Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Greg Zbitnew at [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent sightings to July 16, 2015 The LITTLE EGRET was last seen at Andrew Haydon Park on the 10th, and on Conroy Island on the 13th. Weather continues settled and on the dry side. No other rarities have been reported, and the birding focus has been on the slow and unsteady influx of shorebirds, still in the early phase. The best birding this week has been the marshes along the Ottawa River. Shirley’s Bay has been the best, with up to 60 species being reported on a morning trip. Up to 2 REDHEAD have been from the 11th to the 15th, and up to 6 species of PUDDLE DUCKS as well. The BRANT was at Andrew Haydon Park as late as the 15th. Notable among the herons was the near daily sighting of LEAST BITTERN in the marsh to the west of the dike at Shirley’s Bay. These have typically been views of 1-5 seconds of the bird travelling just above the marsh. One was also seen on the 10th at the marsh west of the causeway at Petrie Island as well as at McLaurin Bay. SHOREBIRDS are still low in numbers and variety, there have been some sightings migratory shorebirds at some good and potentially good locations, as follows (noting that there have been no shorebird reports from Quebec this week): 1. Shirley’s Bay: LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LEAST SANDPIPER 2. Andrew Haydon Park: LEAST SANDPIPER 3. Petrie Island: SOLITARY SANDPIPER 4. Embrun Lagoons: SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, PECTORAL, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a single report of STILT SANDPIPER. 5. St Albert Lagoons: The good habitat earlier this spring is now largely grown up, making observation difficult. LEAST SANDPIPER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS. There is also a lingering SNOW GOOSE. 6. Winchester Lagoons: LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LEAST and SOLITARY SANDPIPER 7. Almonte Lagoons: Good habitat, LEAST SANDPIPER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS. A notably large number of TURKEY VULTURES (43) were roosting in Pakenham this week. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL at the Moodie Drive pit and BONAPARTE’S GULL at Quyon were small signs of an impending increase in numbers and variety of gulls. Up to 4 CASPIAN TERNS at a time have been seen on the Ottawa River west, and singles at Petrie Island SWALLOWS have begun to congregate in preparation for fall migration. 400 TREE SWALLOWS, among others, were seen at the Embrun lagoons this week. Observed songbird variety has declined with the amount of singing tapering off significantly. There has been no noticeable migration this week; mostly only the expected breeding species have been seen. Somewhat out of the ordinary for Ottawa county, and possibly breeding, were BLUE-HEADED VIREO and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on the Rideau Trail off Kettles Road. The latter species was also at Shirley’s Bay. 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
