Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
November 9, 2017 It was another excellent week in the region. The highlight was a CAVE SWALLOW near the Almonte Sewage Lagoons on the 5th, where it showed well most of that afternoon and on the 6th as well. This is the first record for Lanark County and the first in the region since 2012. Meanwhile, the BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER started showing well on the 3rd, east of the ridge at Britannia, and was still present as of the 9th. This waif has now become one of region’s most photographed birds! There was no major weather change. It was mostly cloudy and rainy until the 6th, then sunnier, with temperatures near to above average. However, all that will change by the 10th with unseasonably cold temperatures on tap, and the likely freezing of smaller bodies of water. So be forewarned that many of the sightings mentioned this week will of mostly historical interest when this happens. The heavy rain recently has left a number of flooded fields in the west end that have attracted some scarcer GEESE, notably ROSS’S and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Some recent spots have been John Shaw Road, near Brophy at Twin Elm, and Old Coach Road. WATERBIRDS remained reasonably plentiful, although somewhat diminished in numbers. Variety was still good, with 26 species of DUCKS seen the region this week. Notable additions were the first BARROW’S GOLDENEYES of the fall/ winter, with 2 and a hybrid being seen at or near Shirley’s Bay on the 7th. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL in Russell on the 8th was late. Another sign of (impending) winter was the first HARLEQUIN DUCK of the season, a female in Baie Simard on the 8th. Over 1000 ducks of 12 species were at Baie Noire on the 3rd, including 2 EURASIAN WIGEON. 13 PIED BILLED GREBES and 4 AMERICAN COOTS were also there on the 3rd. A somewhat late PIED-BILLED GREBE was at the Moodie Drive Ponds, and both species of LOON are still regular on the Ottawa River. The GREAT EGRET was last seen at Andre Haydon Park on the 3rd. The same flooded fields were good for some late SHOREBIRDS. Notable was the 12th concession north of Pakenham, with 5 species seen as late as the 6 th. John Shaw road hosted some SHOREBIRDS as well. A TURKEY VULTURE was in Pakenham and near Antrim on the 6th. A GOLDEN EAGLE was in Constance Bay on the 3rd and at Pinhey’s Point on the 4th. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was at Britannia on the 3rd. Generally the decent weather has been favourable for lingering PASSERINES. Some other miscellaneous sightings of note this week included: 1. On the 5th, 1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR near Pakenham and 2 near Carp. 2. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD near Carleton Place on the 3rd and on 5th line road near Dunrobin on the 9th. 3. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at Parc du Lac Beauchamp on the 4th. 4. FOX SPARROW in Carleton Place on the 8th. 5. 2 WINTER WRENS at Forêt Boucher on the 3rd. 6. BELTED KINGFISHER in Britannia on the 7th. 7. GRAY CATBIRD in Britannia on the 4th. WILSON’S SNIPE at Andrew Haydon park on the 4th. 8. CHIPPING SPARROW in Kanata on the 5th. 9. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW in Britannia on the 3rd. 10. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at the Experimental Farm Arboretum Among the FINCHES, the first COMMON REDPOLLS of the season were in Sarsfield on the 6th. PINE SISKIN were in Britannia on the 5th and about a dozen RED CROSSBILLS continued on Eardley-Masham Road on the 7th. 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 a list of OFNC members who HAVE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED access. DND will check, so make sure that your membership is up to date and that you have requested to be on the access list. 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
