Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club
Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec
Compiler:  Greg Zbitnew at k_zbitn...@bell.net or sighti...@ofnc.ca

February 25, 2016

It has been a dull week with no real highlights.  Temperatures have been above seasonal with some thaws and modest amounts of snow.  At this time of year, birders are anxiously watching for small signs of spring, but to date they have been very small indeed.

An AMERICAN WIGEON at Britannia on the 23rd was the only thing really new among the waterfowl.   A RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in the Vincent Massey Park area on the 20th is likely the same bird that was near Carleton University in previous weeks, while a BARROW’S GOLDENEYE on the 21st east of the Champlain Bridge was expected.

Up to nearly 100 GULLS of 4 species, HERRING, GREAT BLACK-BACKED, GLAUCOUS and ICELAND GULL have started to show up in areas like the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers as well as the Trail Road Landfill.  This is the first hint of spring.

6-7 GRAY PARTRIDGE were near Kinburn a few times this week, as late as the 22nd, but this declining species was often missed.   

A NORTHERN HARRIER on the 23rd in the Kinburn area may have been an early arrival.  Many have seen BALD EAGLE, Manotick being one good spot.  Although it surprises some who have not seen one before, this striking bird is not rare in the area, especially in the winter near open water. 

LAPLAND LONGSPUR were in the Kinburn area on the 21st.

Among the FINCHES, 2 birders were lucky enough to see both RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on the 19th in the Lac la Blanche area, neither of which has been regular anywhere.  Lastly, EVENING GROSBEAK were in the Casselman area on the 21st.

The OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to sighti...@ofnc.ca for the purpose of maintaining local records.
 
Thanks to everyone who contributed bird observations.
 

Good birding.

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