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 sightings to March 19, 2015 Spring is struggling to arrive in Ottawa. Despite a few moderate thaws early in the week, cold has again returned. Some faster flowing areas of the Rideau River are opening up a bit, and despite the cold, birds are trickling in, and some of the trickle was new birds. The highlight was 2 adult TRUMPETER SWANS in Carleton Place on the 16th, although they were not relocated on the 17th. This species breeds in that area, and will likely remain. They could be anywhere on that stretch of the Mississippi river, not all of which is visible from public roads. A very early but injured AMERICAN WOODCOCK was taken to the Wild Bird Care Centre on the 16th. Other new arrivals were TURKEY VULTURE in Kanata on the 15th, and RING-NECKED DUCK at Strathcona Park since the 14th. A CAROLINA WREN was reported in Bell’s Corners on the 14-15th. Reports of CANADA GOOSE are notable by their absence. Whereas at this time of year there could be thousands, there have been only two reports: on the 12th from Chrysler and on the 17th from Pakenham. A LESSER SCAUP at Black Rapids on the 16th was probably a migrant. GULL numbers and variety are increasing. 6 species of GULL can be now seen in Ottawa, with some effort. On the evening of the 18th, at the gull roost at Bate Island, there were hundreds of gulls. Single LESSER BLACK-BACKED and GLACOUS GULLS were notable there. RING-BILLED GULLS are now the most common gull in the region and are being widely seen. ICELAND GULL was seen in the area early in the week. Birds of prey are beginning to move through the area. In addition to scattered reports throughout the area, over a 6 hour period of watching on the 16th on Greenland Road overlooking the Constance creek valley (possibly the best viewing area in the region), there was a spectacular showing of 8 species: 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 2 BALD EAGLE, 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 1 MERLIN, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1 COOPER’S HAWK and 2 RED-TAILED HAWK. PEREGRINE FALCON, AMERICAN KESTREL (Dunning south of Giroux) and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were also seen this week. 5 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen on Farmview Road on the 14th. 3 RUFFED GROUSE, scarce this year, were seen budding on Rifle Road on the 16th. The AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOOODPECKER was on Chemin Grimes on the 15th. There are still significant flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWING about: 250 at Rockcliffe airport on the 13th, and 400 at Shirley’s Bay on the 18th. A single male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD at Pakenham on the 18th is the frontrunner of an imminent flood of this species. 100 COMMON REDPOLL were at a feeder on O’Hara near Dunrobin, with scattered reports elsewhere. 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
