Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec compiler and transcriber Bob Cermak [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent reports to May 15, 2014 This is Chris Lewis's last "coverage" report for Bob Cermak while he's been chasing Mississippi Kites and Connecticut Warblers at Point Pelee.... ....Meanwhile in Ottawa-Gatineau, it's been a great week for birding. Passerine migration has been enjoyable with good weather and numerous new arrivals very visible and vocaL Among the flood of expected species was a local rarity on the morning of the 15th - a singing WHITE-EYED VIREO along Shirley Blvd. at Shirley's Bay. The rarity of this observation is enhanced by the fact that the few previous records of this species for our area were all in the fall. The Britannia/Mud Lake Conservation Area has been (as usual) the most magnetic spot for birders and photographers. However, other areas such as (to name a few) Constance Bay, Dunrobin, Shirley's Bay, National Arboretum, Mer Bleue boardwalk, Rockcliffe, Stony Swamp, Bruce Pit, Petrie Island, a couple of local sewage lagoons, and several locations on the Quebec side have also been very productive. Here are some of the many notable observations: On May 11th, a late flock of approx. 1000 SNOW GOOSE at the Winchester sewage lagoons included 1 ROSS'S GOOSE. The same day, waterfowl at the Embrun lagoons included GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. GADWALL and BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen in wet areas along March Valley Rd. on the 10th. A pair of REDHEAD was in the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. on the 13th, and RUDDY DUCK continue to be seen here. Two RED-NECKED GREBE recently observed on Mud Lake in Britannia were "rehab" birds released from the Ottawa Wild Bird Care Centre. AMERICAN BITTERN, GREAT EGRET, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and COMMON GALLINULE were again reported from several locations. COMMON TERN were spotted in several areas, and BLACK TERN were seen at the Embrun lagoons on the 11th and Marais aux Grenouillettes in Quebec on the 12th. On the 11th the Embrun sewage lagoons hosted 18 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 14 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 2 DUNLIN. The same day, the Winchester lagoons had at least 200 shorebirds, mostly LESSER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPER as well as 2 male WILSON'S PHALAROPE. SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, WILSON'S SNIPE, and AMERICAN WOODCOCK were again reported form various locations. Several observations of CHIMNEY SWIFT this week included a high-feeding flock of 100+ over Britannia on the 14th. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD are back as of at least the 10th. LEAST FLYCATCHER were widely reported, as were other common expected flycatcher species. Five species of VIREOS included the aforementioned WHITE-EYED VIREO, and single YELLOW-THROATED VIREO were reported in areas on both the Ontario and Quebec sides of the Ottawa River on the 11th and 14th. All of our locally breeding SWALLOW species are now back. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER discovered in the woods at Britannia/Mud Lake on the 4th was still there until at least the 11th. VEERY, SWAINSON'S THRUSH and WOOD THRUSH are all back, right on time. On the 14th a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was found along the bicycle path at the south side of the Britannia Conservation Area. CEDAR WAXWING numbers continue to be mind-boggling. WARBLER-watching has been very rewarding - 24 species were reported this week including multiple individuals of some of the less common passage migrants. Unusual and noteworthy for Ottawa-Gatineau were the number of observations of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (one or two almost every day!) from a wide variety of locations. TENNESSEE, MOURNING, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, CANADA and WILSON'S were the most recent additions since last week. CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW are now on territory south of the international airport. Single on-the-move LINCOLN'S SPARROW were reported from several locations and territorial males are back in the Mer Bleue bog. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW began to move through last week, with a peak in numbers on the weekend and a few remaining into early this week. SCARLET TANAGER and BOBOLINK have arrived. On the evening of the 9th, a flock of multiple 100's of RUSTY BLACKBIRD was observed coming into roost again near the Mer Bleue boardwalk - up to 2,000 were reported here on the 6th and 7th. Due to 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 local records. Thank you to everyone who contributed bird observations.....back to you, Bob C.! _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
