Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
May 9, 2019 The bird of the week was a WHITE-EYED VIREO, seen briefly in Carp on the 7th, but not relocated. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen briefly at the Rockcliffe Airport on the 5th. However, the real star was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD which was quite vocal and visible at Westboro Beach on the 2nd-5 th. The CAROLINA WREN was quite vocal at times in Navan until at least the 5th. Weather was a mixed bag with some cool and rainy days, as well as the first warm day of year. Quite a few birds arrived this week, but without fanfare: there were no big fallouts. On May 4, ebird sponsored “Global Big Day”, the region tallied an impressive diversity of about 150 species, with many new for the year. Continuing high water levels continue to block access to Britannia and the Shirley’s Bay Dike. The best bet under these circumstances is to go to any of the Greenbelt areas, inner city parks like Vincent Massey, Hurdman or the Arboretum/ Fletcher Wildlife Gardens. With any luck, there will be a significant migration push in the next week. Despite 20 species of DUCK seen this week, there are no big concentrations and viewing is more of a challenge on the Ottawa river with the high water levels. Some spots east of Gatineau along Route 148 are producing some good viewing, as ironically the high levels are bringing the DUCKS closer. 2 TRUMPETER SWANS were seen near Munster and another near Dunrobin on the 4th. 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen on the Carp River at Thomas Dolan on the 4th. With close to 25 First of the Year species seen this week, it is pleasant and rare to say that there are too many to list! A diverse range of families was represented in this tally. New SHOREBIRDS only included a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at “Holland’s Marsh” near Antrim on the 4th and a WILSON’S PHALAROPE at Embrun on the 7th. COMMON TERN arrived at the Moodie Drive Ponds and elsewhere. LEAST and GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS are now here in many spots. WARBLING and RED-EYED VIREOS are here but are not abundant, likewise for VEERY and WOOD THRUSH. 2 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS at Val des Monts and 1 in Almonte on the 8th. 9 MARSH WRENS were at the Goodwood Marsh on the Jock River on the 8th. BOBOLINK and BALTIMORE ORIOLE and now in multiple spots. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW is back at Burnt Lands PP, while a CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW was near Richmond. The WARBLER tally is now at 17. The earliest was probably a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER near Carleton University on the 8th. Others included: CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACKBURNIAN and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, as well as OVENBIRD, NORTHERN PARULA, AMERICAN REDSTART and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. Many of the winter/ early spring birds are clearing out, but there are still numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS and COMMON REDPOLLS at some feeders, and still numbers of FOX SPARROWS in the woods. A late ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at Marais Trepanier on the 4th. *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. * 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
