Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
December 28, 2017 There were no real highlights this week, as Ottawa fully settled into winter. There were 3 local Christmas Bird Counts, Arnprior-Pakenham on the 26th, Carleton Place on the 27th, and Richmond on the 28th, and they did produce a handful of interesting sightings which will be discussed shortly. More snow this week was followed by bitter cold on the 27-28th, which made birding rather challenging. Mostly the week was characterized by the expected birds with a very small handful of more interesting species. Rivers are thoroughly frozen except in the fast sections, and as a consequence only the 6 wintering species of DUCKS were seen, including 2 male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE near the Tennis Club on the Rideau River. A BELTED KINGFISHER is continuing near Vars as of the 25th, and there is a GREAT BLUE HERON at the Emerald Meadows Storm outlet off Eagleson. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was on Hanson’s Side Road on the 26th, and the one in Luskville was still there on the 22nd. A NORTHERN FLICKER was in Richmond on the 28th, and another one was in Barrhaven on the 27th. A NORTHERN HARRIER near Bell’s Corner’s on the 28th was getting late. 20 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were in Almonte on the 25th, and 4 CEDAR WAXWINGS in Stony swamp on the 26th. Neither species is common this winter. A BROWN THRASHER was near Pakenham on the 26th, and a WINTER WREN was near Galetta also on the 26th. A SAVANNAH SPARROW was near Pakenham on the 26th-28th, an unusual winter visitor. Modest numbers of both SONG and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are around. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was in Russell on the 26th. A few BLACKBIRDS are still around. A COMMON GRACKLE and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were at a feeder in Masson on the 26th, and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was near Almonte on the 28th. There have been a few developments on the WINTER FINCH front. However, it is too early to say if this is the start of something. On the 26th, a single REDPOLL, PINE GROSBEAK and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL were on the Eardley-Masham road, with small numbers of PURPLE FINCHES, PINE SISKINS, and RED CROSSBILLS. On the same day on Hanson/ Dark’s side roads near Pakenham there were a PINE GROSBEAK, EVENING GROSBEAK, a few REDPOLLS and a number of PINE SISKINS. None of those birds seem to be sticking around. A single EVENING GROSBEAK continues at the western edge of Larose Forest. 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
