Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Greg Zbitnew at [email protected] or [email protected]
Recent sightings to October 8, 2015 The best bird of the week was a LE CONTES SPARROW at Andrew Haydon Park on the 5th, but unfortunately it was not relocated after the initial sighting. Meanwhile, the WESTERN KINGBIRD was last seen at Fletcher Wildlife Garden on the 4th. Weather this week was generally dry with temperatures a bit below seasonal, and mostly northerly winds, quite brisk earlier in the week. As a result there was just a steady but not dramatic stream of migrants. We are now into the waterbird season. While the initial flood of GEESE appears to have moved on, there are still lots around. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at the Moodie Drive pond on the 5th, and there are SNOW GEESE here and there. A flock of 200 BRANT was at Ottawa Beach on the 8th. An early RED-THROATED LOON was at Baie Simard on the 6th and at Deschênes/ Britannia Point on the 6-8th. There was a significant concentration of about 2000 waterfowl of 15 species at Shirley’s Bay on the 6th, including LONG-TAILED DUCK. The numbers had dropped quite a bit by the 7th. Regionally, 21 species of ducks were seen this week, including an early BUFFLEHEAD at the Giroux ponds as recently as the 7th. After the 1st, shorebird variety perked up a bit. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS arrived in some numbers this week, and there were 3 sightings of HUDSONIAN GODWIT-Shirley’s Bay, Giroux and Constance Bay. The LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS continued at Richmond as late as the 4th. Regionally 16 species were seen this week. Some recent sightings include: Shirley’s bay: 135 birds of 9 species (including 105 WHITE-RUMPED) on the 6th; 20 birds of 4 species on the 7th. Giroux Ponds: 40 birds of 7 species on the 6th; 55 birds of 10 species on the 7th. Constance Bay: 15 birds of 6 species on the 6th. Petrie Island: 2 species, WILSON’S SNIPE and KILDEER Richmond Conservation area: 26 birds of 4 species on the 4th. Almonte: 20 birds of 4 species on the 4th. We are getting into the HAWK migration season. GOLDEN EAGLE was seen twice, including at the Greenland Road Hawk Watch spot, where this and the first of the season ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on the 4th. A late RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Petrie Island on the 6th. Quite a few HERMIT and SWAINSON’S and a few GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH were in the wooded areas this week. BLUE-HEADED VIREO and both species of KINGLETS were rather common as well. Warbler variety declined sharply. Regionally, 14 species were seen this week, but some of those were single late sightings-OVENBIRD and WILSON’S WARBLER. About 90-95% of all warblers seen now are YELLOW-RUMPED, and 1-3 species per trip are all that can be expected. This has been the peak time for ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, but it is still an easy bird to miss. NELSON’S SPARROW was seen at Andrew Haydon Park as late as the 6th. FOX and TREE SPARROW sightings are increasing, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS seem to be everywhere in large numbers. This is also the peak time for LINCOLN’S SPARROW, but they are only seen in ones or twos at most. Finally, a few other late sightings: YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Richmond on the 3rd. INDIGO BUNTING at Fletcher on the 4th. WARBLING VIREO at the Rockcliffe Airport on the 8th. HOUSE WREN at the Rockcliffe Airport on the 7th. 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
