Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
December 15 2016 The bird of the week was a HARLEQUIN DUCK, seen at Britannia on the 9th to at least the 11th. What may be a second bird was seen on the Rideau River near Hurdman from the 11th to as late as the 14th. A most unusual lingerer, our first December record, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was at Britannia feeding on snow fleas on the 10th, but the future is likely bleak for this bird with the subsequent heavy snow and severe cold. The PACIFIC LOON at Muskrat Lake near Cobden was still there on the 11th. Heavy snow on the 12th, and the coldest temperatures of the season on the 15 th were unfortunately just in time to hamper the upcoming CBC. However, there was still a surprising variety of lingering birds around, mostly but not all on the water. Rivers are still running fairly freely, but the ice is building up on the edges and more sheltered, slow moving areas. Still, this may have a bit of a concentrating effect making the lingerers more apparent until the ice gets too widespread. 9 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were still on Lake Madawaska on the 10th, and 800 SNOW GEESE were in the Russell area on the 13th. 19 species of DUCK were in the region this week, which is quite good for this time of the year. Among the highlights were: 1. BLACK and SURF SCOTER on the Ottawa River 2. 3 BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (2 male and 1 female) on the Rideau north of Hurdman. 3. At Billings Bridge, AMERICAN WIGEON on the 14th, 2 WOOD DUCKS on the 14th, and NORTHERN PINTAIL on the 13th. 4. A NORTHERN PINTAIL on Iber Road on the 15th. 5. At Britannia, NORTHERN SHOVELER and GREEN-WINGED TEAL to at least the 14th. In other water news, a GREAT BLUE HERON was at Quyon on the 9th, a PIED-BILLED GREBE was near Hurdman on the 12th, and BELTED KINGFISHER was at Billings Bridge on the 14th, and at Richmond on the 11th. A GOLDEN EAGLE was in Kinburn on the 8th, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was at the Pinegrove trail on the 11th; neither raptor has been seen recently. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues in Gatineau as of the 14th, and a NORTHERN FLICKER was in Richmond on the 11th. CAROLINA WRENS have been in Carleton Place and New Edinburgh, while WINTER WREN was at the Deschênes Rapids on the 11-13th, and another was in Britannia on the 11-14th. This seems to be the year for lingering EASTERN BLUEBIRD. 6 were still near Luskville on the 11th. More were on Century Road on the 10th, on Panmure on the 14th, and up to 4 were in the Dunrobin area on the 10-12th. It is also shaping up to be a banner winter for Robins. 100 were at Green’s Creek on the 10th, while over 200 were at Britannia recently. Britannia also hosted a HERMIT THRUSH on the 11th. CHIPPING SPARROW was still in Carleton Place on the 12th, while there has been a FOX SPARROW in Nepean on the 11-13th. 3 species of ICTERID graced our frozen land: BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD in Kanata on the 10th; 8 COMMON GRACKLE in Richmond on the 10th and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS in Gatineau on the 13th. There was finally a bit of a bright spot, finch-wise. On the 14th, on the Eardley-Masham road on the 14th, a female PINE GROSBEAK was near Church Hill and farther up at Ramsay lake, 2 HOARY REDPOLLS with a few COMMON REDPOLLS. There was also a PINE SISKIN in Aylmer on the 12th. *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
