Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 22 November 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]
Waterfowl and migratory restlessness are the dominant themes at this time of year, with species and numbers arriving, departing and constantly moving around. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE appeared briefly at Andrew Haydon park on the 18th. Approx. 200 SNOW GEESE continue to visit the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. On the 19th an adult ROSS'S GOOSE was among them, as well as a possible ROSS'S x SNOW GOOSE hybrid. At least 1500 SNOWs were in the Casselman area on the 17th and 18th. A couple of BRANT are still around, but at no fixed address, and the 2 adult and 3 immature TRUMPETER SWANS were still being seen on the Mississippi River in Carleton Place as of the 18th. Varying numbers of WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, and all 3 species of SCOTERS and MERGANSERS continue to be seen in widespread locations. A female LONG-TAILED DUCK lingered off Andrew Haydon park until at least the 19th, and a few RUDDY DUCKS were on the Moodie Dr. quarry pond the same day. On the 20th a RED-THROATED LOON was seen off Andrew Haydon, and a few HORNED GREBES were still on the river last week. NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK and RED-TAILED HAWK were all noted, and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS appear to be increasing in rural areas around Ottawa as well as in the Gatineau hills on the Quebec side. Two DUNLIN at the Casselman sewage lagoons were the only shorebirds reported as of the 18th. A few NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen here and there, a CAROLINA WREN may be settling in for the winter in the Britannia Conservation Area, and many AMERICAN ROBINS are in the landscape - at least 60 were in the woods by Shirley's Bay on the 16th. DARK-EYED JUNCOS and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS continue to move through and may also spend the winter in areas with sufficient food and shelter. 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/
