Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau April 10, 2014 Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber Bob Cermak [email protected] or [email protected] Early spring migrants continue to arrive with increasing numbers of CANADA GOOSE, EASTERN PHOEBE, MEADOWLARK and BLUEBIRD, NORTHERN HARRIER, TURKEY VULTURE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, WOOD DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, GREAT BLUE HERON and TREE SWALLOWSAMERICAN ROBIN, KILLDEER, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, SONG SPARROW and COMMON GRACKLE are pretty much everywhere. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are arriving, about a dozen were near Perreault Rd at Milton Rd on the 9th. Rifle Rd has been reliable for AMERICAN WOODCOCK (up to 7) at or just after dusk, a WILSON'S SNIPE was heard there on the 8th. A few FOX SPARROW and NORTHERN FLICKER have been reported at various locations and a GREAT EGRET was seen over the Hwy 417 March Rd exit on the 8th.The ice is melting on local rivers (the Ottawa River is mostly not yet open) and creeks with extensive flooding at many locations such as Milton Rd, Frank Kenney Rd especially at the Bear Brook bridge, Cobb s Lake Creek floodplain east of Bourget and the Carp River floodplain south of Carp. Milton Rd has excellent birding with thousands of Canada Geese feeding on the corn stubble, increasing numbers of ducks, Sandhill Cranes (4 were present on the 8th), a few SNOW GEESE and increasing numbers of raptors. There is EXTENSIVE flooding on Cobbs Lake Creek, the most I have ever seen, but so far the flooding is mostly over top of the snow and ice with little corn and grass exposed so there are relatively few geese, only few flocks of SNOW GEESE (200 to 700) overhead and very few ducks. The number of geese and ducks will likely increase dramatically at this location over the next week!The Ottawa River above and below the Deschenes Rapids from the Britannia Yacht Club and Britannia Point continues to provide excellent birding. This week there were BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (also found at the Rideau Tennis Club), HORNED GREBE (1), GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL and SHOVELER, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMOR ANT, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, lots of COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON, HOODED and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (1) and GREATER SCAUP. Single GLAUCOUS and ICELAND GULL were reported. On the 5th GADWALL (3) and on the 7th two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were reported.In the Britannia Conservation Area interesting birds were TREE SWALLOW, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, EASTERN PHOEBE and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was reported on the 3rd. SNOW GOOSE were reported east of Chesterville (1000) and west of Winchester (5000). Single CACKLING GOOSE have been seen from Brophy Rd and Frank Kenny RdThe number and variety of raptors seen at the Greenland Rd hawk watch are increasing. This week there were many TURKEY VULTURE and smaller numbers of BALD EAGLE, MERLIN, RED-SHOULDERED, RED-TAILED, COOPER'S and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, OSPREY and a BELTED KINGFISHER!EASTERN MEADOWLARK and EASTERN PHOEBE have been seen on High Rd off of Earl Armstrong Rd and EASTERN BLUEBIRD can be expected there soon. Local birding field trips:April 13 (Sunday) 7 - 10 p.m. Frogs & Birds at night (confirm date on OFNC web site) http://www.ofnc.ca/events.php April 13 (Sunday) 7 - approx. 1 p.m. Spring waterfowl migration east of Ottawa http://www.ofo.ca/site/tripsupcoming Thank you to everyone who contributed bird observations. Due to increasing and widespread concerns regarding disturbance of wildlife and property, the OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to [email protected] for the purpose of maintaining local records. _______________ _______________________________________________ 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
