Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 11 April 2013 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] ROSS'S GOOSE (1) was found this afternoon with a few thousand CANADA GEESE on the south west side of old hwy 17 (Madawaska Blvd) between Antrim and the Mississippi River east of Arnprior. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (2) were seen with thousands of CANADA GEESE in the corn stubble on the west side of Moodie Dr just north of Barnsdale Rd on the 5th. A huge flock of 50,000 to 60,000 SNOW GEESE have been feeding with tens of thousands of CANADA GEESE on the corn stubble on the Cobbs Lake Creek flooded fields east of Bourget (both sides of Russell Rd, south of Lalonde Rd and west of Rollin Rd) on the 8th, 9th and 10th and may be still present. There were about 9,000 SNOW GEESE at the same location on the 7th and two large flocks were reported along Russell Rd near Cheney on the 10th. Large flocks up to 12,000+ continue to be seen north of Winchester near Morewood and Cayer Roads. Early spring migration continues to bring returning birds to our area; EASTERN MEADOWLARK, OSPREY, EASTERN PHOEBE, TREE SWALLOW, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, GREAT BLUE HERON, WILSON'S SNIPE and AMERICAN WOODCOCK (including 4 tonight on Rifle Rd) have been seen at numerous locations. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (37) were seen on a small island in the Ottawa River north of Lemieux Island on the 10th. RUSTY BLACKBIRD have been seen at several locations including 70-80 seen on the 10th near the Richmond Fen on Joy's Rd. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (2) were seen in a Pakenham back yard on the 8th and an early female was seen on the Dewberry Trail on the 11th. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (2) were seen at Mud Lake on Cassels St on the 10th and EASTERN BLUEBIRD (1 m) was seen on Fifth Line just north of Berry Sdrd on the 11th. SONG SPARROW, AMERICAN ROBIN, COMMON GRACKLE, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and KILLDEER are being seen all over our area. Other than CANADA and SNOW GEESE and NORTHERN PINTAIL there are relatively small numbers of returning waterfowl, HOODED and COMMON MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and WOOD DUCK have been reported from various locations. The numbers of BLACK DUCK and MALLARD are increasing, NORTHERN SHOVELER (4) were seen at the north end of Twin Elm Rd and GADWALL (1 m) was seen on he west side of Greenbank between Hunt Club and Fallowfield on the 7th. A COMMON LOON was seen briefly on the Rideau River at Strathcona Park on the 11th. SANDHILL CRANE (up to 18) have been seen on the west side of Milton Rd and south of Smith Road. Interesting sighting were; - HOARY and COMMON REDPOLL continue at various locations - GOLDEN EAGLE (adult) was reported over Terry Fox and Castlefrank Rd in Kanata on the 6th - WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (1 f) and small flocks of EVENING GROSBEAK continue at the feeders at 1917 Indian Creek Rd on the west edge of Larose Forest - CAROLINA WREN continue to be seen (2) in the woods on the west side of the Britannia Conservation Area and (1) on Oakley Ave - RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (1 m) was seen near 3871 Twin Elm Rd on the 6th - BOREAL CHICKADEE (1) and PINE SISKIN (1 fly over) at 121 Ch. Blackburn north of Perkins on the 7th - FOX SPARROW was seen at the feeder in the Hurdman woods on the 9th 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/
