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
April 7, 2016 There were no real highlights this week. Migration has been very slow since spring was temporarily knocked out this week. There were very cold temperatures, starting Sunday, and 20 cm of snow on Wednesday, and it appears that it will be at least Monday before more settled spring-like weather returns. In late news, a GYRFALCON was found injured in the Frank Kenny area on the 28th of March and brought to the wild bird care centre for rehabilitation. Evidently, being an apex predator is no guarantee of a problem-free life. There were more new arrivals (new for the year or the season), than might have been expected, considering the appalling weather: 1. The biggest surprise was a BARN SWALLOW on the Rideau River near Carleton University, hunting insects on the 4th. This bird has not likely survived the subsequent snow and cold. 2. Another surprise, a PINE WARBLER at Britannia on the 6th. 3. A VESPER SPARROW was on Kettles Road on the 4th. 4. A HERMIT THRUSH at the Pine Grove trail on the 5th and the Dolman Ridge Road on the 6th. 5. 2 SWAMP SPARROWS were at Jack Pine Trail on the 4th. 6. An AMERICAN COOT was at Constance Creek on the 5th. 7. 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were in Gatineau east of the Blanche River. 8. A GADWALL in Carleton Place on the 3rd. 9. A GREAT EGRET at Britannia on the 6th. Waterbirds were not much of a highlight this week. Shirley’s Bay opened up enough to lure in 3 TRUMPETER SWANS on the 2nd, but the cold snap has probably caused a bit of re-freezing, and we are still waiting for a major influx. Small numbers of the expected DUCKS have been seen on all the watercourses. Carleton Place did have a flock of 500 LESSER SCAUP on the 3rd, there were 5000 SNOW GEESE in Winchester on the 5th, and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on the 5th at the Richmond Conservation area was notable. 6 TUNDRA SWANS are still hanging out in the Frank Kenny area as late as the 1st. Mostly the birding week was characterized by an increasing number of the expected early migrants including WINTER WREN, FOX SPARROW, NORTHERN FLICKER, and TREE SWALLOW (nearly 100 at Mooney’s Bay on the 2nd), but no major influx of anything. 18 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Britannia on the 6th is surely a sign of a population increase. Some winter visitors like BOHEMIAN WAXWING are still being seen in large flocks, notable being hundreds in Rockcliffe on the 3rd. Finch numbers are still huge, with PINE SISKIN and COMMON REDPOLL leading the pack, and once again there have been a number of sightings of HOARY REDPOLL in these flocks. 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. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
