Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
May 16, 2019 The bird of the week was a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, seen in Blossom Park on the 9-11th. Probably equally good but unnoticed was a EURASIAN WIGEON at Baie Noire on the 12th-seen from the rest stop on Route 148. Also good was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER at the Old Quarry Trail on the 11th. Other than that, cool, often rainy, weather and unfavourable winds gave us rather few migrants. It was very quiet for being near the peak of migration. Perhaps next week will give us some action, but then that is what we thought last week. Still, at least some birds are coming in, and about 15 species were new for the year. WATERBIRDS, again, were not notable. There were, however, 7 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS in the Deschenes Rapids on the 11th. 30 SNOW GEESE at the Giroux Road Ponds on the 15th were getting late. One of the better marsh areas now that the so many are flooded is the Richmond Conservation area. A number of SORA, a VIRGINIA RAIL, COMMON GALLINULE and 3 MARSH WRENS were there on the 11th. 9 LEAST SANDPIPERS were at Holland’s Marsh near Kinburn on the 11th, while on the 14th EMBRUN had 14 birds of 14 BIRDS of 4 species including PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and WILSON’S PHALAROPE. Mostly there have been few SHOREBIRDS and little habitat, but we are 2 weeks from the peak. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Moodie Drive ponds on the 11th. The first LEAST BITTERN was at Stony Swamp on the 12th. Both EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (13th) and ALDER FLYCATCHER (9th) arrived this week but these are isolated sightings so far. The first EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL was on Kettles Road on the 14th. Among the SONGBIRDS, SCARLET TANAGER (10th) and PHILADELPHIA VIREO (15th) were new. The CAROLINA WREN was still in Navan as of the 11th, and another was at the Old Quarry trail on the 11th. New arrivals among the WARBLERS were TENNESSEE, CAPE MAY (both at Britannia), BLACKPOLL and MOURNING WARBLERS (both on the 15th at Foret Chantegrive in the Plateau area of Gatineau). A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was at the Nepean Tent and Trailer Park on the 13th. Now 23 of the 25 regular WARBLERS have arrived, and most of nesting species are on territory, but most days have been sparse of migrants. NORTHERN PARULA seemed particularly widespread in the non-nesting areas. Finally, a few winter birds continue to linger. A BOHEMIAN WAXWING was in Gatineau Park-Trail 5 on the 11th, a COMMON REDPOLLS at a feeder in Kanata on the 15th, a few lingering EVENING GROSBEAKS were west of Stittsville (at a feeder) and on Dolman Ridge Road as of the 15th, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were still around as of the 15th. *Reminders concerning flooding:* *Due to flooding, DND has removed access to **the Shirley’s Bay Causeway** until it is safe again. Updates will be announced when they are available. * *There is still limited access to Britannia. * 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
