Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
January 5, 2017 There was a GRAY JAY, an increasingly scarce bird in the region, on the Forêt Larose Christmas Bird count on the 2nd but the bird has not been relocated. Otherwise the highlight of the week was 2 different THAYER’S GULL, seen briefly a few times at the Trail Road Landfill on the 31st-5th. There was a late sighting from the Carleton Place Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on the 27th, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, quite rare in the winter, coming to a feeder. Temperatures were again above seasonal most of the week, but like last week birders were hampered on 31st by heavy snow and on the 3rd -4th by more freezing rain and snow. However, there was a lot of birder activity especially on the 1st as everyone started their year list afresh. As of press time, about 75 species have been seen in the region so far this year, and there are probably about another 10 that are here and have not yet been seen. The Dunrobin-Breckenridge CBC on the 3rd, produced a few interesting sightings, most notable of which was a TURKEY VULTURE on Baird’s Sideroad in Fitzroy Township, and 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on 5th Line Road. The HARLEQUIN DUCK continues in the fast water under and near the Hurdman Bridge. The BARROW’S GOLDENEYE is usually present there but sometimes it appears to move temporarily to near Bate Island where it joins a second one. Up to 10 BUFFLEHEAD are there too. Other lingering waterfowl are as follows: 1. An AMERICAN WIGEON and up to 2 WOOD DUCKS at Billings Bridge. 2. A NORTHERN PINTAIL on Iber Road and 2 at Breckenridge on the 3rd. 3. A RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at Bate Island as late as the 2nd. GRAY PARTRIDGE remain irregular in the Eagleson-Rushmore area as recently as the 5th. A BELTED KINGFISHER was at a stormwater pond near Greenbank and Cambrian on the 5th. Trail Road Landfill and area have had up to 6 species of GULLS. A single LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is with small numbers of both ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULL. GULLS may be on the frozen Moodie Drive Pond and hard to identify, or they may be flying over the landfill site and glimpses are close but fleeting. GOLDEN EAGLE in the Steele Line area on the 1st and 2 on the 5th, NORTHERN GOSHAWK in Larose forest on the 2nd and Steele Line on the 5th, and somewhat late NORTHERN HARRIERS near Shirley’s Bay and Richmond were notable among the RAPTORS. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS have been regular in Fallowfield village and Gatineau. A TUFTED TITMOUSE is still regular near QUYON, as is the CAROLINA WREN in Carlington. A HERMIT THRUSH was in Merivale Gardens on the 1st. Lastly, a COMMON GRACKLE was at Baie Noire on the 2nd and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on Rushmore Road on the 2nd, and 7 PINE GROSBEAK were on Iber Road on the 4th. 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
