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 November 5, 2015 The best bird of the week occurred just outside the region, near the Lafleche Landfill east of Casselman. A PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, the first record for Ontario, was found there on the 30th and was seen as late as the 5th in the same general area. It is difficult to spot, and views are often fleeting, among the immense numbers of SNOW GEESE, estimated to be at least 100,000 on the 31st. Incidentally, this is one of Eastern Ontario’s great wildlife spectacles. Birders should beware, when trying to see this bird, of the traffic on the very busy Highway 138. Incidentally, both ROSSES and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE have been seen in this flock as well. A CATTLE EGRET (very rare), spotted on the 30th on a horse paddock on Donnelly Road near Burritts Rapids (but apparently there for several days before), was still there on the 5th, being reasonably cooperative. Weather was generally dry with temperatures well above seasonal most of the week, (and close to record on the 5th) and with completely open water, there was little incentive for waterbirds and lingering passerines to clear out. While there are a few lingering birds to chase, generally speaking the woods have become quite quiet. Waterbirds, in particular ducks, were in good supply this week. Shirley’s Bay had 2000 ducks of 20 species on the 2nd. On the 31st, the first of the year CANVASBACK was seen here (and also at Russell on the 2nd) but unfortunately not subsequently relocated. Meanwhile, the female HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen as late as the 30th in and near the Deschênes rapids. BARROW’S GOLDENEYE has been seen both at Shirley’s Bay and more reliably at the traditional spot on the Rideau River near the Tennis Club. Regionally 25 species of duck have been seen this week, 24 at Shirley’s Bay. Shorebirds continue to diminish in number and variety. Shirley’s Bay and Andrew Haydon Park (west) are spots to check, but we are only getting 2-3 species in any one location. DUNLIN and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were the most common SHOREBIRDS. Regionally 7 species have been seen this week. The only notable one has been a very late SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Shirley’s Bay and Andrew Haydon. There has been a bit of RAPTOR activity this week. Most notable were 3 GOLDEN EAGLE on Greenland Road on the 30th, and a cooperative NORTHERN GOSHAWK at the Bruce Pit on the 2nd. This is now the peak time for this uncommon species. 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS harassing shorebirds at Shirley’s Bay (and catching one) might partly explain the declining number of shorebirds there. A late TURKEY VULTURE was seen from Giroux Road a few times this week. GULL variety has not been improving much. There are still very few other than the regular 3 species. We may need more wintry weather for more “white-winged gulls” to arrive. A BONAPARTES GULL was at Andrew Haydon Park on the 1st and Embrun on the 3rd. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have arrived. A small flock was seen in the Eardley area (west of Gatineau) on the 29th. There is still a reasonable population of some of the later passerines, like YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WHITE-THROATED and SONG SPARROWS. However, the woods are becoming very quiet. Notwithstanding this, the favourable weather may have made some lingering birds more conspicuous. There have been a number of lingering/ late birds this week: 1. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER was at Britannia on the 30th. 2. VEERY at Shirley’s Bay on the 30th. 3. EASTERN BLUEBIRD at the Nortel Marsh on the 30th. 4. AMERICAN WOODCOCK on Torbolton Road on the 31st. 5. SWAINSON’S THRUSH at Petrie Island on the 31st. 6. AMERICAN BITTERN near Burnt Lands Provincial Park on the 3nd. 7. MARSH WREN was at the marsh at the north end of Champlain St. in Orleans on the 3rd. 8. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in Orleans on the 3rd. 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
