Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Al Caughey at [email protected]
*Update for 2026.04.30 (season 1; episode 13)* ****Reposting because I cannot find the update I sent last week in the archives?!?**** A couple of days ago, I was thinking that I would have to declare this past week to be relatively uneventful but oh how that changed following the rain on Tues/Wed. The number of species reported in the 50km circle spiked from 154 last week to 178 and the number of notable species jumped from the mid thirties to almost fifty! A few of our migrants are still being seen (e.g., Snow, Ross's & Greater White-fronted Geese & Tundra Swans) but they've been joined by at least 14 species of warblers and 7 species of sparrows; plus a plethora of other species. The exciting find of the week goes to Paul Lagasi who was (somehow) able to spot a Violet Green Swallow amid the hundreds of other swallows swirling above the river at the Filtration Plant at Mud Lake in Ottawa today (Apr 30). As far as I can determine, this is the first sighting in the 50km circle since Apr 2013! Cooler temps and north winds should slow movement for the next couple of days but starting on Sunday, the winds should shift to the west and then south or southwest which will likely produce a significant surge of migrants. If the predicted rainfalls on Tues/Wed actually occur, there could be a 'fallout' and high concentrations of birds at our local hotspots - keep your eyes open... who knows what'll show up next! *Arrivals since the last update*: - *17 New Notables*: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Least Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Waterthrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak - *5 Others*: Chimney Swift, Green Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, Canada Warbler *Not reported since the last update*: - White-winged Scoter, Black-necked Stilt (Black-necked), Glaucous Gull, Least Bittern, American Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Mountain Bluebird, Yellow-headed Blackbird *Still being seen but no longer notable*: - Sora, Common Gallinule, Solitary Sandpiper, Broad-winged Hawk, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, American Pipit *--------------------------------------* *Current Notable Birds:* *Ross's Goose*: 9 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Moodie Drive Quarry [Ottawa] (on Apr 30); 2 at Dunning Rd [Ottawa] (on Apr 30); as many as 6 at Giroux Rd/Navan (Giroux Rd Ponds) [Ottawa] (5 times between Apr 27-29); 1 at Barnsdale Rd [Ottawa] (on Apr 28); 1 at Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); plus another one at 1833 Joanisse [Prescott and Russell] on Apr 26 *Greater White-fronted Goose*: 10 reports at 2 locations - as many as 4 at Holland's Marsh [Ottawa] (9 times on Apr 29); 1 at Almonte Lagoons [Lanark] (on Apr 24) *Snow x Canada Goose (hybrid)*: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Guerin Rd, The Nation ON [Prescott and Russell] (on Apr 30); 1 at District St, Russell ON [Prescott and Russell] (on Apr 27) *Trumpeter Swan*: a single report of 2 at Parc de la Gatineau, Ch Swamp [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] on Apr 25; plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not reported as notable *Tundra Swan*: 2 reports of 1 at Cobbs Lake Creek at Lalonde Rd [Prescott and Russell] on Apr 26 *Redhead*: 7 reports of 7 at Almonte Lagoons [Lanark] between Apr 25-29; plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not reported as notable *Barrow's Goldeneye*: 5 reports of 1 at Central Experimental Farm Arboretum/Dow's Lake/Rideau Canal Western Pathway [Ottawa] on Apr 24 *Eastern Whip-poor-will*🆕: 3 reports of 3 at Dunrobin (Carp Hills) [Ottawa] between Apr 25-26 *Ruby-throated Hummingbird*🆕: a single report of 1 at Maison [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] on Apr 28 *Spotted Sandpiper*: 28 reports at 9 locations - as many as 2 at Diamond Jubilee Park [Ottawa] (17 times between Apr 24-26); 1 at Carp River at Sensplex [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 2 at Rideau River - Black Rapids - Long Island lock [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 1 at Solarium Ave Stormwater Pond [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 1 at Kennedy-Craig Forest [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 1 at Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons) [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 1 at Clifford Allen Island [Ottawa] (on Apr 25); as many as 3 at Hwy 7 Storm Pond [Lanark] (4 times on Apr 24); 1 at Chapman Mills CA [ Ottawa] (on Apr 24); plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable Dunlin: 9 reports of 2 at Holland's Marsh [Ottawa] between Apr 29-30 *Bonaparte's Gull*🆕: 6 reports at 2 locations - as many as 100 at Shirley's Bay (boat launch) [Ottawa] (3 times between Apr 28-29); as many as 105 at Shirley's Bay [Ottawa] (3 times between Apr 28-29); plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Lesser Black-backed Gull*: a single report of 1 at Shirley's Bay [Ottawa] on Apr 28; plus several other sightings after Apr 28 when they stopped being reported as notable in Ottawa County *Great Egret*: 6 reports of 1 at Hwy 7 Storm Pond [Lanark] between Apr 29-30; plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Golden Eagle*: a single report of 1 at rue des Chardonnerets [Gatineau] on Apr 24 *Rough-legged Hawk*: a single report of 1 at Aéroport exécutif Gatineau- Ottawa [Gatineau] on Apr 30; plus another sighting in Ottawa on Apr 27 where they are not reported as notable *Red-bellied Woodpecker*: 6 reports at 5 locations - 1 at MY YARD: Wakefield 11 Legion Rd/Wakefield, Riverside Drive [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (twice between Apr 25-28); 1 at Domaine de la ferme Moore [Gatineau] (on Apr 27); 1 at St Felix Rd, Clarence-Rockland ON [Prescott and Russell] (on Apr 26); 1 at Piste cyc. Sentier des Voyageurs--Pont Champlain<->Parc des Rapides-Deschênes [Gatineau] (on Apr 24); 1 at Forêt Boucher [Gatineau] (on Apr 24); plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Black-backed Woodpecker*: a single report of 1 at Kanata Trails [Ottawa] on Apr 26 *Least Flycatcher*🆕: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc) [Gatineau] (on Apr 30); 1 at rue des Chardonnerets [Gatineau] (on Apr 28); plus a couple of other sightings in Ottawa County where they are not considered notable *Eastern Warbling Vireo*🆕: a single report of 1 at Near Solva Drive Entrance [Ottawa] on Apr 26; plus a number of sightings in Ottawa County after Apr 27 when they stopped being reported as notable *Violet-green Swallow*🆕: 3 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Filtration Plant/Point [Ottawa] (twice on Apr 30); 1 at Cassels St [ Ottawa] (on Apr 29) *Northern House Wren*: 9 reports at 8 locations - as many as 2 at Shirley's Bay [Ottawa] (twice on Apr 24); 1 at Britannia CA (general location) [Ottawa] (on Apr 24); 1 at Aylmer Ch Terry-Fox [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on Apr 24); 1 at Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy) [Ottawa] (on Apr 24); 1 at Ch Antoine-Boucher, Ch. Perry<-->Ch. Klock, Gatineau (Aylmer) [Gatineau] (on Apr 24); 1 at Baie Noire (Est & Ouest) [Papineau] (on Apr 24); 1 at Stony Swamp (Beaver Trail) [Ottawa] (on Apr 24); 2 at Greenbelt of Conroy Rd [Ottawa] (on Apr 24); plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Marsh Wren*🆕: 2 reports at 2 locations - 2 at Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons) [Ottawa] (on Apr 28); 1 at Dunrobin (Constance Creek) [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); plus another sighting in Papineau county where they are not reported as notable Gray Catbird🆕: 3 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Fortress of Solitude-1135 Quigley Hill Rd [Ottawa] (twice on Apr 29); 1 at Rue Howard [Gatineau] (on Apr 27); plus another sighting in Gatineau county where they are not reported as notable *Northern Mockingbird*🆕: a single report of 1 at Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons) [Ottawa] on Apr 27 *Swainson's Thrush*🆕: a single report of 1 at Mer Bleue Bog [Ottawa] on Apr 24 *Wood Thrush*🆕: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Conley Rd, Munster ON [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); 1 at Pine Grove Forestry Trail [Ottawa] (on Apr 26) *Evening Grosbeak*: 10 reports at 5 locations - 4 at Wolf Grove Rd [Lanark] (on Apr 30); 2 at Backyard Feeder [Lanark] (on Apr 26); as many as 13 at Forest East of Burnt Lands Rd (Private)/1644 Burnt Lands Rd (Private Backyard) [Ottawa] (6 times between Apr 25-30); 1 at Pioneer Plains Park [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); 6 at Burnt Lands Provincial Park [Ottawa] (on Apr 25); plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Snow Bunting*: 4 reports at 3 locations - 1 at Navan (Giroux Rd Ponds) [Ottawa] (on Apr 28); 1 at Parc du Lac-Beauchamp [Gatineau] (twice on Apr 27); 2 at Station d'épuration, Gatineau (Masson-Angers) [Gatineau] (on Apr 27) *Grasshopper Sparrow*🆕: 3 reports of 1 at Burnt Lands Provincial Park [ Ottawa] between Apr 24-26 White-crowned Sparrow: a single report of 2 at Burnt Lands Provincial Park [ Ottawa] on Apr 24; plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Bobolink*🆕: