Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
April 25, 2019 A SMITH’S LONGPSUR was heard calling on the 21st on Thomas Dolan near Carp Road. However, it was not seen to land and not relocated. Seasonal temperatures have resulted in more or less normal conditions for migrants. All ponds are open, trees have begun to leaf out, and insects are becoming more noticeable. There has been a decent stream of migrants to the area, although the peak is still weeks away. Among the WATERBIRDS, nothing new has come in, and there are only rather modest numbers in the rivers and ponds. A few birds of interest include: 1. A ROSS’S GOOSE continues on Frank Kenny until at least the 21st. 2. A GREATER WHITE FRONTED GOOSE was near Carp on the 23rd. 3. A TRUMPETER SWAN was on the Ottawa River west of Britannia on the 22 nd, and another was in Richmond. 4. A HORNED GREBE and COMMON LOON were rather photogenic at Mud lake in Britannia until the 23rd. 5. 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were at the Richmond Conservation Area, at least until the 25th. The first BONAPARTE’S GULL was at Dick Bell Park on the 19th. MARSH and SHOREBIRDS are starting to be more numerous. At the Richmond Conservation Area, both SORA and COMMON GALLINULE were new. SPOTTED SANDPIPER was at Dick Bell on the 19th, and the first UPLAND SANDPIPER was on Boul. Industriel in Gatineau on the 22nd. A DUNLIN was on Frank Kenny on the 19th. The first GREEN HERON was at the Champlain St. Marsh on the 21 st. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was in Kinburn on the 20th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER has been in a feeder in Kanata as recently as the 20th. The last 2 swallows are back: BANK SWALLOW near Billings Bridge on the 22nd, and CLIFF SWALLOW on the 22nd at Britannia. New SONGBIRDS for the year include: 1. A BLUE-HEADED VIREO at Remic Rapids on the 21st 2. A PALM WARBLER at Britannia on the 20th 3. GRAY CATBIRD: several sightings starting on the 20th. 4. HOUSE WREN at the Richmond CA on the 21st. Although the focus has been on NEW birds, there are still a few scarce or lingering birds around: 1. A CAROLINA WREN in Wychwood, Aylmer and Navan 2. A number of sightings of NORTHERN SHRIKE, the latest being on Petrie Island on the 24th. 3. A PINEGROSBEAK near Munster on the 22nd 4. A late SNOW BUNTING on O’Toole Road on the 19th. 5. A HOARY REDPOLL Kanata on the 23rd. *Reminder regarding access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway:* *Due to flooding, DND has removed access to this area until it is safe again. Updates will be announced when they are available. * 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 has already been sent to DND this spring and will be updated occasionally. To get on the next access list, please contact [email protected]. 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
