Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
June 15, 2017 The highlight of the week was a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO near Breckenridge on the 9th, but not refound. Another interesting bird was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD WAS on Montée Saint-Amour in Gatineau on the 13th. The migration party is pretty much over for the season. Weather was consistently dry, sunny and warm, with 2 hot days. This is quite a novelty for the region, but with summer has come the summer doldrums. The woods, water bodies and fields are chock full of nesting birds; birders should head to the larger areas of undisturbed habitat for best results, but very little other than the expected birds are around. Of the WATERBIRDS, the only things interesting have been a few lingerers. 2 LESSER SCAUP have been at Shirley’s Bay until the 11th, and one was at Andrew Haydon on the 15th. A late BRANT was at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 15th. The marsh habitat on the Ottawa River east of the city is still recovering from the ravages of the flood last month, and the numbers of marsh birds like RAILS and MARSH WREN are only a fraction of normal. ARCTIC TERN was seen on and off at Britannia point until the 12th, and there are scattered sightings of CASPIAN TERNS. BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen at Britannia Point, and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Moodie Drive Ponds until the 10th. A GRAY PARTRIDGE was near Marchurst Road on the 9th. This continues to be a really good year for CUCKOOS. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO has been seen regularly on Thomas Dolan near Stonecrest, and both species of CUCKOO were at the Champlain lookout on the 13th. One bit of good news is that SEDGE WRENS have returned to the marsh near Corkstown and Moodie. BAY BREASTED WARBLER (probably a very late migrant) and PHILADELPHIA VIREO were in Gatineau Park-Sentiers des Loups on the 11th. Burnt Lands Provincial Park continues to be excellent for grassland birds such as UPLAND SANDPIPER, GRASSHOPPER and CLAY-COLOURED SPARROWS. A late WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was in Qualicum Park on the 8th. 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
