Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Al Caughey at [email protected]
Update for 2026.05.14 (season 1; episode 15) This week I'm back after my first-ever trip to Point Pelee. Wow!!! We saw more than 100 species inside the park and over 50 more at other locations - highlights included: Prothonotary & Yellow-throated Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed Vireo, Black-headed Gull, Least Bittern, White-faced Ibis, etc., etc. Huge thank-yous to Martha, Alex, Jakob & Jamie for making it so enjoyable (even though being away meant that I missed out on the Hooded Warbler and Orchard Oriole). Once again, the number of species reported within the 50km Circle increased - from 190 to 206 - but, again, the number of notable species decreased - from 37 to 30. Warblers have returned to the area with people reporting significant numbers & species, especially later in the week. The biggest excitement was reserved until Thurs when Betty M and Noah D found Wilson's Phalaropes at two separate locations. And late in the day, Eric B and Steph P found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at the Dow's Lake Arboretum. Ten notable species arrived in the 50km Circle since the last update: Common Nighthawk, American Golden-Plover, Wilson's Phalarope, Glaucous Gull, American Goshawk, Willow Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Sedge Wren, Hooded Warbler, Prairie Warbler. Other 'non-notable' arrivals included: White-winged Scoter, Gray Partridge, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black Tern, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler, Canada Warbler, Wilson's Warbler. The only notable species from last week that is not longer being seen is the Violet-green Swallow (although the Hooded Warbler and Orchard Oriole have not been reported for several days now). The following are still being seen but are no longer notable: Least Flycatcher, Marsh Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, Tennessee Warbler, Indigo Bunting In terms of the coming week, strong south winds between Sat and Mon should continue the migratory push. Stormy weather on Tues will likely (hopefully) produce a significant fallout. Sunday and Wednesday could be the most productive days next week but be aware that high humidity and soaring temperatures means that birds will likely be more active at dawn before they hunker down during the afternoon heat. Current Notable Birds: Surf Scoter: 4 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Club de Voile Grande Rivière [Gatineau] (twice on May 14); as many as 6 at Shirley's Bay [Ottawa] (on May 14) Bufflehead: 2 reports at 2 locations - 2 at Stonewater Bay stormwater pond [Lanark] (on May 14); 7 at Mississippi Riverwalk Trail [Lanark] (on May 12); plus several other reports in other counties where they are not flagged as notable Common Goldeneye: 3 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Stonewater Bay stormwater pond [Lanark] (twice between May 10-14); 1 at Mississippi Riverwalk Trail [Lanark] (on May 12); plus several other reports in Lanark, Gatineau and Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais where they are not flagged as notable Common Nighthawk🆕: a single report of 1 at Dunrobin (Carp Hills) [Ottawa] on May 9 American Golden-Plover🆕: 2 reports of 1 at Martin St North, Mississippi Mills ON [Lanark] on May 9 Wilson's Phalarope🆕: 12 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Holland's Marsh [Ottawa] (6 times on May 14); 1 at Twin Elm Rd Wetlands [Ottawa] (6 times on May 14) Glaucous Gull🆕: 2 reports of 1 at Trail Rd Landfill [Ottawa] on May 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull: 16 reports at 5 locations - 2 at Herzberg and Carling Ponds [Ottawa] (on May 13); 1 at Moodie Drive Quarry [Ottawa] (4 times between May 9-13); as many as 11 at Twin Elm Rd Wetlands [Ottawa] (9 times between May 8-11); 1 at Trail Rd Landfill [Ottawa] (on May 9); 2 at Britannia and area [Ottawa] (on May 9) Iceland Gull: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Moodie Drive Quarry [Ottawa] (on May 13); 1 at Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc) [Gatineau] (on May 12) American Goshawk🆕: a single report of 1 at rue des Chardonnerets [Gatineau] on May 10 Rough-legged Hawk: a single report of 1 at Marais des Laîches [Gatineau] on May 14 Red-headed Woodpecker: 9 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Du Quai Av, Wendover ON/Eglise Saint-Benoit-Labre, Wendover ON [Prescott and