I took a tour of the Ottawa region, visiting several "hotspots" throughout the area. Near the Airport I relocated the WILSON'S SNIPE I reported last night. In the same vicinity were two KILLDEER. The E. MEADOWLARK was heard again from High Road, and I am pleased to report that four SAVANNAH SPARROWS are now back on territory near the end of High Road.
At Andrew Haydon / Dick Bell Parks, a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS are in the eastern duck pond. Approximately six LESSER SCAUP were uncharacteristically close to shore near the footbridge at the inlet. A BELTED KINGFISHER made a brief fly-by, heading towards Shirley's Bay. Next I visited Britannia Conservation Area. Approximately 30m from the Cassels Road entrance was a juvenile COOPER'S HAWK preening from an open perch. Further down the trail was a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. The highlight of the afternoon, however, was a large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, numbering at least 100 strong but probably more. Myself and two other birders were treated to watching an adult COOPER'S HAWK buzz through the flock and capture and kill a waxwing while the rest of the flock took to the air. Both the adult and juvenile hawks were later relocated in the pine grove. Thanks to all the birders/photographers who I crossed paths with. Pat DIRECTIONS: - Andrew Haydon: the parking area is located off of Carling Avenue West. - Britannia: From Richmond Road, turn onto Poulin Avenue. Follow Poulin past the curve onto Howe Street. At the stop sign, turn right onto Britannia Road. Turn right onto Cassels Road; parking is on the left. _________________________________________________________________ Share photos with friends on Windows Live Messenger http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9650734_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
