Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
October 19, 2017 The best bird of the week was the HUDSONIAN GODWIT, which reappeared on the 14th and has since been glued to a pond near the Carp River at the west end of Roger Neilson way, as late as the 18th. The other bird of interest was a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER at Stony Swamp P6 on the 14th, but it was unfortunately not relocated. The weather was a mixed bag including rain and the first frost of the season on the 16th, followed by more unseasonal warmth. Strong north winds on the 16th sent quite a few WATERBIRDS into the area, and the summer PASSERINES continue to vacate the area. But, other than the rarities noted above, it was a fairly ordinary week. WATERBIRDS are building up quite nicely. The best day was the 16th, on the Ottawa River between Britannia and Shirley’s Bay, as usual. All 3 SCOTERS were there, REDHEAD, as well as 2 species of GREBE and many COMMON LOONS. All told, 23 species of DUCK were in the region, and most of the species are still around. The first RED-THROATED LOONS have arrived, at Baie Simard on the 15th, and at Dick Bell Park on the 17th. A late GREEN HERON was at one of the ponds off Roger Neilson Way on the 17th. This area has had most of the diminishing SHOREBIRD variety, with a late LEAST SANDPIPER on the 14th-15th, and a few other common species. A DUNLIN was at Andrew Haydon Park, but as last week there is only minimal habitat along the Ottawa River. A late COMMON GALLINULE was at the Richmond Conservation Area on the 12th, and another was at Shirley’s Bay from the 14 th-17th. An OSPREY at Stony Swamp on the 15th was getting late, as was a MARSH WREN at Shirley’s bay on the 17th. By contrast, the first NORTHERN SHRIKES of the season were at the Gatineau Airport on the 14th, and Milton Road on the 17th, and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS have started to move into the area. Aside from YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, which are themselves getting scarce, few other WARBLERS are left. TENNESSEE and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were in Gatineau on the 15th, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Baie Fraser on the 18th. A very late INDIGO BUNTING was at the Nepean Tent and Trailer Campgrounds on the 14th, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at the Giroux Road Ponds on the 14th, and a NELSON’S SPARROW was at the Carp River Watershed Reclamation area on the 18th. Finally, a trip to the Eardley-Masham Road on the 18th produced a few singles and a small flock of RED CROSSBILLS south of Ramsey Lake, and a few scattered PINE SISKINS. This is more than a few weeks ago, but it is far from the hoped for invasion. 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
