Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler and transcriber: Bob Cermak at [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent reports to August 28, 2014 The fall migration is well underway. Twenty three warbler and 4 vireo species were reported in the Ottawa area this week. Most of those species were found at the the Britannia Conservation Area (BCA) on Cassels St. The number and variety of shorebirds was significantly lower this week mostly due to the higher water level now covering the mudflats at the Shirleys Bay dyke. The Crysler lagoon (west of the St. Albert lagoon) has good habitat but had a small selection of shorebirds this week. The annual OFNC Seedathon, which raises money to supply bird seed at the OFNC public bird feeders during the winter was conducted from 4:30 am to 7:30 pm on August 24th. Three hardy birders walked 10 km and drove 288 km within the OFNC 50 km birding circle to find 121 species. Highlights were COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (4) calling and booming before dawn and 37 migrants in two flocks at dusk, WHIP-POOR-WILL (12), VEERY (100+) and a few SWAINSON'S THRUSH heard overhead before dawn and a leucistic PURPLE FINCH on Rifle Rd. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (31) were found on the sod farms on the east side of Boundary Rd south of French Settlement Rd on the 27th. The most interesting passerine sightings were: - YELLOW-THROATED VIREO were reported at the BCA on the 24th and at Andrew Haydon Park on the 24th and 25th - very early ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were reported at the BCA ridge on the 22nd and 24th - CAROLINA WREN (juv) on Esquimault Ave on the 25th - YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at the BCA and along the NCC trail #10 on the 22nd and at the BCA on the 24th - PHILADELPHIA VIREO at the BCA on the 26th The most interesting shorebird sightings were: - RUDDY TURNSTONE (juv) on the rocks along the Shirleys Bay dyke on the 23rd - LONG-BILLED Dowitcher (1) was reported with STILT (1) AND BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at the Embrun lagoon on the 24th - BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (2) at the Crysler lagoon on the 28th The most interesting waterfowl sightings were: - RED-NECKED GREBE (2) on the Ottawa River from Jay St on the 24th - NORTHERN SHOVELER (5) at the Embrun lagoons on the 24th GREAT EGRET (12 adult and 12 juv) were seen on Conroy Island in the Ottawa River Deschenes Rapids on the 25th. There appears to be four active Great Egret nests on that island. 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. Thanks 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
