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 November 27, 2014 On the 13th I reported a probable adult non breeding PACIFIC LOON on the 9th near the Quebec shore of the Ottawa River observed at a distance of about one and a half km from the Ottawa Des Chenes Rapids Lookout. The OFNC Bird Records Subcommittee determined that based on the sighting information provided PACIFIC LOON could not be confirmed. There was a sighting on the 25th and again this morning (27th) of a distant, possible, adult non breeding PACIFIC LOON on the same stretch of river east of the Deschenes Rapids. PACIFIC LOON has not yet been recorded in the Ottawa/Gatineau area as one local birder/lister commented on the latest report: "I feel like Charlie Brown – and Lucy’s holding the football"! The HARLEQUIN DUCK (f) found on the Rideau River on the 4th continues on the Rideau River at Strathcona Park. Also reported at that location: on the 24th BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (m), HOODED MERGANSER (52) and 200 m south a very late PIED-BILLED GREBE and on the 20th a HERMIT THRUSH and a male and female pair of BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER (f) continues to be reported along the Stony Swamp Conservation Area Jack Pine trail between the parking area and the bird feeder area and also: at the "start of road Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais", along NCC trail 10 just north of the Carling Ave parking area (f) and a female along the Pioneer trail near the entrance to Gatineau Park. There have been a number of late and very late birds this past week: FOX SPARROW at the south end of Richmond Rd and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH at the Richmond lagoon on the 21st, an AMERICAN PIPIT along Panmure Rd near 12th Conc. and a GREAT BLUE HERON over Westboro on the 22nd, GREEN-WINGED TEAL (m & f or juv) and REDHEAD (f) at the Moodie Dr pond, GRAY CATBIRD along the NCC trail 24 and a probable record late TURKEY VULTURE on the Trail Rd landfill on the 23rd, a singing PINE WARBLER in Pakenham on the 24th and on the 26th a HERMIT THRUSH at the mouth of the Rideau Canal and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH at the Central Experimental Farm. The Trail Rd landfill continues to be an excellent location to study up to 6 gull species. On the 23rd there were RING-BILLED (few), HERRING (150+), ICELAND (4), GLAUCOUS (2 juv 1 ad), LESSER BLACK-BACKED (1 3rd year) and GREAT BLACK-BACKED (25) GULLS . The ponds west of the Shirleys Bay causeway continue to be active, on the 25th there were BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (ad f) with COMMON GOLDENEYE (150), WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (1 imm), LESSER SCAUP (30), HOODED (2) and RED-BREASTED (1) MERGANSER and COMMON LOON (1). Interesting sightings were: NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD along Farmers Way south of hwy 417 on October 31st (reported this week), SNOW BUNTING at a number of locations including Wall Rd (140), a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was reported near Dows Lake on the 22nd, SNOW GOOSE at a number of locations such as on Brownlee Rd (4), Rushmore Rd (17) and in the east a large flock on Devine Rd on the 24th and a sub adult GOLDEN EAGLE at the west end of Steele Line south of the Gatineau Park. 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
