Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 02 August 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]
A good variety of sightings came in over the past week, an indication that birds are on the move!
WOOD DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER, AMERICAN WIGEON and several juvenile HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS were spotted in diverse locations. As usual, there were many RUDDY DUCKS at the Embrun sewage lagoons and the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd.
On the 1st, two large flocks of WILD TURKEYS were seen in the Almonte area, and PIED-BILLED GREBE families were noted at Mud Lake in Britannia as well as other locations. Three GREAT EGRETS have occasionally been seen along the Ottawa River at Andrew Haydon Park and at least 1 has been fairly regular at Mud Lake. OSPREYS are being seen on a daily basis, an adult BALD EAGLE was seen again at Petrie Island on the 1st, a COOPER'S HAWK has been hunting at Britannia, and families of MERLINS have been out and about in the Westboro neighbourhood in recent days.
SHOREBIRDS are trickling in, with increasing numbers and variety on the rapidly receding river at Shirley's Bay. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, KILLDEER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY, SPOTTED, SEMIPALMATED, LEAST and BAIRD'S SANDPIPER have all been reported as well as WILSON'S SNIPE. the Almonte lagoons also hosted some of the above species as well as PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the 1st.
On the 30th, 3 adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS were on Britannia Bay. At least 2 CASPIAN TERNS were at Shirley's Bay from the 30th onward, COMMON TERNS are showing up in more locations, and a BLACK TERN was also at Shirley's Bay on the 1st.
CHIMNEY SWIFTS were noted in good numbers in Westboro and other areas, CEDAR WAXWINGS continue to be numerous and ubiquitous, and many songbirds are engaged in post-breeding dispersal. NASHVILLE, MAGNOLIA and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were among the YELLOWS, AMERICAN REDSTARTS and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS on the weekend, and several INDIGO BUNTINGS have been noted recently. Good numbers of BOBOLINKS were found on the 1st, at Panmure and Upper Dwyer Hills Rds. west of Ottawa, where a WESTERN MEADOWLARK continues to make its presence known.
Thank you - Good Birding!
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