Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 29 August 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] Numbers of migrating species were seen this week but the number and varity of shorebird species reported was surprisingly low. The OFNC's Birds Committee manages winter feeding stations at Dewberry Trail on Dolman Ridge, Mer Bleue, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Pine Grove Trail on Davidson Road, Jack Pine Trail on Moodie Drive, and the Canadian Museum of Nature. The CMN feeders are a joint effort of the Museum, Le Club des Ornithologues de l'Outaouais and the OFNC. A "Big Day" event known as the Seedathon is held annually in early fall to raise funds for purchasing seeds for those bird feeders. Birds Committee members seek sponsors who donate a fixed amount or offer to pay on a per-species basis. Keen OFNC birders then try to find as many species of birds as possible within a 24-hour period. This year's Seedathon saw three intrepid birders bird from 4:33 am to 8:15 pm on August 25th. 127 species were found at a number of locations including Thomas Dolan Pkwy ridge and Constance creek, Andrew Haydon Park west, Britannia Conservation Area ridge and woods, south of the International Airport, Moodie Dr ponds, the Embrun and St Albert lagoons and the Deschenes Rapids and Mud Lake at dusk. Species found were: Waterfowl (12), Shorebird (9) including RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (1) on the northeast cell of the Embrun Lagoon and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK heard, Raptor (9) including RED-SHOULDERED (2) and interacting MERLIN, COOPER'S HAWK and NORTHERN HARRIER being watched by a juv NORTHERN GOSHAWK at the Constance Creek bridge on Thomas Dolan, Gull (5) including LESSER BLACK-BACKED (1) at the Deschenes Rapids, Flycatcher (6) including OLIVE-SIDED (1) on Rifle Rd, Swallow (6), Wren (3) including a pair of CAROLINA WREN in the Britannia woods, Thrush (5) including VEERY (59) and SWAINSON'S (8) heard overhead before dawn, Warbler (15) including NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (1), TENNESSEE (5), NORTHERN PARULA (1), BAY-BREASTED (1) and BLACKBURNIAN (1) at the Britannia Conservation Area and Sparrow (8) including one each CLAY-COLORED,, GRASSHOPPER and VESPER in the sparrow fields behind the International Airport. Expected shorebirds missed were Baird's, White-rumped and Stilt Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs (!) and Short-billed Dowitcher. A group from Montreal with Bird Protection Quebec had a spectacular selection of migratory species on the 24th at the St Albert Lagoons including in the woods/low bushes around the lagoons. Some of the birds they had: "American Bittern 4, Green Heron 1,Osprey 2, Northern Harrier 2, Cooper's Hawk 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1,Merlin 4, Peregrine Falcon 1,Semipalmated Plover 1,Solitary Sandpiper 2, Wilson's Snipe 8, Belted Kingfisher 1, Nashville Warbler 1, Yellow Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 1, Cape May Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 6, Palm Warbler 1, Mourning Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat 4, Wilson's Warbler 2, Canada Warbler 1, Lincoln's Sparrow 1 in woods along eastern edge, Indigo Bunting 1, Bobolink 12 and Baltimore Oriole 1". PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen in the Britannia woods on the 24th and 26th and at Shirley's Bay on the 24th. CANADA WARBLER was seen in the Britannia woods and at the Tunney's Pasture woodlot on the 26th, WILSON'S WARBLER and a probable GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH were also seen in the Tunney's Pasture woodlot on the 26th, a single adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was seen on a sod farm on River Rd east of hwy 416 on the 29th, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH (4) were heard over Constance Bay on the 29th. 13 species of warbler were seen in the Constance Bay woods on the 25th. Interesting sightings: - OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in the Britannia woods on the 23rd - COMMON NIGHTHAWK (86) over Pakenham on the 24th 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
