Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
November 17, 2016 The bird of the week was a SUMMER TANAGER seen at the Bruce Pit on the 14th, but unfortunately not relocated. There were a number of interesting lingering and rarer birds but none of this caliber. Generally above seasonal temperatures prevailed and with little precipitation the birds lingered and were easier to find. Water was still wide open and there was still a reasonable variety, around similar to last week. WATERBIRDS were, as last week, in good supply and variety. Over 300 birds of 9 species of DUCKS were at Plaisance on the 13th, AMERICAN WIGEON being the most plentiful. AMERICAN COOT was there as well. About 300 birds of 19 species were at Shirley’s Bay on the 15th, COMMON GOLDENEYE being the most common. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were in a number of spots, most recently at Constance Bay on the 16th. There were still 4 near Arnprior as late as the 13th, and 1 near Embrun on the 12th. 2 ROSS’S GEESE were in Winchester on the 16th. Slightly farther afield, at the Laflèche Landfill, there are regular sightings of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, AND there were 3 ROSS’S GEESE on the 13th, with a rare Dark Morph of this species on the 12 th. A RED-THROATED LOON was at Dick Bell on the 13th, and a continuing late BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Andrew Haydon and Britannia on the 11th. While there are not huge numbers of GULLS, a THAYER’S GULL at Dick Bell Park on the 13th and BONAPARTE’S GULL at Britannia on the 15th were of interest. Some SHOREBIRDS are still around. There was a PURPLE SANDPIPER at Britannia Pier on the 15th, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Constance Bay on the 14th, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Chrysler on the 14th. A GOLDEN EAGLE was at Lac McGregor on the 13th, and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was in Chelsea on the 15th. Numbers of SANDHILL CRANES are regular on Milton Road and the area. A CAROLINA WREN is continuing in Carlington as of the 15th. 6 EASTERN BLUEBIRD in Richmond on the 13th were late. There were a surprising 3 species of WARBLER seen this week. They were a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at la ferme Moore in Gatineau on the 16th, the continuing COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Britannia Pier on the 15th, and a very late NORTHERN PARULA at Plaisance on the 13th. Of the SPARROWS, only notable were a number of sightings of FOX SPARROW: Carleton Place, Lac Leamy and Richmond. Finally, of the FINCHES, 30+ EVENING GROSBREAKS were seen at their usual spot on the western edge of Larose Forest. *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
