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
April 14, 2016 There were few highlights this week, due to very unfavourable weather and migration conditions most of the week. There was a gray morph GYRFALCON seen from Chemin Thérien on the 9th, and up to 3 TRUMPETER SWANS have been seen twice at Shirley’s Bay and once at the Richmond Conservation area, as well as Carleton Place. It is hoped that they may decide to nest closer to the city. A few new species arrived, most quite recently: 1. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was seen in a few places starting on the 8th. 2. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was in the western part of Larose forest, feasting on the abundant FINCHES. 3. A very early BRANT was at the Moodie Drive ponds quite briefly on the 13th. 4. 5 REDHEAD were at Shirley’s Bay on the 14th. Luckily, Spring has staggered back into the ring after a gut shot by Winter. The recent snowfall has melted and temperatures have risen to a bit below seasonal. Next week promises to be the warmest of the year. Rivers are running freely, but littered with quite a few chunks of ice headed east. Some ponds (including those on Giroux Road and Moodie Drive) have melted. Some sheltered marshes like those on Petrie Island are still mostly frozen. While a good selection of waterbirds are on the rivers, there are no great concentrations yet. One exception has been the Mississippi River near Carleton Place. Weather has been mostly unfavourable for raptor migration. However, GOLDEN EAGLES are still passing through. There have been sightings in Plaisance on the 10th and one lucky birder had a great view of one in the west end on the 9th. As far as most of the landbirds are concerned, they hunkered down during the bad weather, with little influx. 2 GRAY PARTRIDGE on the 8th in south Kanata were the first recent sighting. A few sepcies like YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER have become more common. A VESPER SPARROW was on Giroux Road on the 10th was of interest. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was near Russell on the 9th along with 100 SNOW BUNTINGS. A somewhat early EASTERN TOWHEE was in the west end. Finally, the invasion of PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS continues, just like last week, with a HOARY REDPOLL among every 100 or so COMMON. 5 EVENING GROSBEAK in Cantley on the 12th, and 5-10 this week in the eastern part of Larose Forest were among the less common species. 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. 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
