Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 12 May 2010 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Rare bird alerts are now included in the introductory message Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis hagen...@primus.ca
Although the weather in the National Capital region was not as severe as in other parts of the province, cold temperatures and strong winds slightly slowed migration. Even so, seasonal progress has continued. SNOW GEESE were still moving through on the 9th, with 2000-3000 seen along Hwy 417 near km. 18. On the 5th a GREAT EGRET appeared at Mud Lake in Britannia, and 2 SANDHILL CRANES flew over the Carlington quarry the same day. Several sightings of Sandhill Cranes were also reported from various locations on the Quebec side in recent weeks. As of at least the 4th, the female of the resident pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS appears to have settled on a site on the same ledge of the Crowne Plaza hotel where she nested last year. Current updates on the Peregrines' progress, as well as info about this year's Falcon Watch, can be viewed on the OFNC website at www.ofnc.ca. Shorebird movement picked up last week. On the 5th and 7th increased numbers of GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS as well as the first LEAST and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and DUNLIN appeared at sewage lagoons south and east of Ottawa. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen near Constance Bay on the 4th, and WILSON'S PHALAROPES were again reported from the Embrun lagoons as well as the Chesterville lagoons. During the summer-like weather on the 4th, three RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were seen at a feeder in Manotick. The first reports of LEAST FLYCATCHER and EASTERN KINGBIRD came in last week, and many of the local nesting COMMON RAVENS have fledged young. Approx. 50 nests have been informally monitored by several observers and the species obviously continues to be very successful in rural and urban areas. Good numbers of AMERICAN PIPITS were seen in rural areas on the 7th and 8th. New warblers reported since the 5th were TENNESSEE, NORTHERN PARULA, CAPE MAY and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, bringing the local species total to 17 so far. CLAY-COLOURED and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS are now back on territory south of the international airport, as are BOBOLINKS and BALTIMORE ORIOLES in their preferred habitats. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS continue to arrive and move through, a sizeable flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS was singing in the woods along Berry Side Rd. east of Dunrobin on the 5th, another lone PINE SISKIN was heard in flight, this time in the Carp hills along Thomas Dolan Parkway, and EVENING GROSBEAKS continue to visit a feeder along Clarence-Cambridge Rd. at the western end of the Larose forest. Thank you - Good Birding! _______________________________________________ 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/
