Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
January 19, 2017 As was the case last week, there were no real highlights. One item of interest is that a second TUFTED TITMOUSE has appeared in the region, this one at a feeder in the Fitzroy Harbour area. Meanwhile, the other one continues in the Quyon area. Weather was relatively dry and mild most of the week with a bit of melting, a pleasant break from the constant snow of past weeks. Conditions were relatively static, birdwise, which is no big surprise at this time of the year. The uncommon overwintering DUCKS continued this week again-HARLEQUIN DUCK at Hurdman (2 were present at one point), WOOD DUCK and AMERICAN WIGEON at Billings Bridge, and NORTHERN PINTAIL on Iber Road. Joining them, a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, rare at this time year, has made occasional appearances at Hurdman. There were still 4 species of GULL at the Trail Road landfill on the 13th, but in very small numbers. Among the less common raptors, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was south of Sarsfield on the 14th, and an AMERICAN KESTREL was in Antrim and in Masson-Angers. GOLDEN EAGLE is making irregular appearances in the Steele Line/ Eardley-Masham Road area. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are still reliable in Gatineau and Fallowfield. 4 GRAY PARTRIDGE were in the area around Cope Drive/ Robert Grant on the 17 th, and 9 on the 18th, the first time seen in this area in some months. A GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was at Hurdman, and 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are making regular appearances in the 5th Line/ 6th Line /Berry Sideroad area, but are moving around quite a bit. 2 of the same species are also making regular appearances in the Luskville area. A WINTER WREN was in the Dunrobin area on the 15th, and the CAROLINA WREN is singing regularly but briefly in the Carlington area. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARRROW was in the Luskville area as late as the 17th, while a CHIPPING SPARROW has reappeared at a feeder in Carleton Place. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was in a flock of 100 SNOW BUNTINGS on Giroux Road on the 17th. Winter FINCHES remain few and far between. Small numbers of PINE GROSBEAK are being seen in the Steele Line/ Eardley-Masham Road area, and an EVENING GROSBEAK was seen there on the 14th. COMMON REDPOLL was at the Conroy Pit on the 17th, and PURPLE FINCH was at Richmond on the 18th, but other sightings of winter FINCHES remain quite limited. 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
