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]
January 28, 2016
The only notable birds this week were some continuing rarities. The TUFTED TITMOUSE was still present in Breckenridge on the 24th, and the HARLEQUIN DUCK was still at Bate Island as of the 27th.
Weather this week was fairly mild for the season, with little additional snow. A significant thaw on the 24th caused a bit of melting on the rivers, with open water now considerably above seasonal norms. While birding has been pleasant, there has been little change to the avifauna. In fact there is either little out there or little birding activity this week.
On the rivers, there are a few birds worth pursuing. Near Carleton University there was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, as late as the 27th. 3 BUFFLEHEAD were west of the Champlain bridge on the 27th, but that was all of note.
2 GOLDEN EAGLE were at a traditional location, Steele Line, on the 24th and 1 on the 27th. The first recent report of a BELTED KINGFISHER was on the 23rd at Cardinal Creek and Hwy. 17.
A CAROLINA WREN has been frequenting a feeder in Gatineau (Limbour) from the 24th to at least the 27th, while the one near Brantwood Park was seen as recently as the 23rd. A HERMIT THRUSH continued at Lac Philippe (P19) until the 27th. Large numbers of BOHEMIAN WAXWING are about, with a huge number (1000) at Britannia on the 24th.
COMMON GRACKLE in Russell on the 25th , BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and EVENING GROSBEAK AT Larose Forest on the 24th were the only other out of the ordinary reports.
Finally, a trip to the Lac la Blanche area had good numbers of PINE SISKIN and a few COMMON REDPOLL but none of the sought after FINCHES.
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.
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