Hi Ontbirders: For the last two days, I was staying on a private property on Diamondview Road west of Ottawa. While there, several noteworthy bird sightings were made as follows; however, I have not been given permission to give the exact location of the property. At about 8:15 Saturday morning, a large flock of migrating mixed sparrows was foraging in some raspberry and other mixed shrub bushes at the back of the property, Among the dozens of sparrows was a clear Leconte's which allowed good looks at the orange breast and bar stripes on the side of the head with narrow black lines in the orange breast . The second view shortly after this initial one revealed the distinct light stripe down the crown of the head. It was not seen again until 8:30 on Sunday morning in a nearby hedge of mixed shrubs. The other eight sparrow species seen in the immediate flock and nearby were White-throated, White-crowned, Song, Field, Lincoln's, Chipping, Savannah and a Dark-eyed Junco. Also, behind the property in a corn field was a late Indigo Bunting. In the fields along Diamondview Road and in a pond down by the Carp River were several thousand Canada Geese moving around a lot as there were hunters in the vicinity. Among the Canada's were two Snow Geese as well as one Cackling Goose that was seen flying directly overhead with four Canada's. Down by the pond were seen several flocks of shorebirds that when they flew revealed they were American Golden Plover and Black-bellied Plover with a few Yellowlegs in attendance. To top it off, a merlin was regularly hunting over the Carp River Valley. Good birding Peter Hall Directions: To get to Diamondview Road, heading west on Highway 417, take exit at March Road and take a right. Go right at March Road about a kilometre to Diamondview and turn left. The area with the birds is north of the Carp River bridge and mainly to the left of the ridge after you climb up the hill with houses on the left. _______________________________________________ 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/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
