Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
October 20, 2016 A few rarities made the week interesting. The best bird was a LECONTE’S SPARROW seen in Constance Bay on the 18th. Also quite good were EURASIAN WIGEON at Shirley’s Bay on the 15th, and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER there on the 14th. Mostly the week was characterized by the decline of SONGBIRDS and the rise of WATERBIRDS. Weather was a mixed bag with a few very warm days and some days with unsettled weather where there was more activity. And, while we don’t want to say this too loudly, a few winter birds have settled in. WATERBIRDS were fairly conspicuous in the usual spots along the Ottawa River. All 3 species of SCOTER were seen between Britannia and Shirley’s Bay, and there were other sightings of SCOTER from Russell to Breckenridge. Hunting on the Moodie Drive ponds has caused most WATERFOWL there to vacate. The Shirley’s bay DUCK flock was over 1000 birds on the 15 th, mostly LESSER SCAUP, AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, but with fewer DIVING DUCKS more recently. 23 LONG-TAILED DUCKS and a RED-THROATED LOON were at Shirley’s Bay on the 19th, but sightings of these species are less regular. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Almonte on the 14-15th. SHOIREBIRDS have mostly been unremarkable. Shirley’s bay, Giroux Road, Almonte, and Embrun have had a few but they are if the expected variety. Numbers of SANDHILL CRANES are regular in their usual spots in the Navan/ Frank Kenny area, and a flock has been in Blakeney. There was a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at La Pêche on the 17th, and the resident ones in Pakenham are fairly regular. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen at the Old Quarry Trail on the 16th, but not since. Likely it will remain in the area, possibly for the winter. There have been a couple of sightings of NORTHERN SHRIKE, most recently on Berry Side Road on the 20th. This is one of the unfortunate signs of winter. A few lingering birds were notable: · A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was coming to a feeder in Russell on the 15th. · A BARN SWALLOW was at Andrew Haydon Park on the 15th. · A late report in more ways than one: a dead YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was in Kanata North on the 8th. · A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was in Luskville on the 14th. The only WARBLER seen this week was YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, another sign of the season. A few migrants SONGBIRDS are still around, such as both KINGLETS and HERMIT THRUSH. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are becoming fairly regular. Other SPARROW numbers have peaked, but SONG, WHITE-THROATED, WHITE-CROWNED, and FOX SPARROW are still reasonably common. 3 LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Shirley’s Bay on the 19th were the first of the fall. Finally, another sign of the season, the first COMMON REDPOLL of the season was at Carleton University on the 17th. *NOTE RE: ACCESS TO THE SHIRLEY’S BAY CAUSEWAY*. The OFNC has a signed agreement with DND and PWGSC 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
