Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 09 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]
As we enter the 2nd week of August, bird movement continues to be more interesting. Although the major waterfowl season is still a couple of months away, GREEN-WINGED TEAL are beginning to gather on the ever-increasing mud flats along the Ottawa River west of the Shirley's Bay causeway, and juvenile HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS were again seen in a few locations. Numbers of GREAT BLUE HERONS have been quite remarkable at Shirley's Bay in recent days, at least 3 GREAT EGRETS were fishing along the river off Andrew Haydon Park and 2 were at Mud Lake in the Britannia Conservation Area on the weekend. MERLIN reports came from Orleans, Britannia and Carlington from the 6th to the 8th, and at least 3 SORA rails were seen along the marsh edges at Shirley's Bay. SHOREBIRDS were the main focus of the week, with 14 species noted on the river, especially at Shirley's Bay. Newcomers since the 6th included a single fly-over BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a single feeding SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. Numbers of LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY, SEMIPALMATED, LEAST, WHITE-RUMPED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS continue to gradually increase. AMERICAN WOODCOCK and WILSON'S SNIPE were also noted on the weekend. Other species of interest at Shirley's Bay were at least 4 adult CASPIAN TERNS and many COMMON TERNS including a few immature birds. **IT'S TIME TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT PERMISSION IS REQUIRED TO ACCESS THE SHIRLEY'S BAY CAUSEWAY, AS IT IS ON DEPT. OF NATIONAL DEFENSE PROPERTY AND THERE IS AN ACTIVE FIRING RANGE NEARBY. BEFORE ENTERING THE CAUSEWAY, PLEASE CONTACT DND RANGE CONTROL AT 613-991-5740.** In other locations along the Ottawa River on the 7th there was 1 adult BONAPARTE'S GULL off Andrew Haydon Park and a few newly-arrived GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the rocks in the Deschenes rapids. Back on the 2nd, 3 CASPIAN TERNS were seen at the Deschenes rapids. Lots of common resident passerine species were noted over the past week, with many still singing. A CAROLINA WREN was still occasionally vocalizing near George McLean Park on Long Island in Manotick as of the 3rd. A few more YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have begun to arrive, and a report of at least 1 CAPE MAY WARBLER came from Britannia on the 7th. A few young WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were noted at a feeder near Shirleys' Bay on the 7th. And, last but not least, the WESTERN MEADOWLARK was still active and singing at Panmure Rd. and Upper Dwyer Hill Rd. as of at least the 2nd. 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/
