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 September 25, 2014 The highlight of the week was undoubtedly an adult male NORTHERN WHEATEAR (Greenland and eastern Canadian Arctic subspecies) found on the 20th and seen by many until the 22nd on Milton Rd east of Ottawa. A good selection of warblers (21 species including ORANGE-CROWNED and late YELLOW), vireos (4 species including PHILADELPHIA) and thrushes (six species including NORTHERN WHEATEAR, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, SWAINSON'S and a few GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH) and both KINGLETS are moving through our area. PINE SISKINS are arriving and a few COMMON and one RED-THROATED LOON (Baie Noire on the 22nd) were found. A few SNOW and CACKLING, one GREATER WHITE-FRONTED (near the Alfred bog on the 23rd), one ROSS'S (Masson-Angers on the 22nd) and thousands of CANADA GEESE were reported. Increasing numbers of migrant waterfowl were found including NORTHERN SHOVELER, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, REDHEAD, a few NOERTHERN PINTAIL, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, RUDDY DUCK, COMMON, HOODED and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and one EURASIAN WIDGEON (Baie Noire). With the very high water level in the area it will be extremely difficult to find NELSON'S SPARROW this fall since their usual Ottawa River marsh habitat is waist deep underwater. The Britannia Conservation Area ridge and woods, the Shirleys Bay Rifle Rd, Shirley Blvd and Lois Ave loop, the Rockcliffe Park Rockeries, the tree line along the Ottawa River from Andrew Haydon Park east to the Britannia Pier at Lakeside Gardens, the paved bike path along the Ottawa River in Gatineau between Ch. Vanier and the Champlain bridge, Bruce Pit and occasionally Petrie Island are the most active areas for passerines. Both sides of Trail Rd at the landfill site are excellent for thousands of gulls (including LESSER BLACK-BACKED) and raptors. There are virtually no mad flats anywhere along the Ottawa River. There are very small numbers of shorebirds at the Giroux Rd quarry ponds, the eastern lagoons at Crysler (just west of the St Albert lagoons) and Embrun and at the Bruce pit. The sod farms east and south of Ottawa have not been productive this past week. Waterfowl are most plentiful at the Shirleys Bay causeway (the mudflats are underwater), on the Ottawa River marshes at Baie Noire and Masson and at the St. Albert lagoon. The Alfred lagoon is always active with a good selection including waterfowl, gallinules and sparrows. Geese are everywhere but some of the best locations seem to be on Milton and Frank Kenny Roads, south of Ottawa on Moodie Dr (including the quarry ponds south of Trail Rd), Brophy, Barnsdale and Twin Elm Roads. Small numbers of Sandhill Cranes have been seen on Milton and Smith Roads. Many SWAINSON'S and a some GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES can be heard overhead some nights. 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. Good birding. _______________________________________________ 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
