Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
May 23, 2019 The bird of the week was a FRANKLIN’S GULL, seen briefly on the 19th at a wet area just west of Antrim. The weather finally improved to near seasonal by the 19th, resulting in a steady stream of migrants and some good days in some places. There were about 14 species arrivals this week. Only the latest SONGBIRD migrants have yet to arrive, and SHOREBIRD numbers are rising but are probably not at their peak. Mostly WATERFOWL sightings have not been notable, although large flocks of BRANT are starting to come through. 1000 SNOW GEESE at the Giroux road Ponds on the 19th were notable for the number this late in the season. 3 TRUMPETER SWANS were at Constance Creek on the 20th. A BLACK TERN was seen on the 18th at the Moodie Drive Ponds, and a CASPIAN TERN was there on the 19th. Numbers of BLACK TERNS are now at Baie Noire. SHOREBIRD migration has really picked up. The best spot lately has been Holland’s Marsh (old Hwy 17 just west of Antrim), which hosted hundreds of birds on the 19th, a particularly blustery day. New arrivals there included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. 13 species have been seen there this week, although not all at one time. LEAST SANDPIPER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN have been the most common. This spot merits close watch in the next 2 weeks. A GOLDEN EAGLE in Alta Vista on the 23rd was unusually late. All the regular FLYCATCHERS have now been seen. A WILLOW FLYCATCHER was heard on Twin Elm Road on the 19th. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen on the 18th in Orleans, and two were seen on the 20th in the Parc Champlain area of Gatineau. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at Ferme Moore on the 20th. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was in Richmond on the 21st. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was in Beryl Gaffney Park on the 20th, and another was on Huntmar on the same day. A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was at the Rockcliffe Airport on the 19th. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was in Gatineau, and another was in Greely on the 21st. The last 2 regular WARBLERS have arrived, and this week all 25 of them were seen. New were WILSON’S WARBLER in the Bel Air Park are of Ottawa on the 17 th, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS which have been seen in very small numbers since the 16th. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was on Thomas Dolan on the 20th. Many areas are now seeing 15+ species in a single trip. 20 species were in Britannia on the 17th. One species seen in rather large numbers compared to previous years has been BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. INDIGO BUNTINGS seem to have been going to feeders all over Ottawa. Finally, 6 EVENING GROSBEAKS are continuing in Munster as of the 18th, there are still a few in Gatineau, and there seems to be a mini PINE SISKIN invasion, but oddly enough only in the eastern part of Ottawa. *Reminders concerning the flooding:* *Due to flooding, DND has removed access to **the Shirley’s Bay Causeway** until it is safe again. Updates will be announced when they are available. * *and* *There is still limited access to Britannia. * 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
