Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) – Weekly Birding Report Sightings within a 50km radius of Parliament Hill - including eastern Ontario and western Quebec *Compiled by Al Caughey at [email protected] <[email protected]>*
*Update for the week ending on 2026.05.28 (season 1; episode 17)* *For the first time in several weeks, both the number of species and the number of notable species within the 50km Circle declined - total species dropped from 216 to 198 and notables, from 34 to 25. In spite of the reduced numbers, there were still a couple of particularly exciting finds: Aidan Hamilton spotted what appears to be the region's second-ever Yellow-bellied x Red-naped Sapsucker hybrid on the Trans Canada Trail in Stittsville; Greg Spira (and several other participants) at a Chimney Swift watch event in Ottawa saw a Summer Tanager - this time, a female to counter the male found by Mario Botros last week, and finally, Stéphane Martineau found a Brewster's Warbler in Parc de la Gatineau (one of the two recognized hybrids of Blue-winged & Golden-winged warblers). Other new notables included: Sanderlings & Grasshopper Sparrows while the only non-notable arrivals were Red-throated Loons.* *The following notable species from the previous update were not reported in the past week: Surf Scoter, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Wilson's Phalarope, Great Black-backed Gull, Red-necked Grebe, Red Crossbill, Louisiana Waterthrush, Orange-crowned Warbler. The following were reported but no longer trip the rarity filter: Red-breasted Merganser, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush & Clay-colored Sparrow.* *In terms of the coming week, we're now past peak migration but there should still be some late arrivals and our local breeders should be quite vocal and (hopefully) visible as they finalize their nesting territories. Rain and gusty winds over the weekend will likely make forest birding tough but could force late migrating shorebirds onto the mudflats at local wetlands and sheltered bays. Later in the week, calmer and clearer conditions could allow for some better birding opportunities - esp. in the early morning.* Current Notable Birds: *Cackling Goose*: a single report of 2 at Mud Lake [Ottawa] on May 28 *Northern Pintail*: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Petrie Island [Ottawa] (on May 25); 1 at Britannia Park (pier) [Ottawa] (on May 22) *Redhead*: 3 reports of 1 at Hwy 7 Storm Pond [Lanark] between May 24-25 *Lesser Scaup*: 10 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Hwy 7 Storm Pond [Lanark] (3 times on May 28); 2 at Prudhomme St, Alfred and Plantagenet ON [Prescott and Russell] (on May 27); 2 at Shirley's Bay (boat launch) [Ottawa] (on May 26); as many as 2 at Almonte Lagoons [Lanark] (4 times between May 24-25); 2 at Dick Bell Park [Ottawa] (on May 25) *Sanderling*🆕: 14 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Forsyth Lane, private location [Ottawa] (on May 28); as many as 2 at Petrie Island [Ottawa] (13 times on May 24) *White-rumped Sandpiper*: 5 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Hwy 7 Storm Pond [Lanark] (4 times between May 26-28); 1 at Petrie Island [Ottawa] (on May 26) *Lesser Black-backed Gull*: 9 reports at 4 locations - 1 at Astelia Cres [Ottawa] (on May 27); 1 at Moodie Drive Quarry [Ottawa] (3 times between May 23-27); 1 at Woods off of Derreen Ave [Ottawa] (on May 25); as many as 3 at Fernbank Storm Water Pond [Ottawa] (4 times on May 24) *Caspian Tern*: 18 reports at 5 locations - as many as 2 at Mud Lake/Britannia CA [Ottawa] (10 times between May 23-28); as many as 2 at Shirley's Bay [Ottawa] (twice between May 24-25); 1 at Dunrobin (Constance Creek) [Ottawa] (on May 23); 1 at Baie Noire (est et ouest) [Papineau] (4 times on May 23) *Yellow-bellied x Red-naped Sapsucker (hybrid)*🆕: a single report of 1 at Trans Canada Trail [Ottawa] on May 26 *Red-headed Woodpecker*: 6 reports at 2 locations - as many as 2 at Constance Bay [Ottawa] (3 times