Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
October 12, 2017 The find of the week was a very late WHIMBREL flying by Andrew Haydon Park on the 8th. The next best was the first HUDSONIAN GODWIT of the year, at the Carp River Reclamation area on the 10th for a few hours, and a single sighting on the 11th. Generally pleasant and even unseasonably warm weather prevailed early in the week, but it has turned much cooler with winds from the north. There has been a big change in the bird population, more WATERFOWL and a general decline and a much different mix of the PASSERINES. The warmer weather likely was a factor in the number of lingering PASSERINES. WATERBIRD numbers continue to build up steadily in major spots like Shirley’s Bay and Plaisance, but nothing terribly out of the ordinary has been seen. Interesting was the first of the season, 200 BRANT at Andrew Haydon park on the 7th. A tiny bit of SHOREBIRD habitat was at Shirley’s Bay, but the best spot was the Carp River Reclamation area, with 8 species on the 10th including SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and the rarity noted above. Some lingering TERNS were of interest. 2 CASPIAN TERNS were at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 5th, and there was one at Andrew Haydon a few days later. COMMON TERNS have been lingering off Britannia Point until the 10th. The first of the fall HAWK watch took place on Greenland Road on the 11th, and they were rewarded with a GOLDEN EAGLE. Early ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was also there, as well as 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS. An early ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was also in the Frank Kenny area on the 10th. There were a number of late sightings: 1. COMMON GALLINULE at the Richmond Conservation area on the 12th. 2. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE at Petrie island on the 5th. 3. A WOOD THRUSH was at the Rockcliffe Airport on the 7th. Another was at Shirley’s bay on the 8th. 4. A MARSH WREN was at the Bruce Pit on the 9th. 5. A BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER was at Britannia on the 7th. 6. A ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK was in Richmond on the 10th. 7. A BROWN TRHASHER was in the Westboro area on the 10th. SPARROW numbers were high early in the week, but numbers seem to have dropped considerably. The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW of the season was on the Osgoode Link Trail on the 6th with 6 other species of SPARROW. Probably the last NELSON’S SPARROW of the year was at Constance Bay on the 5 th. 2 LAPLAND LONGSPUR, the first of the season, were at the Carp River Reclamation area 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. Good birding. *Reminder regarding access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway:* DND has amended our access procedure. You must call Range Control (613-991-5740) for permission, state that you are an OFNC member and give your name. DND will be provided with the OFNC's membership list and they will check, so you need to keep your membership up to date. Finally, you must call again when you have left the area. DND would also like to be informed if you see anyone on the property who should not be there, such as boats in the bay or people fishing on the causeway. They are trespassing and DND will deal with the situation. _______________________________________________ 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
