Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
September 22, 2016 The bird of the week was a WHITE-FACED/GLOSSY IBIS, first seen at Andrew Haydon on the 14th, then at Shirley’s Bay from the 15th-18th. Unfortunately, being a juvenile, the plumage did not allow separation of species. Other than this, it was a fairly quiet week. There was another solid week of warm weather, with PASSERINE variety generally declining until it perked up after the all-day rain on the 17th, but has seen declined a bit. Summer birds continue to decline, with a smaller influx of fall migrants. As last week, there was a good variety of PUDDLE DUCKS, but not so much of the others. A REDHEAD at Shirley’s bay on the 21st was of interest. 18 species of SHOREBIRD were seen regionally this week. The following is a summary: 1. Shirley;s Bay had up to 9 species earlier in the week, but only 3 on the 21st. 2. Embrun had good variety. There were about 60 birds of 11 species there on the 18th, including BAIRD’S and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, SANDERLING and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. There were fewer birds but 12 species here on the 16th including STILT SANDPIPER and AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 3. Giroux had limited variety but it included 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER on the 18th. 4. Almonte had modest to small numbers of common species. 5. Moodie Drive Ponds had a small number including AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 6. A storm water pond in Emerald Meadows had habitat and small numbers of common species. 7. Petrie Island had small numbers of common species. 8. Russell had small number of common species. Amid the general decline, a few fall birds have becoming more common: AMERICAN PIPIT, LINCOLN’S and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and a single sighting of GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH at Britannia on the 21st. A few late sightings were noted: 1. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD near Larose Forest on the 21st. 2. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Larose Forest on the 15th. 3. A SORA at Andrew Haydon Park on the 21st. 4. 150 TREE SWALLOWS at Russell on the 17th. 22 species of WARBLER were seen this week, including a late MOURNING WARBLER at Shirley’s bay on the 18th. However, variety per trip has dropped a bit: 10 species is more typical now. Finally, 4 RED CROSSBILL were heard in the Alta Vista area on the 18th. *NOTE RE: ACCESS TO THE SHIRLEY’S BAY CAUSEWAY*. The OFNC has a signed agreement with DND and PWGS that gives OFNC members limited access to this important birding area. You must call the Range Control Office (613-991-5740) before entering DND property, and you will be informed how far down the causeway you may go. For your safety, please respect their instructions, as the shooting patterns vary from day to day. 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 (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
