Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 5 April 2012
Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club (OFNC) 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: Bob Cermak [email protected] or [email protected] Early spring migrants continue to arrive. A GREAT EGRET was seen flying over the Ottawa River from the west end of Jamieson Street on April 1st. The LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (found March 21st and not reported since March 23rd) was been seen again today on the shore of the Bearbrook Creek at the bridge on Frank Kenny. Also reported today for the first time this year were 4 BLUE-WINGED TEAL on the Ottawa River east of the Lac des Chenes sailing club seen from Trail 10 which runs east from the end of Riverdown Drive (which is east of Hilda Road). Some of the more interesting birds have been; - a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen over the Bearbrook Creek bridge on Frank Kenny on March 29th and April 5th - FIELD SPARROWS have been seen on the Torbolton ridge on Thomas Dolan (approx. 5 1/2K from Dunrobin Road) since March 30th - large flocks of up to 25 thousand SNOW GEESE continue in the corn stubble on Dunning Road just north of Colonial Road. These flocks of GREATER and LESSER SNOW GEESE include up to 25% blue phase LESSER SNOW GEESE. Smaller flocks have been seen at a number of locations such as along Russell Road, at the Giroux Road pit and on the small amount of flood water (Cobb's Lake) near Johnson Road and Russell Road east of Bourget - a ROSS'S GOOSE was seen flying with a small flock of SNOW GEESE above Cobb's Lake on April 1st - OSPREY have returned to their nests on Rifle Road (3 on April 2nd), Thomas Dolan at the Constance Creek bridge (2 on March 31st) and on Riddell Road on April 5th - on March 31st a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and an EASTERN BLUE BIRD were seen on 5th Line Road not far from Barry Side Road - the first report of COMMON RAVENS feeding young birds at the nest was on March 31st - a BALD EAGLE has been seen regularly on the nest which can be seen in the tree line north west of Shirley's Bay - 6 GADWALL were seen on the ponds west of Shirley's Bay on March 31st and 2 more were seen on the small creek that passes under March Valley Road on April 4th - 5 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at the Hilda feers March 31st - a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen at the Burnside pit on Moodie Drive on April 1st - a pair od REDHEAD DUCKS were seen at the Moodie Drive pit on April 1st - FOX SPARROWS were seen at a number of locations including along the fence line at the Moodie Drive pit on April 1st, 2 across the road from the feeders on Hilda Road and in the Britannia woods on April 4th - 3 CACKLING GEESE and 28 SANDHILL CRANES were seen from Milton Road on April 1st - a WINTER WREN was seen on the Morris Island conservation trail on April 1st - Tree Swallows are being seen at a number of locations including over the water near the Innis Point Bird Banding station on Shirley's Bay - the Eardley Masham road in Quebec continues to be active. On April 3rd a pair of RED CROSSBILLS, SISKIN, PURPLE FINCH and a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER were seen - the CAROLINA WREN continues along the west fence line in the Britannia Conservation area woods - a male REDHEAD DUCK, a CACKLING GOOSE, NORTHERN SHOVELERS were seen at Black's Bay (Baie Noir) in Quebec and a (escaped) pair of HELMETED GUINEA FOWL was seen near house # 531 on hwy 148 on April 4th and apparently had been there for a week - an EASTERN TOWHEE was seen on the Torbolton Ridge along Thomas Dolan on April 1st - 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were flying and vocalizing over 5th Line Road on April 5th Thank you for your bird observations, 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/
