Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
December 5, 2019 There were no highlights this week. Like last week, temperatures were near normal with no snow until the 4th. Birding was quiet again, but at least with a few interesting lingerers. LANDBIRDS have not made any movement to feeders, and WATERBIRDS are not concentrated yet due to the extensive areas of open water. Since the start of the birding winter on December 1 (as of the 4th), about 70 species have been seen in the region. 14 species of DUCK were seen this week. A smattering of lingering DABBLING DUCKS were included, specifically NORTHERN PINTAILS at the Iber Road storm outlet, and near the Masson water treatment plant; a GREEN-WINGED TEAL at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden on the 4th and 2 in Gatineau (Etang Grimes ) on the 3rd; WOOD DUCKS at Sawmill Creek, Petrie Island, Ruisseau de la Brasserie and Billings Bridge; and a GADWALL at Britannia on the 2nd. 3 BLACK SCOTERS at Britannia on the 3rd rounded out the list of exceptional DUCKS. A BELTED KINGFISHER was on Ruisseau de la Brasserie in Gatineau on the 3rd, while a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Strathcona Park on the 29th was quite unusual. ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS are still at the Trail Road Landfill. A GOLDEN EAGLE was at Lac McGregor on the 2nd, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was in Sarsfield on the 4th, and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was in Carleton Place on the 2nd. WINTER WRENS were at both Britannia and Almonte on the 3rd. A CAROLINA WREN was in Richmond on the 29th. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, from 1 to 15, have been seen regularly, but not always, near Thomas Dolan and Greenland Road, most recently on the 3rd, and also on Berry Side Road, most recently on the 4th. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD continues on Perrault at Milton as late as the 5th and another continues as of the 4th in Gatineau (District des Promenades). 3 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were on Barnsdale on the 1st, and COMMON GRACKLES were in Russell and in Gatineau (Chemin du Fer à cheval) on the 1st. For those who are interested in a sighting outside the 50K region, a HARRIS’ SPARROW has been regular at a feeder on Ault Island near Morrisburg. Finally, perhaps the most unusual of the lingerers was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the Monaghan Forest on the 30th. _______________________________________________ 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
