I was joined by about a dozen dedicated birders this morning for the annual January OFO Ottawa trip. A snowfall overnight had left the roads in poor shape and the snow continued for most of the morning impacting visibility. Nevertheless we had some good birds. We started in the eastern environs of Ottawa where we had very good looks at 3 GREAT GRAY OWLS. The same area also had at least one NORTHERN SHRIKE. On the way out to Highway 174, near the Montreal Road exit some of the group saw a BARRED OWL perched low in a roadside tree while others had a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in a nearby treetop. We searched in vain from Gray Partridge on Giroux Road northeast of Navan, but they weren't being cooperative today and had to settle for a cooperative flock of SNOW BUNTINGS. We finished up on Bate Island in the Ottawa River. Unfortunately neither the Harlequin Duck nor Barrow's Goldeneyes could be found so we had to settle for a male BUFFLEHEAD (rare in Ottawa in winter) amongst the COMMON GOLDENEYES. Thanks to everyone who participated! David BrittonOttawa _______________________________________________ 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/
