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
May 12, 2016 The most interesting birds this week were 2 ROSS’S GEESE in Winchester on the 8th, a CERULEAN WARBLER (female) at Lac Philippe on the 11th, and this news just in, 2 LITTLE GULLS at the Marais aux Grenouillettes on the 12th. Weather was up and down during the week: good Friday-Saturday, poor Sunday-Monday, and improving through to Thursday. There were no fallouts, but migration continued at a steady clip, with nearly 30 firsts of the year (FOY). Some species like WARBLING VIREO and YELLOW WARBLER have become abundant virtually overnight, while there are just single sightings of some of the others. Unfortunately rainy and cool weather is forecast for the weekend. Waterbirds were not particularly exceptional. Thousands of SNOW GEESE at both Winchester and on Giroux were notable for the large number so late in the season. Small numbers of REDHEAD have been seen at different places in the region. Otherwise the waterbirds are mostly as expected. Numbers of many of the earlier DUCKS like SCAUP and RING-NECKED are declining for the season. BONAPARTE’S GULL at Parc Brébeuf on the 7th were the FOY but otherwise most of the non-breeding GULLS have left the area. SHOREBIRDS continue to arrive but the peak is several weeks away. In the limited habitat available there may be 3-4 species present. FOY were 5 SEMIPALMALTED PLOVER near Cannamore on the 10th, LEAST SANDPIPER (Petrie Island on the 11th), SOLITARY SANDPIPER at Richmond CA and Marais aux Grenouillettes on the 6th and UPLAND SANDPIPER on the 7th on Panmure and on Franktown on the 8th. EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL on the 5th on Thomas Dolan Parkway and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at Inkerman on the 6th were more or less on time for the season. The insect population, having now risen to the minor nuisance level, is providing food for the rising insectivore population including the FOY GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Pine Grove on the 6th), LEAST FLYCATCHER (Richmond on the 6th), ALDER FLYCATCHER (Almonte on the 7th) and EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Gatineau Park on the 7th). The most anticipated of the spring arrivals, WARBLER numbers and variety have risen dramatically. At Maple Hill Park there were 13 species on the 10th, and at least 14 species were in Britannia on the 11th. New arrivals were BAY-BREASTED, NORTHERN PARULA, AMERICAN REDSTART, BLACKBURNIAN, MAGNOLIA , CAPE MAY, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACKPOLL, TENNESSEE and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. There were at least three sightings of the rare-in-spring ORANGE-CROWNED, the one in Britannia on the 12th being unusual in that it was seen by many and stayed just east of the ridge for a good portion of the day. To date, 21 of the 25 regular warblers have been seen in the region. RED-EYED VIREO in Leslie Park on the 7th, MARSH WREN at Plaisance on the 7th, SCARLET TANAGER on Spadina Ave. on the 9th , INDIGO BUNTING in Gatineau Park on the 9th, BOBOLINK on the 5th in the Lac la Blanche area, and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at Burnt Lands PP on the 6th and behind the Airport on the 9th rounded off the remaining FOY. In other odds and ends, there was a TUFTED TITMOUSE in Plaisance on the 5th, 100 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen near Richmond on the 11th, a large number so late in the season, and among the FINCHES, an EVENING GROSBEAK was in Russell on the 7th, a late COMMON REDPOLL was in Britannia on the 11-12th, and a small number of PINE SISKINS remain. 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
