Ontario/Quebec
Ottawa/Gatineau
19 July 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]
Three extremely early fall migrants were found this week.
A WESTERN SANDPIPER (one record in mid June and then no records until August
4th) was reported at the Russell Lagoons on July 16th but was not subsequently
found. The same day a juvenile BONAPARTE'S GULL, probably a record early
migrant for all of southern Ontario, was seen by several birders at Shirleys
Bay. An adult male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen on July 18th and 19th on the
bay west of the dyke at Shirleys Bay. Prior to this bird there were no records
for WHITE-WINGED SCOTER between the first week of July and mid September.
First breeding records for BALD EAGLES and GREAT EGRETS were established this
year.
The two eaglets at Shirleys Bay (which have left the nest this week) were the
first breeding record for the Ontario portion of the Ottawa/Gatineau birding
area (50 km radius from the Parliament Buildings Peace Tower). At least 4 young
GREAT EGRETS are on (the extremely difficult to see) 2 nests on the south side
of Conroy Island in the Ottawa River Des Chenes rapids. This is the first
breeding record for the Ottawa/Gatineau area.
The early shorebird migration continues. Seen this week on the extensive mud
flats at Shirleys Bay were; GREATER YELLOWLEGS (4), LESSER YELLOWLEGS (2),
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (15+), SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (1), SANDERLING (1),
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (3), SOLITARY SANDPIPER (1), LEAST SANDPIPER (20+), SPOTTED
SANDPIPER (20+) and many KILLDEER. On July 17th 7 WHIMBREL were seen flying out
of sight away from from Shirleys Bay to the south west over the Ottawa River.
Also seen at Shirleys Bay this week were GREAT BLUE HERONS (18 mostly juv.),
GREAT EGRET (3), COMMON TERN (27 including juv.), CASPIAN TERN (3) and a flock
of 20 GADWALL.
Note that the Richmond lagoons are now completely dry and very small numbers of
shorebirds (GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS) have
been seen at the Embrun lagoons. The Bruce Pit on Cedarview Road continues to
be active with (July 18th); KILLDEER (6), SPOTTED SANDPIPER (2), SOLITARY
SANDPIPER (1), GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1), LESSER YELLOWLEGS (7), SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER (1) and LEAST SANDPIPER (6).
Other interesting sightings were;
- NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS, uncommon breeders in this area, have bred and produced
one offspring in Carleton Place
- RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, breeding in Constance Bay since 2002, are raising a
new family again this year
- a BARRED OWL was seen in a Westgate area back yard
Thanks to everyone who contributed 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/
