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 23, 2015 The best bird of the week, and the first new one in the region since early June, was a WHIMBREL (heard) at Andrew Haydon on the 19th. The summer doldrums have finally arrived in Ottawa. As last week, the birding focus has been on the slow and unsteady influx of shorebirds, still over a month from the peak. However, there have also been a number of lingering waterbirds to break the monotony. Aside from the lingering BRANT, a COMMON GOLDENEYE (very rare in July) has also been at Andrew Haydon from the 20th to at least the 23rd. A REDHEAD was at Shirley’s Bay as late as the 17th and at the Masson filtration plant on the 21st. A LESSER SCAUP at the Casselman lagoons and a RED-NECKED GREBE at the Russell Lagoons have also been interesting diversions. LEAST BITTERN was heard at Baie McLaurin on the 20th. Up to 6 species of herons can been seen with some luck and diligence by birding from Shirley’s Bay (mud flats and marsh) to Conroy Island (the breeding colony), especially as the young leave the nests. SHOREBIRDS are still low in numbers and variety, but both the numbers and variety are building up and are higher than last week. These are some sightings of migratory shorebirds at some good and potentially good locations, as follows (Note that there have been no shorebird reports from Quebec this week either): 1. Shirley’s Bay-variable habitat, sometimes excellent: LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (this on the 21st only) 2. Andrew Haydon Park and east to Scrivens-some good habitat: SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, and SOLITARY SANDPIPER 3. Petrie Island: No birds seen 4. Giroux Ponds: No habitat and no birds 5. Casselman Lagoons-some habitat, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPER 6. Embrun Lagoons-some habitat: GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL, LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 7. Russell Lagoons: No birds seen 8. St Albert Lagoons-limited visibility in available habitat: No sightings this week. 9. Winchester Lagoons-little habitat: 2 WILSON’S PHALAROPE. 10. Almonte Lagoons-some good habitat: Mostly LESSER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPER, but also GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED and SOLITARY SANDPIPER. Both GREATER and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the Moodie Drive pit, and BONAPARTE’S GULLS have been seen from time to time on the Ottawa River west. Up to 6 CASPIAN TERNS at a time have been seen on the Ottawa River west. There is still a fair bit of bird song, and although nothing unexpected was seen, there are signs of post-breeding dispersal of the local breeders, and there is still a good variety of birds around for anyone who takes the trouble to look. Many of the breeders can be seen as family groups. For example, among many other species, 13 species of WARBLER were seen in the Lac la Blanche area one morning this week. As another example, in the Marlborough forest south of Kettles Road, among the good variety seen, both EASTERN TOWHEE and SEDGE WREN were singing. These are both quite local species and there have been few observations of them outside the traditional spots. 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
