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
March 10, 2016 The GYRFALCON was seen on the 5th at the Laflèche Landfill east of Casselman. Nearer to Ottawa, no specific bird was a highlight this week, but there was a major shift in the weather, resulting in real spring-like weather, a few seasonal firsts, and many others that have arrived in considerable numbers. The flood, however, is still in the future. Starting with the waterbirds, at Britannia 2 WOOD DUCK and 2 HOODED MERGANSER are the first of these species in some months. Added to the regular crew and some early arrivals from previous weeks, 14 species of waterfowl were seen in the ever-increasing expanse of open water. A flock of 80 CANADA GEESE was in parc Brébeuf on the 9th. Such numbers are small compared to 1500 seen east of the city in Russell. A HARLEQUIN DUCK at the Champlain Bridge on the 6th was the first recent report of this bird. Leading the GULL pack, RING-BILLED GULLS are now being seen in shopping centres all over the region. Some GRAY PARTRIDGE were in Carp on the 7-8th, the first TURKEY VULTURE was seen over Pierce Road on the 10th, and the first KILLDEER was on March Valley Road on the 8th (but not relocated). A NORTHERN FLICKER at Hampton Park on the 9th is probably not a migrant; likewise a WINTER WREN at Rapides Deschênes on the 8th. Large numbers of SNOW BUNTING, modest numbers of HORNED LARK and a sprinkling of LAPLAND LONGSPUR can be seen in open fields particularly south of Kanata. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are now here in some numbers, the largest flock being one of 30 on March Valley Road. 3 COMMON GRACKLE were in Gatineau on the 9th. EVENING GROSBEAK in Larose forest on the 5th, and a PINE GROSBEAK at Lac la Pêche on the 6th were notables among the FINCHES. 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
