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 April 30, 2015 The most notable sighting this week was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Pakenham, in the woods behind the cemetery. The weather during most of the early part of the week was cool and while it warmed to above seasonal during the latter part of the week, persistent and blustery northerly winds made unfavourable migration conditions. There was just a modest stream of migrants with about 12 first-of-season arrivals. In general it was a quiet week for birds and the hoped for migration push did not happen. Next week’s long-term forecast gives hope for Ottawa area birders. Although for the most part waterfowl sightings this week were limited, an exception was the north side of the Ottawa River from around Rivière Blanche east to Plaisance. However, only the expected common species have been seen. The first GREEN HERONS (early) arrived this week but not in any numbers. Meanwhile, the other arrived HERONS are building in numbers. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and GREAT EGRET are at times conspicuous at their breeding colony on Conroy Island across from Britannia in Quebec. AMERICAN BITTERN are on their breeding grounds such as Mer Bleue, where 2 were vocalizing on the 29th. AMERICAN COOT were at Marais aux Laîches this week, and there was a single sighting of SORA and a few of UPLAND SANDPIPER. One notable place for the latter species is Campbell Road, southwest of the city. Shorebird reports have been few and far between; in general there is little habitat for shorebirds, and there have been no reports of shorebirds from the eastern lagoons. Not new, but out of the ordinary were a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER still at Jack Pine Trail and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER in Gatineau. BANK SWALLOW was the last of our swallows to arrive, and the numbers of the others are slowly increasing but are nowhere common. Of the passerines, HOUSE WREN arrived this week, but not in any numbers. By contrast, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET is one of a number of migrants that seemed particularly common this week. A CAROLINA WREN was seen and heard in the southwest corner of Britannia woods. A single and early NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER was heard singing in Gatineau, PALM WARBLER is now on territory at the Mer Bleue Bog, a BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER was at Britannia on the 30th, and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER was in Forêt Boucher Gatineau, but in general there are few WARBLERS around. Of the BLACKBIRDS, 100s of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS have been seen roosting in Mer Bleue in the evening. Of the FINCHES and SPARROWS, an early LINCOLN’S SPARROW arrived this week in Cantley, PURPLE FINCH is increasing in numbers, and JUNCOS are being seen in sometimes large flocks. A few EVENING GROSBEAKS were in Pakenham this week, and a late SNOW BUNTING on the 25th east of Westboro Beach was an unwelcome reminder of our brutal winter. 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
