Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
January 3, 2019 There were many out-of-season species sightings this week, although nothing that would not be expected later in the year. Exceptional was a LINCOLN’S SPARROW on Trail Road on the 2nd-3rd, possibly our first January record. The ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continues at the Dewberry trail as of the 2nd. There were at least 4 Christmas Bird Counts this week: 1. Carleton Place on the 27th. Notable was a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, with high counts for WILD TURKEY, BARRED OWL, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 2. Richmond on the 28th. Notable was a flock of 12 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS on Goodstown road. 3. Dunrobin-Breckenridge on the 29th. 4. Forêt Larose on the 2nd. Notable was a FOX SPARROW in Casselman and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW east of Limoges. Weather was more or less seasonal. Snow cover, however, remains very low especially outside of the urban areas. There was quite a bit of birding activity as the New Year kicked off, and as of the 2nd, close to 70 species have been seen for 2019. There seem to an unusually large variety of lingering DUCKS. Here is the current status: · LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK and LONG-TAILED DUCK are in the Deschênes Rapids, sometimes seen from Britannia, other times from the Quebec shore. · RED-BREASTED MERGANSER has been seen from time to time on the Rideau River between Strathcona Park and Billings Bridge. · 2 WOOD DUCKS have been consistent at Billings Bridge. · NORTHERN PINTAIL has been seen on Iber Road and on Pinecrest Creek. This species as well as AMERICAN WIGEON is seen both at Britannia and Billings Bridge. · A male GADWALL showed up at Britannia on the 3rd. A GREAT BLUE HERON was near a storm pond on Maritime Way in Kanata on the 3 rd and at Marais Trepanier in Gatineau on the 31st. GULLS are restricted to 3 species around the Trail Road landfill, and there are only a few dozen. A NORTHERN FLICKER has been at Trail Road, and the RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER has been regular at and near the Hilda Road feeders. NORTHERN SHRIKES have been seen in many places, but never for more than a few hours at a time. A CAROLINA WREN was at a feeder in Cumberland on the 30 th, and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was at a private feeder in old Ottawa South on the 3rd. A BOREAL CHICKADEE was in Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham on the 28th. A RED CROSSBILL was in the Carp area on the 1st. A flock of 300+ COMMON REDPOLLS is frequenting an extensive area of weeds on the north side of Trail Road, and a single HOARY REDPOLL is sometimes seen among them. The same area has had the LINCOLN’S SPARROW. Look for this bird among the 30+ DARK-EYED JUNCOS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and a SONG SPARROW. 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 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
