Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler and transcriber: Greg Zbitnew at [email protected] or [email protected] Recent reports to January 29, 2015 Normal winter conditions prevailed in Ottawa this week, with little new snow until the 29th. There was little change to the bird life this week and no new species. Bird life remains sparse outside of the urban areas and the rivers. For example, recent trips to the western part of Gatineau Park report very little, with a few lucky exceptions noted below. Some lingering waterfowl are still present: 1. GREATER SCAUP was at Britannia as recently as the 24th. 2. WOOD DUCK was near the Rideau Tennis Club as recently as the 25th. 3. NORTHERN SHOVELER was seen at Appaloosa Park as recently as the 28th. 4. Up to 2 BARROW’S GOLDENEYE and up to 3 BUFFLEHEAD have been seen from Bate Island; singles as recently as the 28th. 5. HOODED MERGANSER was seen at Black Rapids as recently as the 25th. Farmview Road in Kinburn still regularly (but not every day) has GRAY PARTRIDGE. The most recent sighting was on the 25th. In the area around Stony Swamp, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were last seen on January 29th near the parking area of Jack Pine Trail and there was another sighting on rue Dupuis in Gatineau on the 25th. An AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was seen on the Eardley-Masham Road on the 24th in the western part of Gatineau Park but was not relocated. The RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen again on Oriole Drive on the 25th, and the NORTHERN FLICKER was at the Moore Farm on the 24th. A GYRFALCON was reported flying over Embrun on the 29th. GOLDEN EAGLE was reported from Bellamy road on the 24th (outside the area) but one was seen on the Eardley Masham Road on the 26th. Winter listers may note that birds of prey remain scarce, aside from RED-TAILED HAWK which is regular at the Trail Road Landfill. NORTHERN GOSHAWK is sometimes seen in the Stony Swamp area, and PEREGRINE FALCON is sometimes seen from the R. H. Coats building in Tunney’s Pasture, but neither is seen often. NORTHERN SHRIKE and other FALCONS, ACCIPITERS and BUTEOS are not consistently reported from any one spot. Also for winter listers, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have been reported a number of times in various places, but most often in the Shirley’s Bay area. Other recent reports are from Anderson road and Green’s Creek. CEDAR WAXWINGS are even scarcer, with small flocks seen in Merivale Gardens and the Moore farm this week, but no consistent locations. Some past reports are from Chemin Grimes and Beacon Hill. A HERMIT THRUSH was seen at the NRC on the 24th. LAPLAND LONGSPUR were seen at the Trail Road landfill, on Lockhead Road and in Luskville this week. A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was seen on the Eardley-Masham Road on the 24th but was not relocated. There are still regular reports of COMMON REDPOLL in many locations and but only scattered reports of HOARY REDPOLL. EVENING GROSBEAK are still regular at a feeder at the western edge of Larose Forest, but other finches are scarce. PINE GROSBEAK were reported from Ramsay Lake and relais Herridge in Gatineau Park on the 24th and 25th respectively, and a PINE SISKIN was seen at the Jack Pine Trail on the 25th. 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. 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