Russell] (twice on May 13); as many as 2 at Torbolton Forest [Ottawa] (3 times between May 9-11); 1 on Stonecrest Rd [Ottawa] (on May 9); as many as 2 in Constance Bay [Ottawa] (twice on May 8); 1 at Ch Station, Chelsea QC [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 8) Red-bellied Woodpecker: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Parc Guillot & Marais Lamoureux [Gatineau] (on May 11); 1 at Macnamara Trail [Renfrew] (on May 9); plus several reports in Lanark, Leeds and Grenville and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry where they are not flagged as notable Black-backed Woodpecker: 6 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy) [Ottawa] (on May 12); 1 at Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Rd [Ottawa] (on May 12); 1 at Gagnon Trail [Prescott and Russell] (on May 9); 1 at Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail)/Stony Creek [Ottawa] (twice between May 8-9); 1 at Russell Rd [Ottawa] (on May 8) Willow Flycatcher🆕: a single report of 1 at Findlay Creek stormwater finishing ponds [Ottawa] on May 9 Yellow-throated Vireo: 4 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Sheila McKee Park [Ottawa] (3 times between May 12-13); 1 at Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons) [Ottawa] (on May 11); plus a couple of reports in Lanark and Gatineau where they are not flagged as notable Red-eyed Vireo🆕: a single report of 1 at Luskville [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] on May 9; plus several other reports in other counties where they are not flagged as notable Blue-gray Gnatcatcher🆕: 3 reports of 1 at Fletcher Wildlife Garden/Central Experimental Farm Arboretum [Ottawa] on May 14 Sedge Wren🆕: 3 reports along the Trans Canada Trail [Ottawa] (between May 12-13) Northern Mockingbird: a single report of 1 at Clarke Bellinger Environmental Facility [Ottawa] on May 9; plus 2 additional reports in Ottawa after May 10 when they stopped being flagged as notable Evening Grosbeak: 9 reports at 9 locations - 1 at Homebase [Ottawa] (on May 14); 1 at Pine grove trail [Ottawa] (on May 14); 2 at 1644 Burnt Lands Rd (Private Backyard) [Ottawa] (on May 14); 2 at Richmond - Yard [Ottawa] (on May 13); 1 at Alta Vista Dr [Ottawa] (on May 13); 3 at Alexander Grove Park [Ottawa] (on May 12); 2 at Home [Ottawa] (on May 11); at least 1 at farm woodlot [Ottawa] (on May 11); 1 at Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons) [Ottawa] (on May 11) plus several other reports in other counties where they are not flagged as notable Red Crossbill🆕: a single report of 8 at Gagnon Trail [Prescott and Russell] on May 9 American Tree Sparrow: 7 reports at 4 locations - as many as 2 at Mud Lake/Britannia CA (general location) [Ottawa] (3 times between May 9-12); 1 at Mer Bleue Bog [Ottawa] (twice on May 9); 1 at home [Ottawa] (on May 9); 1 at Nepean Tent and Trailer Campgrounds [Ottawa] (on May 9); plus several reports in Gatineau where they are not notable Fox Sparrow: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Forêt Boucher [Gatineau] (on May 14); 1 at Greenbelt Pathway off Conroy [Ottawa] (on May 10); plus a report in Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais where they are not notable Orchard Oriole: a single report of 1 at Forest Hill Ave [Ottawa] on May 12 Orange-crowned Warbler: 20 reports at 11 locations - 1 at Central Experimental Farm Arboretum [Ottawa] (twice on May 14); as many as 2 at Mud Lake [Ottawa] (9 times between May 12-14); 1 at Rideau River Western Pathway north of Hurdman Bridge [Ottawa] (on May 14); 1 at Strathcona Park [Ottawa] (twice between May 12-14); 1 at Stanley Park [Ottawa] (on May 13); 1 at Harwick Cres [Ottawa] (on May 12); 1 at Twin Elm Rd Wetlands [Ottawa] (on May 11); 1 at Pine Grove Trailhead P19 [Ottawa] (on May 10); 1 at Colchester Sq [Ottawa] (on May 9); 1 at Ramsayville-Hawthorne pathway [Ottawa] (on May 9); plus a report in Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais where they are not notable Hooded Warbler🆕: 99 reports of 1 at Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail) [Ottawa] between May 7-9 Bay-breasted Warbler🆕: a single report of 1 at Atlas square 18TVR43 - NR Park [Ottawa] on May 8; plus reports between May 11-14 in Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais & Papineau (where they are not notable) Prairie Warbler🆕: a single report of 1 at Sentier du Ruisseau-de-la-Brasserie [Gatineau] on May 12 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.
