Hello Ontbirders, The female "Tufted Duck" (has anyone beeen able to confirm that it is not a hybrid?) is still present on the Ottawa River at Shirley's Bay, and continues to move around with a large mixed flock of waterfowl. This morning (9:10 - 9:30) it flew in from the east side of the boat launch parking lot and landed fairly close to the boat launch. Brian Mortimer & I were able to get good scope views and it was still present when we left the scene. Most of the time it was resting, occasionally lifting its head. Neither of us saw the wing pattern in flight. The black on the "nail" (tip of the bill) appeared very restricted compared to the adjacent Greater & Lesser Scaup, when all 3 spp. were in the same view. The shape of the crown appeared quite flat when the bird "perked up".
A fine morning for waterfowl viewing on the bay! Several large rafts and scattered individuals included : Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Greater & Lesser Scaup, all 3 spp. of Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, and 3 spp. of Grebe (the common ones! - I did not check farther east along the river to see if the Western Grebe is still below Deschenes rapids; it was last reported on 21 October -- any more recent reports? DIRECTIONS: >From downtown Ottawa: Hwy 417 west to exit 134 (Moodie Dr.). North on Moodie >to Carling Ave. West on Carling to Rifle Rd. North on Rifle to the boat launch >parking lot. Good birding! Chris Lewis Ottawa, ON hagen...@primus.ca _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
