Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
March 9, 2017 There were no real highlights this week. The weather was unseasonably cold most of the week, putting a screeching halt to the early migration, but fortunately the snowpack did not enlarge. A very sunny and mild day on the 8 th did result in some raptor migration. Unfortunately more cold is predicted for the next few days, so spring is at least a week away still. The general rise in the Rideau River was accompanied by some expansion of the amount of open water. As a result it appears that some of the winter’s lingering DUCKS may have skedaddled or are at least temporarily missing in action. The HARLEQUIN DUCK at any rate has moved downstream to Strathcona Park as late as the 9th. One exception to the general migration halt was a PIED-BILLED GREBE in Almonte as late as the 8th. A CACKLING GOOSE was among the CANADA GEESE in Barnsdale on the 8th. 2 TRUMPETER SWANS were in Carleton Place as late as the 4th. In general this is now the season for RAPTOR movement. Strong sunshine and south winds on the 8th made it a good day for RAPTORS on Greenland Road. The highlight were 2 GOLDEN EAGLES. The Gatineau Escarpment is a hotspot, the latest sightings on the 4th were of 4 of this species. NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen this week in Orleans, Dunrobin and Packenham. GRAY PARTRIDGE continue in the Cope Drive area; 5 were seen on the 5th. An early YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continues in Fitzroy Harbour as of the 5th. The TUFTED TITMOUSE was still on Lac des Loups Road as of the 3rd, with EASTERN BLUEBIRD on Bleeks Road on the 4th. Missed in the report last week was a RUSTY BLACKBIRD in Richmond on the 2nd. Finally, scattered sightings of FINCHES continue, most sightings being in the northwest part of the region. 50 EVENING GROSBEAK were in Rupert, with 17 in north of Wakefield. Small numbers of PINE SISKIN were in Wakefield and Gatineau, and a single PINE GROSBEAK was in Gatineau Park north of Chelsea on the 6th. 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. _______________________________________________ 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
