[Ontbirds] Ottawa/ Gatineau-recent sightings to August 11, 2016

[k_zbitnew2 k_zbitnew2]

Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club
Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec
Compiler:  Gregory Zbitnew at k_zbitn...@bell.net or sighti...@ofnc.ca

August 11, 2016

While there have been no rarities, there have been a few birds worth chasing.  A
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was at Shirley’s bay and Britannia on the 7th and 2 of
this scarce species were at Britannia on the 9th.  A WHIMBREL was flying over
the Stony Swamp area on the 6th, and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Embrun 8-9th is
still a bit early for this species.  

Persistent heat (with the hottest day of the year) and dryness this week have
made birding a challenge, and perhaps a challenge for the birds themselves.
 Migration is on the upswing, although it is slow as the weather provided no
incentive for them to stop and or linger. Ottawa River water levels continue to
drop, causing the shorebird habitat at Shirley’s bay to expand but also to
become more distant for viewing. 

There was little out of the ordinary among the waterbirds.  A GREATER SCAUP at
the Masson filtration plant was out-of-season.  The summering RED-NECKED GREBE
persists at Britannia as of the 11th. 

The low water levels have resulted in considerable habitat along the Ottawa
River although it is presumed that most SHOREBIRDS are just flying over in spite
of this. An example of this is 200 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS flying down the
Ottawa River near Wendover.  Shirley’s Bay has the greatest number, but the
variety is still only moderate at all locations. 13 species have been seen in
the region this week. Some sightings include:

1.  Shirley’s Bay:   220 bird of 8 species on the 9th. 
2.  Petrie Island: 78 birds of 6 species on the 8th (best spot for WILSON’S
SNIPE)
3.  Richmond CA:  80 birds of 9 species on the 6th incuding BLACK-BELLIED 
PLOVER
4.  Almonte: 64 birds of 6 species on the 7th
5.  Embrun: 72 birds of 9 species on the 9th
6.  Giroux Road Ponds: 1 KILLDEER on the 6th. 
7.  Masson Filtration Plant: 4 birds of 2 species on the 5th.

There is little else of note among the SONGBIRDS. Many of the residents are
becoming a bit more conspicuous as they are no longer involved in nesting and
the young are active too.   We are still waiting for the bigger mixed flocks of
WARBLERS. There were 10 species at Shirley’s Bay on the 8th but that was
atypical. CAPE MAY, TENNESSEE and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS are some of the more
interesting early arrivals. 

Finally, a few odds and ends:

1.  30 COMMON NIGHTHAWK at Almonte on the 7th.
2.  16 HORNED LARK at Giroux Road on the 6th.
3.  CAROLINA WREN at the Richmond CA on the 7th. 
4.  RED CROSSBILL at Shirley’s Bay on the 7th. 

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.

___
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birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending August 11, 2016.

[Fred Helleiner]

It comes as no surprise, given recent weather, that the fall bird 
migration at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has largely stalled.  It is 
equally unsurprising that most birders are waiting for more auspicious 
(derivation: /auspex/ = bird-watcher) conditions before visiting the Park.


At least one TRUMPETER SWAN was again present this week in Popham Bay.  
Among the ducks off Gull Island the following have been seen this week:  
NORTHERN PINTAIL, up to five GREEN-WINGED TEAL, up to eight REDHEADS, 
GREATER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK.  A RED-NECKED GREBE was also there this 
morning, a day earlier than the previous early fall date.   The recent 
revision to the taxonomic order in which birds are listed places RUFOUS 
HUMMINGBIRD immediately before the rails.  Since early August is the 
time when at least two Ontario records of this western vagrant have 
occurred, including one at Presqu'ile four years ago, it is worth 
drawing to the attention of birders that not all hummingbirds should be  
assumed to be RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS (and that even those common 
ones are related to rails!).  A COMMON GALLINULE continues to be seen in 
the woodpile marsh.


Most of the attention this week has been focussed on shorebirds, which 
made a sudden appearance on Saturday and have been present in growing 
numbers since then.  BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (up to seven) are in various 
plumages, some still in full breeding plumage.  Only two of the young 
PIPING PLOVERS were seen yesterday, and today all three were seen but 
only briefly.  Between Owen Point and Gull Island, several dozen 
sandpipers have been feeding on the algae flats, including a 
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER on Saturday and today, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER this 
morning, and two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on Monday.  Two SOLITARY 
SANDPIPERS also flew over on that day.  Two GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 13 
LESSER YELLOWLEGS appeared on Saturday.  A few BONAPARTE'S GULLS are 
being seen from time to time.  The GREAT EGRETS are still sitting in the 
trees on High Bluff Island, and a GREEN HERON was in the woodpile marsh.


A BALD EAGLE on Monday, a COOPER'S HAWK on Saturday, and three MERLINS 
on Tuesday were of interest.  On both Monday and Tuesday, single COMMON 
RAVENS were seen in the Park.  A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen on 
Tuesday.   A few migrant warblers have appeared, including NASHVILLE 
WARBLER and MAGNOLIA WARBLER, which are not known as summer birds at 
Presqu'ile, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, which 
may have migrated in from points north.  A juvenile EASTERN TOWHEE was 
certainly of local origin.


To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton.
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid
that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is 
restricted


at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting 
birds there.


There is also a restricted area at beach 2 and beach 3, where the public 
is being


directed away from the area frequented by young Piping Plovers.

Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings
board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park
and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there.

Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: fhellei...@trentu.ca.


--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park

___
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