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]
Chris Lewis "pinch-hitting" one more time for Bob Cermak: Spring migration continues to be interesting! Approx. 1,000 SNOW GEESE were still at the Winchester sewage lagoons on the 11th. The 1st local report of BRANT was on the 12th -- approx. 30 dropped in at Parc Moussette in Gatineau, Quebec. At least 2 GREAT EGRETs have been seen in the vicinity of Deschenes rapids on the Ottawa River, and one was in the pond along Sarsparilla Trail off Moodie Dr. on the 15th and 16th. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS are now on nests on Conroy Island in Deschenes rapids; adults and immatures are frequently being seen at Mud Lake in Britannia. The adult pair of BALD EAGLEs continues to be active at the nest on DND property at Shirley's Bay, and multiple observations of displaying MERLINs in suburban areas came in over the past week. The Bruce Pit on Cedarview Rd. had a good variety of water birds and waders on the 15th including PIED-BILLED GREBE, VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPER. The 1st report of SEMIPLAMATED PLOVER came from the Embrun sewage lagoons on the 11th. Both the Embrun and Winchester lagoons hosted increased numbers of LESSER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPERs on the weekend, along with a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS. A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was still at Winchester on the 11th, and a couple of BLACK TERNs were noted here the same day. Eight adult BONAPARTE'S GULLs were above Deschenes rapids on the 11th. Good numbers of CHIMNEY SWIFTs have been flying & feeding low during cool windy conditions, and SWALLOWs were doing the same at local sewage lagoons and the Ottawa River, with 5 common species all well-represented. LEAST FLYCATCHERs, EASTERN KINGBIRDs and RED-EYED VIREOs continue to trickle in. The 1st local report of MARSH WREN was on the 15th. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER is never a common species in Ottawa-Gatineau, but 2 observations in different Ontario-side locations last week were augmented by a 3rd discovery on the Quebec-side, north of Rue Lamoureux in Deschenes (this species has occurred here in the past). The 1st local reports of SWAINSON'S THRUSH and WOOD THRUSH came in on the weekend, and more AMERICAN PIPITS are moving through -- 40-50 were at the Embrun lagoons on the 11th and fly-overs have been seen and heard elsewhere. Of the 22 species of WARBLERs reported during the past week, the most recent arrivals included TENNESSEE, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, CAPE MAY, MAGNOLIA, BAY-BREASTED and CANADA. Many are back in breeding habitat and others are still moving through migrant traps such as Britannia, where a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was showing off on the 14th. A late AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was still in the Shirley's Bay area on the 12th, an influx of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS occurred "on schedule" beginning May 11th. SCARLET TANAGERs, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs, and INDIGO BUNTINGs are also back. BALTIMORE ORIOLEs are now ubiquitous, the 1st local reports of BOBOLINKs came in last weekend, and PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKIN were still on the move on the 16th. Thank you to everyone who contributed bird observations! _______________________________________________ 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/