between May 24-27); 1 at Ch des Muguets, Chelsea QC [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 23) *Yellow-throated Vireo*: 10 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Ch. de la Sapinière [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (twice between May 22-27); 1 at Sheila McKee Park [Ottawa] (4 times between May 22-26); 1 at Lac la Pêche [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 26); 1 at Mud Lake [Ottawa] (on May 24); 1 at Jock River Between Munster And Joy. [Ottawa] (on May 22); plus 1 non-notable report in Lanark *Ruby-crowned Kinglet*: a single report of 1 at Acacia Ave [Ottawa] on May 26; plus non-notable reports in Gatineau [1] & Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais [2] *Sedge Wren*: 2 reports of 1 at Field behind Rathwell St/Field NE of Rathwell St [Lanark] between May 25-26; plus non-notable reports in Ottawa [2] & Prescott and Russell [2] *Northern Mockingbird*: 4 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Burnt Lands Provincial Park [Ottawa] (on May 23); 1 at Petrie Island [Ottawa] (3 times on May 23); plus another probable sighting at the Beechwood Cemetery on May 21 *Evening Grosbeak*: 2 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Greenland Rd [Ottawa] (on May 27); 1 at Pioneer Plains Park [Ottawa] (on May 23); plus non-notable reports at locations in Gatineau [1], Prescott and Russell [1], Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais [2] *Grasshopper Sparrow*🆕: 2 reports at 2 locations - 2 at Atlas square 18TVR84 [Prescott and Russell] (on May 27); 2 in Clarence-Rockland ON [Prescott and Russell] (on May 27); plus 4 non-notable reports in Ottawa *Fox Sparrow*: a single report of 1 at Mer Bleue Bog [Ottawa] on May 23 *Dark-eyed Junco*: 5 reports at 4 locations - 4 at Mud Lake [Ottawa] (on May 28); 1 on Quigley Hill Rd [Ottawa] (twice on May 24); 2 at Sunridge Ln, Nepean ON [Ottawa] (on May 23); 1 at South Island Park Dr [Ottawa] (on May 22); plus non-notable reports in Gatineau [2] & Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais [4] *Eastern Towhee*: a single report of 1 in Clarence-Rockland ON [Prescott and Russell] on May 27; plus non-notable reports at locations in Ottawa [23], Lanark [1], Papineau [1], Leeds and Grenville [1] *Golden-winged Warbler*: 10 reports at 4 locations - 1 at Extrémité Ch. de l'Hôtel de Ville, Luskville [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 28); 1 at Sentier 5 [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (3 times between May 22-27); 1 at Relais Plein Air [Gatineau] (5 times between May 22-26); 1 at Sentier du Ruisseau Leamy [Gatineau] (on May 22); plus non-notable reports in Ottawa [3] & Lanark [2] *Blue-winged Warbler*: 4 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Extrémité Ch. de l'Hôtel de Ville, Luskville [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (3 times between May 27-28); 1 at Vallée Meech [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 23); plus 1 non-notable report in Lanark *Brewster's Warbler (hybrid)*🆕: a single report of 1 at Sentier 5 [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] on May 26 *Palm Warbler*: a single report of 1 at Marais des Laîches [Gatineau] on May 27; plus non-notable reports in Ottawa [9] & Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais [1] *Summer Tanager*: a single report of 1 at Swift Park [Ottawa] on May 26 One last quick reminder that the Merlin app is an excellent tool but it is not infallible. You should be cautious about reporting birds that you did not hear or see yourself - especially rarities. For example, on a couple of occasions recently, my Merlin told me that it had heard a Northern Mockingbird but after several additional minutes of careful listening, it was clear that none were present. Oh, and adding the comment `*Confirmed by Merlin*` to your eBird report does not make the reviewers happy! 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]. 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