th. 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/
