Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
September 15, 2016 It was a very dull birding weekly with no real highlights. Fall was in the air with some weather systems passing through and really blustery weather on Sunday and Wednesday, although it remained mild to warm. Unfortunately, these conditions did not result in any enhancements to the birding scene. The week was characterized mostly by more summer birds leaving and not much replacing them. There was, again, nothing really notable in the way of WATERBIRDS, just a slight increase in numbers and variety. There was a bit of HAWK migration this week: a few sightings of BROAD-WINGED and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, but nothing dramatic. SHOREBIRDS, once again, are mediocre in most places. There were very small numbers of mostly common ones at Almonte, Parc Brêbeuf (3 BAIRD’S SANDPIPER on the 8th), Chrysler, Embrun and Petrie Island. Shirley’s Bay remains the only decent spot, with up to 70 birds of up to 11 species, including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (most of the week), STILT SANDPIPER, and AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (14-15th ). Aerial insectivores are disappearing rapidly, but there were 2 BARN SWALLOWS at Almonte on the 10th, 6 TREE SWALLOWS at Embrun on the 11th, and ALDER FLYCATCHER in Larose Forest on the 10th and Britannia on the 13th. 2 sightings of WHIPPOORWILL may be the last of the season: Munster on the 10th and Larose Forest on the 13th. Some of the fall passerines have arrived: 1. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET at South March Conservation Forest on the 13th; 2. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW at Britannia on the 15th; 3. AMERICAN PIPITS in a few places; and 4. GRAY-CHEEEKED THRUSH in a few places (but no major THRUSH movement yet). 24 species of WARBLER were seen this week, and 10-15 species per trip in the better areas, when gale-force winds were not howling, was the norm. 15 species at Shirley’s Bay on the 11th must have been hunkered down in calm area. Most recently, Britannia was quite active on the morning of the 15th, but nothing unexpected was seen. 2 latish INDIGO BUNTING at Fletcher on the 9th were interesting, as was a latish BALTIMORE ORIOLE at Brtiannia on the 15th. Even more so were late CLAY-COLOURED SPARROWS, one on Trail 10 near Shirley’s Bay on the 12th, and multiple others at a newly discovered “Sparrow Field” west of Kanata. This latter spot has many other SPARROWS including VESPER. Finally, there was a RED CROSSBILL on Greenbelt trail 10 on the 12th. *NOTE RE: ACCESS TO THE SHIRLEY’S BAY CAUSEWAY*. The OFNC has a signed agreement with DND and PWGS that gives OFNC members limited access to this important birding area. You must call the Range Control Office (613-991-5740) before entering DND property, and you will be informed how far down the causeway you may go. For your safety, please respect their instructions, as the shooting patterns vary from day to day. 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. We encourage everyone to report their bird sightings on eBird for the benefit of the entire birding community. Good birding. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
