Hello Ontbirds people, Earlier today (Oct 1st), a juvenile white-morph ROSS'S GOOSE was reported to the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Bird Status Line by Herve Tremblay from the Bruce Pit pond along Cedarview Rd. in the west end of Ottawa. Herve saw it leaving the pond with some Canada Geese ~ 1:45 pm.....well...due to a bit of serendipitous confusion about "which Pit" the bird was discovered in, another birder (Bob Cermak) managed to re-find it, with a huge congregation of Canada Geese a bit farther to the south - the large quarry pond on the east side of Moodie Rd. south of Trail Rd. at ~ 7:00 pm tonight. This sand pit (the Moodie Dr. one) is a major staging area for waterfowl and gulls in Ottawa, and has attracted quite a variety of rarities, including Ross's Geese, in the past. A Greater White-fronted Goose and juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher were also here on Sept 30 (the dowitcher was seen again on the morning of the 1st by multiple observers).
DIRECTIONS (from dowtown Ottawa): Take Hwy 417 west to Hwy 416. South on the 416 to exit 66 (Fallowfield Rd.) Right (west) on Fallowfield to Moodie Dr. Left (south) on Moodie, go past Trail Rd. on your left and Cambrian Rd. on your right until you come to a very large sand & gravel operation on the left (east) side of the road. ***PLEASE NOTE*** - do NOT cross the gate to the sand & gravel operation. This is private property, and most of the birds can be well-viewed from the road...the geese provide quite the spectacle and can be a bit overwhelming...good luck! Also of note today in Ottawa, Herve Tremblay discovered (or re-discovered?) at least one NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW at the east end of Andrew Haydon Park, in the same location where Bruce DiLabio found one on Sept. 28. DIRECTIONS (from dowtown Ottawa): Take Hwy 417 west to the Bayshore Dr. exit (131), go north on Bayshore to Carling Ave. Left (west) on Carling to the 1st entrance to Andrew Haydon Park, where the play-structures are. There is public parking here. Look for an "opening " in the trees along the shore of the Ottwa River, and a well-worn path that leads to the mud-flats known as "Ottawa Beach". Exploring these mud-flats when the river is low in the fall has also led to the discovery of many rarities over the years...enjoy! Chris Lewis Ottawa, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
