I was astonished to hear a singing Mourning Warbler this morning while cycling through Algonquin College in Ottawa on my way to work. The bird was in a single line of ornamental plants on the south side of the T Building (School of Advanced Technology), in an otherwise quite open campus area. These plants were lilac-like bushes and tall grass-like vegetation planted in a gravel-topped bed. The bird began making the somewhat yellowthroat-like call of the species when it detected my presence. True to form, it would not show itself but I eventually saw it bouncing around at the back of the bushes. It then flew to the ground only to quickly fly off behind the grass-like plants.
I go through this area every day but this is the first time I've heard this bird. This and the unsuitable habitat make me think that, despite the territorial-like behaviour, it's a wandering unpaired male or possibly an exceptionally late migrant(?) I realize that Mourning Warbler is not a rare bird but thought this sighting unusual enough to be worth reporting. Paul Matthews Directions: Algonquin College is on the east side of Woodroffe Ave. The main entrance (College Rd) is two intersections south of Baseline Rd. Follow College Rd almost to the end. The T Building is the last building on the north side of College Rd (before an intersection and a parking lot). Note that Woodroffe southbound is currently closed between the 417 and Baseline due to major roadwork. _______________________________________________ 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/
