Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
May 25, 2017 The highlight of the week was a LECONTE’S SPARROW, in an unknown location in the Almonte area on the 19th. Another good bird but only of modest rarity was a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, heard at Constance Creek on the 24th. Mostly the weather was seasonal this week, with little precipitation and nothing suitable for any kind of a fallout. The great flood of PASSERINE migration is behind us, and although migration is not over, probably 90% or more PASSERINES are now on territory or have passed to the north. A few of the late ones are peaking now, but probably 5 or less regular PASSERINES have not yet arrived/ been reported. Migrant traps are probably good for another week or so. The SHOREBIRD peak, however, is still about 7-10 days ahead. WATERBIRD numbers are declining rather rapidly. There was a minor fallout of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the Ottawa River on the 22nd, with a LONG-TAILED DUCK at Andrew Haydon, and 2 SURF SCOTERS off Innis point on the 23rd. A HORNED GREBE off Britannia Pier on the 24th was somewhat late. A RED-THROATED LOON was still on the Ottawa River this week. SHOREBIRD numbers and diversity is picking up, but there are very few spots for them to land. Almonte, St. Albert and Embrun have some habitat but rather small numbers and only common species. The best spots in the region have been: 1. Réserve naturelle du Marais-Trépanier in Gatineau, nearly 200 birds of 6 species on the 22nd, including 50 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 2. The melting snow dump on March Valley Road, which had SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER on the 19th and about 50 birds of 8 species, and 3. A flooded field on Greenbank north of Fallowfield, which had about 100 birds of 8 species on the 2nd, including 40 DUNLIN, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. Birders are cautioned that this is a very busy road. The Moodie Drive ponds also had a few BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS this week. The same flooded field on Greenbank had a good assortment of GULLS, many of them late, like LESSER BLACK-BACKED and GLAUCOUS. Moodie Drive Ponds have had an ICELAND GULL. There was a very late sighting of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Greenbank Road on the 22nd. LEAST BITTERN was calling up a storm at Constance Creek on the 22nd, but could not be heard on the 24th. However, it is a known nesting area. One was seen and heard in Stony Swamp on the 23rd. The Carp Ridge has been excellent for 3 night species: EASTERN WHIPPOORWILL, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and COMMON NIGHTHAWK. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO sightings have been more numerous this year; possibly their food supply is high. Carp Ridge, Constance Creek and the Airport are some good areas for them. WILLOW FLYCATCHER arrived on the 20th and is now in many locations. The first YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was at Britannia on the 21st, and another was there on the 23rd. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was on Wolfe Grove Road on the 19th. The first GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was in Britannia on the 22nd and there have been a few sightings since. Notable were 9 calling overhead at night on the 23rd, perhaps the best way to find this species. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was seen and heard on the 19th on the Carp ridge, but has been hard to find. This week, TENNESSEE, BLACKPOLL and WILSON’S WARLER have been the most common migrant WARBLERS. There have been a number of sightings of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, many from Britannia. 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
