Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Greg Zbitnew at k_zbitn...@bell.net or sighti...@ofnc.ca
June 30, 2016 There were two birding highlights, both rare but not unusually so. The continuing BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen as late as the 24th in the Carp Hills, and there were 2 sightings of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, one at Lac McGregor on the 29th and the other on a golf course near Stittsville on the 30th. In addition, a lingering RED-NECKED GREBE in breeding plumage continues at Britannia (Mud Lake) at least as late as the 29th. Aside from these, the summer doldrums are firmly entrenched in the Ottawa area. Weather was again typical of the season, but it continues to be somewhat dry and the Ottawa River has dropped noticeably. This may be important in a few weeks when shorebirds return. A few shorebirds are in the east. At St. Albert there was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, while at Embrun there was a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Volume and variety will pick up for the next 8 weeks. A few other interesting sightings are as follows, although all of them are expected summer residents: 1. 4 or more SEDGE WREN continue at a sedge field on Torbolton Ridge Road. 2. 2 UPLAND SANDPIPER were on Barnsdale Rd. on the 29th. 3. A LEAST BITTERN was at South March Highlands conservation Forest on the 29th. 4. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was on Torbolton Ridge Rd. on the 27th. 5. 3 PEREGRINE FALCON including 1 young were at the nesting spot near Data Road. 6. A CASPIAN TERN was at the Moodie Drive Ponds as late as the 25th. The OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to sighti...@ofnc.ca for the purpose of maintaining local records. 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 - 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