Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
November 29, 2018 There were no major highlights this week. After the coldest November temperatures in decades, conditions moderated, but the damage has been done and we are now into winter birding with restricted good habitat and bird supply. The weather has dampened the enthusiasm of local birders and reports are much fewer. However, there are good pockets of birds `and a number of interesting lingering species, some easier to re-find than others. 200 SNOW GEESE were in Russell on the 25th. There were 14 species of duck seen this week. NORTHERN PINTAIL at Chapman’s Mills, AMERICAN WIGEON at Britannia, LONG-TAILED DUCK on the Ottawa River, and BARROW’S GOLDENEYE on the Rideau near Hurdman were the less common ones. Of other WATERBIRDS, a PIED-BILLED GREBE was on the Rideau between Hurdman and Strathcona Park most of the week. The northern forests are now very quiet, but this is still a good time for birds like the NORTHERN GOSHAWK in Gatineau Park (south) on the 24th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was at Shirley’s Bay (Hilda Road) and Remic Rapids this week. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Constance bay on the 26th was a surprise considering the cold temperatures and lack of unfrozen water. Some interesting lingerers this week included: · FOX SPARROW continues at Fletcher and at feeders in Bridlewood and Richmond. · EASTERN BLUEBIRD still at Fletcher as of the 29th · ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER east of Wakefield on the 25th. · YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER near the Kitchissippi lookout on the 29th. · HERMIT THRUSH at Parc du Lac-Beauchamp on the 24th. · SWAMP SPARROW at Riverain park on the 23rd. · WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW in Gatineau on the 28th. · WINTER WREN at a downtown backyard on the 28th. · CHIPPING SPARROW in Barrhaven on the 23rd. Some larger isolated flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are hanging about, the one at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden being a little more consistent than the others. PINE GROSBEAKS are still there in numbers. EVENING GROSBEAKS have been a little harder to find and not so consistently in one spot. There are a few hanging about the Fletcher Wildlife Garden and vicinity as well as the Mer Bleue. 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. *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. 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. The OFNC has provided DND 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 that the OFNC put you on the access list. This list was updated recently. To get on the next access list, please contact members...@ofnc.ca. Good birding. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
