Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
March 2, 2017 There was a major highlight this week. The Gray Morph GYRFALCON near Carleton Place was refound on the 23rd on Appleton Sideroad, and was seen by many as late as the 25th. Possibly the same bird was seen on Rushmore Road on the 26-27th. The unusual mild spell, including a rare February thunderstorm, has caused some considerable movement of early migrants, perhaps the earliest significant migration in decades. There have been so many firsts of the season, many of them weeks earlier than usual, that birders have had too much to chase, a welcome change from the lackluster winter doldrums. Most noticeable have been GEESE, RING-BILLED GULLS and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, which are almost everywhere now. COMMON GRACKLES have also arrived but not in such large numbers. Some of these early birds may be in trouble now, since temperatures went below normal on the 2nd, with very cold temperatures expected for a few days. As a matter of interest, the Ottawa region 50K 2016-17 winter list ended at 127 species, with the year to date at 104. WATERBIRDS have been in the news with many early arrivals. Open water has expanded everywhere, and the small creeks and ditches are full as of the 1st. SNOW GEESE arrived en masse in Eastern Ontario, with many sightings all over the region, with flocks of up to 600 birds being sighted. Most of the action, however, was in the southeast. CANADA GEESE flocks of several thousand have been seen as well. Adding spice, 2 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen briefly on Eagleson/ Stonecrest on the 26th, and 3 CACKLING GEESE were at the frozen Moodie Drive Pond on the 28th. All but the CANADA GEESE may well be our earliest sightings. 2 TRUMPETER SWANS were seen a number of times in Carleton Place, as late as the 28th. Their head-bobbing behaviour likely indicates that they are a couple. Quite a few early DUCKS were about. In Carleton Place, RUDDY DUCK and 2 continuing RING-NECKED DUCKS were notable. Almonte had GADWALL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, while Deschênes had GADWALL, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP. HOODED MERGANSERS were seen in a number of spots, and the RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was back at Hurdman along with the continuing HARLEQUIN DUCK. The first TURKEY VULTURES were at Lac Ste. Marie on the 26th and near Chesterville on the 25th. The first GREAT BLUE HERON was near Innes/ Frank Kenny on the 25th. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen on Chemin Therien on the 27th. A THAYER’S GULL was at the Trail Road Landfill on the 27thand a BELTED KINGFISHER was at Eagleson/ Stonecrest as late as the 26th. PASSERINES were not that out of the ordinary this week, with most of the previously reported lingerers still around. In Carleton Place, the CHIPPING SPARROW was seen again on the 2nd, at a feeder on Lac des Loups Road, The TUFTED TITMOUSE continues, and has been joined by a FOX SPARROW. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was in Richmond on the 28th, and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD was in Carp on the 27th. 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
