Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
February 9, 2017 Ottawa remains in the heart of the winter doldrums, once again with static birding conditions and no highlights. Weather was typical for mid-winter, generally seasonal with some wild temperature swings and a lot of cloudy days with light precipitation. Previously reported lingering WATERBIRDS continue: HARLEQUIN DUCK at Hurdman, WOOD DUCK and AMERICAN WIGEON at BillingS Bridge, and NORTHERN PINTAIL at Iber Road. 2 GOLDEN EAGLES were on Steele Line on the 5th and NORTHERN GOSHAWK was in Russell on the 5th. 9 GRAY PATRIDGE were near Cope and Robert Grant on the 7th, the first sighting in a few weeks. EASTERN BLUEBIRD was near Luskville on the 6th and there were 2 in Kanata on the 9th. Flocks of up to several hundred BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are in many places, with a sprinkling of CEDAR WAXWINGS among them. The TUFTED TITMOUSE was last seen at Fitzroy on the 2nd. Up to 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS were in Carleton Place as late as the 8th. A BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD was in Plaisance on the 4th, and a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (female) was at a feeder in Orleans as late as the 3rd. Finally, among the FINCHES, EVENING GROSBEAK was in Larose Forest on the 4th, a PINE SISKIN was in Richmond on the 7th and 2 PURPLE FINCH were there on the 6th. A flock of over 50 REDPOLLS was at Mer Bleue on the 2nd. 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
