Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 30 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]
It was a good week, with some nice developments in shorebird and warbler migration. Shorebird numbers on the mud flats at Shirley's Bay continued to rise and fall on a daily or even hourly basis (no doubt influenced by the presence of raptors, including BALD EAGLE, MERLIN, and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS). A notable change-over has also occurred in the percentage of adults versus juveniles, with more young birds showing up. An adult SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was still a fixture as of the 28th, and the same day new arrivals included RUDDY TURNSTONE and SANDERLING. STILT SANDPIPER was also new here as of the 25th. More SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS are arriving, LEAST SANDPIPERS are clearing out, and up to 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES have been present through the weekend. On the 28th a WHIMBREL was reported flying along the river off Andrew Haydon Park. The Casselman sewage lagoons had great numbers and diversity on the 28th and 29th - among the 14 species collectively reported were 35 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 50 KILLDEER, 20 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 120 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE, 5 RED KNOT, 7 SANDERLING, 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER , 8 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 1 STILT SANDPIPER, 1 SHORT-BILLED-DOWITCHER and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. The local warbler highlight was a rare in Ottawa (especially in late summer) BLUE-WINGED WARBLER in the woods north of Pontiac St. near Island Park Dr. on the 22nd and 23rd. Other more expected migrants trickled in throughout the week and finally arrived in good numbers on the 28th and 29th, with some species in multiple numbers. Among 19 species reported since the 23rd were TENNESSEE, MAGNOLIA, CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN, PINE, BAY-BREASTED, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, WILSON'S and CANADA. The first report of an ORANGE-CROWNED individual was at Britannia on the 28th. Up to 12 GREAT EGRETS were seen on the 28th, most of them along the Ottawa River from Shirley's Bay to Deschenes, and one was at the Bruce Pit on Cedarview Rd.the same day. BALD EAGLE reports came in from widespread locations, and in addition to the MERLINS and PEREGRINES at Shirley's Bay, one of each was hunting at Britannia last week. An adult light morph PARASTIC JAEGER flew west up the Deschenes rapids on the 25th but did not reappear. A couple of handfuls of BONAPARTE'S GULLS have been at Shirley's Bay and the Deschenes rapids all week. The first seasonal report of a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Deschenes rapids on the 26th, numbers of HERRING and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS continue to increase, a couple of CASPIAN TERNS were seen again over the same rapids, and at least 30 COMMON TERNS were noted at Shirley's Bay on the 25th. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS are still moving through, with 21 noted on the 26th over the Rockcliffe Parkway. Not a lot of passerine news, other than the warblers. On the 21st, 2 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were flycatching in Val-des-Monts (Perkins), Quebec, a few LEAST FLYCATCHERS have been noted here and there, and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at Britannia on the 29th. It's been a while since a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was reported in Ottawa - one in very heavy molt was found on the 26th, on the Nepean Equestrian Park grounds. Permission or a valid reason is required to enter the park. 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/