a single report of 1 at Parc National de Plaisance, Lochaber QC [Papineau] on Apr 30 *Baltimore Oriole*: 6 reports at 4 locations - 1 at Jean - résidence, 129 Ch Braun, Pontiac QC [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on Apr 30); 1 at Britannia CA (general location) [ Ottawa] (3 times between Apr 28-30); 1 at Parc des Portageurs [Gatineau] (on Apr 29); 1 at Richmond SW - Joys Rd south [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Ovenbird*: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Richmond SW - Ottawa St west of Joy's Rd [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); 1 at Forêt Boucher [Gatineau] (on Apr 29) *Northern Waterthrush*🆕: 9 reports at 8 locations - 1 at Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy) [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 2 at Pine grove trail [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 1 at Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail) [ Ottawa] (twice on Apr 26); 1 at South Island Park Dr, Manotick ON [Ottawa] (on Apr 25); 1 at Forêt Chantegrive [Gatineau] (on Apr 25); 1 at Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Rd [Ottawa] (on Apr 24); 2 at Prescott-Russell Trail Link [Ottawa] (on Apr 24); 1 at Forêt Boucher [Gatineau] (on Apr 24); plus several other sightings in several counties where they are not or no longer reported as notable *Orange-crowned Warbler*🆕: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Baie Simard [Gatineau] (on Apr 29); 1 at Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc) [Gatineau] (on Apr 29) *Nashville Warbler*: 18 reports at 13 locations - as many as 2 at Pioneer Plains Park [Ottawa] (twice between Apr 29-30); 1 at Woods off of Derreen Ave [Ottawa] (on Apr 30); 1 at Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy) [Ottawa] (on Apr 30); 1 at Linda Thom Park [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); 2 at Central Experimental Farm [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); as many as 2 at Britannia CA (general location) [Ottawa] (twice on Apr 29); 1 at Fortress of Solitude-1135 Quigley Hill Rd [Ottawa] (twice on Apr 29); as many as 3 at Brantwood Park/Brantwood Park Trail [Ottawa] (twice between Apr 27-29); 1 at Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Rd [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); 1 at 1644 Burnt Lands Rd (Private Backyard) [Ottawa] (on Apr 29); as many as 2 at Pine Grove Forestry Trail [Ottawa] (twice between Apr 27-28); 1 at Trans Canada Trail - Jinkinson Rd [Ottawa] (on Apr 28); 1 at Pine Grove Forestry Trail [Ottawa] (on Apr 28); plus several sightings in Gatineau and Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais counties where they are not reported as notable *Common Yellowthroat*🆕: 4 reports at 3 locations - 1 at Harwick Cres/Stony Swamp behind Bell Arena [Ottawa] (twice between Apr 26-27); 1 at NCC 27 [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 1 at Forêt Boucher [Gatineau] (on Apr 26); plus a couple of sightings in Lanark and Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais counties where they are not reported as notable *Cape May Warbler*🆕: a single report of 1 at Britannia CA (general location) [Ottawa] on Apr 29 *Northern Parula*🆕: 3 reports at 3 locations - 1 at Twin Elm Rd Wetlands [Ottawa] (on Apr 30); 1 at Domaine de la ferme Moore [Gatineau] (on Apr 29); 1 at Yard list, Ch Younger, Lac McGregor [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on Apr 29) *Blackburnian Warbler*🆕: a single report of 1 at Stanley Park [Ottawa] on Apr 30 *Northern Yellow Warbler*: 4 reports at 4 locations - 1 at Baie Noire (Est & Ouest) [Papineau] (on Apr 27); 1 at Marais nord, Lac Leamy [Gatineau] (on Apr 27); 1 at Mud Lake [Ottawa] (on Apr 26); 1 at Mer Bleue Bog [Ottawa] (on Apr 25); plus several sightings after Apr 28th when they stopped being reported as notable *Black-throated Blue Warbler*🆕: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy) [Ottawa] (on Apr 30); 1 at Ch Younger, Val-des-monts [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on Apr 29) *Black-throated Green Warbler*🆕: 4 reports at 4 locations - 1 at NCC 27 [Ottawa] (on Apr 28); 1 at South March Highlands Conservation Forest [Ottawa] (on Apr 28); 1 at Forêt Boucher [Gatineau] (on Apr 28); 1 at Crazy Horse Trail [Ottawa] (on Apr 27) *Rose-breasted Grosbeak*🆕: a single report of 1 at Wolf Grove Rd [Lanark] on Apr 28; plus several sightings in Ottawa County where they are no longer reported as notable As always, send questions, comments or photos to [email protected]. Your feedback is appreciated. Good birding, Al -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
