Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
June 20, 2019 The highlight of the week was a (and possibly 2) FRANKLIN’S GULL at Britannia Point and vicinity from the 17th to at least the 19th. It was flying around with up to 12 BONAPARTE’S GULLS, and until the 18th was often perched on the stray dock, which has since been removed. The YELLOW-THROATED VIREO on Huntmar was there until at least the 19th. There have just been a handful of likely migrants as we settle into the summer nesting season, and for a change the weather has been seasonal. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at Mer Bleue on the 19th was likely a very late migrant. As we settle into summer, this is the time to find the regular and irregular nesting species. Due to the flooding, the marshes along the Ottawa River to the south are poorly developed and there is little to be seen, although a CASPIAN TERN flies up and down the river from time to time. The marshes on the Quebec side are more productive. At Baie McLaurin there was a LEAST BITTERN on the 16th. At Baie Noire and elsewhere nearby BLACK TERNS are nesting. Marais des Laîches has been good and 2 SEDGE WRENS were at Marais des grenouillettes on the 13th. For those adventurous enough for a river cruise, the Jock River and associated wetlands are excellent but you need to pilot your own craft. 8 LEAST BITTERNS were observed on a trip starting near Carleton Place, along with 6 TRUMPETER SWANS. A trip starting near Richmond had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. The Richmond Conservation area has been good for the usual marsh birds including COMMON GALLINULE, SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS are back in their usual spot in Constance Bay as of the 20th, and one was in Munster on the 16th. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO has been irregular on Dobson Lane in Richmond as late as the 19th. Burnt Lands Provincial Park has been good for UPLAND SANDPIPER as well as SPARROWS. Similar SPARROWS can be found south of the International Airport but it is harder due to the noise and being restricted to public roads. However, there were still 2 SEDGE WRENS on Bowesville Road on the 17th. The best spots for WARBLERS are the large forested tracts in the north, such as Gatineau Park and north of Buckingham. In the east, Larose forest is good. GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS are still being seen on Thomas Dolan. Closer to town, Pine Grove Trail has both CANADA and MOURNING WARBLERS. In other odds and ends, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was in the Munster area on the 16th, and 3 CAROLINA WREN*S* were in Chapel Hill on the 15th. *Reminder: * *Due to the earlier flooding, DND has removed access to **the Shirley’s Bay Causeway** until it is safe again. There are no updates on this situation yet. * 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 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
