Hi Ontbirds people, Numbers of shorebirds have been building up in the Ottawa area. It's still early in the migration season, and we've not had a lot of "weather" to bring them down. Nevertheless some impressive numbers have been noted recently, especially at the St. Albert sewage lagoons where one of the cells has been very active (the "dry" pond, but with obviously enough moisture to sustain scattered clumps of vegetation..and attract shorebirds!)
Over the past week or so, 15 spp. have been reported from these lagoons, and the "mix" is ever-changing! Today, (01 August), Bob Bracken, Bob Cermak, Paul Mirsky & observed approx. 200 individuals of 11 species in this cell. Among the +++ numbers of Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers were: 1 ad. Black-bellied Plover in transitional plumage 2 Semipalmated Plovers a few Greater Yellowlegs several Semipalmated Sandpipers 1 White-rumped Sandpiper 11 Pectoral Sandpipers, incl. 1 in fresh juvenile plumage 2 Stilt Sandpipers, in very different plumages 4 Wilson's Snipes We also visited the Embrun sewage lagoons. The habitat was not ideal for shorebirds, but a few spp. included Killeer, Spotted SP, L. Yellowlegs & Least SP. Waterfowl species at Embrun included many Wood Ducks (all ages from adults to juveniles to very recent broods). Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule & Sora were also seen here. Also of note, for those interested in butterflies: approx. 40 (and probably many more) very fresh Painted Ladies at St. Albert, and a few at Embrun (...if those Painted Ladies were any "fresher" we'd have called the Vice Squad ;-) !). Also, at least 20 Eastern Tailed Blues at Embrun, several (also very fresh) Black Swallowtails, Monarchs & numerous Orange Sulphurs. DIRECTIONS: St. Albert lagoons - from Ottawa, take Hwy 417 east to exit 79, then south on Cty Rd. 5 to Cty Rd. 7, then east towards St. Albert. The road to the lagoons is easy miss, but look for a gravel drive on the S. side past Lafrance Rd. If you miss it, you can always enjoy the delights of the famous St. Albert Cheese Factory! (NOTE - the maintenance staff we & others have encountered here have been birder-friendly, but please park in the CENTRE of the gravel parking lot near the entrance gate, to allow the "honey wagon" driver to do his job). Embrun lagoons - from Ottawa, take Hwy 417 east to exit 79, then south on Cty Rd. 5 to Rte 400. West on Rte. 400 and look for the "lone White Pine" on the N. side. (NOTE - despite the "No Trespassing" signs, birders have never had a problem entering these lagoons, but we don't want to press this "unoffical" privilege) Enjoy the season, Chris Lewis Ottawa,ON [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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/
