Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
March 30, 2017 For the fourth week in a row, there were no real highlights. There have been a surprising number of First-Of-The-Year (FOY) arrivals, but in general the signs of spring have been rather subdued. Winter slapped Ottawa around early in the week, with a surprise heavy snowfall on the 24th, and freezing rain on the 26th. Temperatures struggled to reach seasonal level, and unfortunately things will get worse before they get better. 2 REDHEAD in Carleton Place on the 29th were at least a new arrival for the year. They were there along with the TRUMPETER SWANS. 90 SNOW GEESE were in Richmond this week, likely scouts for the army in the southeast. Anyone who still needs HARLEQUIN DUCK and BARROW’S GOLDENEYE can still find them near the Rideau Tennis Club, but they likely will not be around much longer. A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was in Carleton Place this way, not their usual spot. GREATER and LESSER SCAUP were at Deschenes on the 28th. A few species have become a little more widespread, but are far from common. Among them are: 1. GREAT BLUE HERON, 2. NORTHERN HARRIER, 3. TURKEY VULTURE, 4. EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and 5. SONG SPARROW The following were FOY: 1. AMERICAN WOODCOCK on Rifle Road on the 29th. 2. KILLDEER in Bell’s Corners and Cambrian Road on the 29th. 3. EASTERN PHOEBE in Constance Bay on the 29th, and 4. SANDHILL CRANE in Dunrobin on the 28th. Finally, a HERMIT THRUSH in Parc des Portageurs in Gatineau on the 26th. It is hard to know if it overwintered or is an early migrant. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was in the Eagleson/ Akins area on the 26th. The OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to sighti...@ofnc.ca 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
