Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 6 September 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] The OFNC annual Seedathon was held September 2. Three tireless birders found 123 species during 16 hours of birding west and south of Ottawa. On a day that migration was relatively slow only 12 warbler and 13 shorebird species were found. The highlight of the day was a strong over flight of thrushes before dawn; VEERY (25), SWAINSON'S (50) and GRAY-CHEEKED (1) were heard. The juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER found August 29 at the end of Scrivens Street was last seen on September 1st. The pond and the area around the pond on the Sarsaparilla Trail (west side of Richmond road just north of West Hunt Club road) has been very active lately; GREAT EGRET (19), RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (1 adult and 2 juvenile), BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (5), COOPERS HAWK (2), SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (1), GREAT-BLUE HERON, GREEN HERON and VIRGINIA RAIL (1) have been seen. The warbler and vireo migration was slow this past week. - Britannia Conservation Area; September 6th; 11 warbler species including WILSON'S and BLACKPOLL and a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD were seen Numbers of shorebirds continued to be seen this week. - the Shirleys Bay mud flats continue to be the most reliable place in the area to find shorebirds. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (3) continue to be seen west of the 1st island. A non breeding adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER has been present since September 2 and a juvenile SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER has been present since September 3. Also present this week were; WHITE-RUMPED, BAIRD'S, PECTORAL, SOLITARY, LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED and BLACK-BELLIED (1) PLOVERS, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Also seen were NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, LESSER SCAUP, AMERICAN WIGEON and, quite early for this area RED-NECKED GREBE (2). Raptors seen in that area were NORTHERN GOSHAWK (1 September 2), BALD EAGLE (2 adult and 2 juvenile), PEREGRINE FALCON, MERLIN, OSPREY and NORTHERN HARRIER. AMERICAN PIPIT, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and MARSH WREN were heard or seen. - Andrew Haydon Park and the mud flats east to Lakeside Gardens; a WHIMBREL was reported August 31, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (up to 4) and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (up to 4) were seen most days - Winchester lagoons on September 3; SNOW GOOSE (1, probably the same bird seen June 16 and August 11), AMERICAN COOT, REDHEAD (2), LESSER SCAUP (1), RUDDY DUCK (1), LESSER YELLOWLEGS (12), 1st winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1), 5 species of swallows and BOBOLINK (1) Other interesting sighting were; - COMMON NIGHTHAWK (17) over Carlton Place August 31 - numbers of GREAT EGRETS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS continue to be seen - small numbers of CASPIAN TERNS continue to be seen - WILSON'S SNIPE (2) were seen feeding on the mud flats west of Scrivens September 3 - AMERICAN WIGEON (9) on Mud lake - RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (1) at the Russell lagoons - SNOW GEESE (6) were seen yesterday and today with Canada Geese on the east side of Fisher Avenue north of Baseline Road 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/
