Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club
Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec
Compiler: Greg Zbitnew at k_zbitn...@bell.net or sighti...@ofnc.ca
Recent sightings to July 2, 2015
Yet another rarity showed up on the 27th. Based on a photograph from a
kayaker, a COUCH’S/ TROPICAL KINGBIRD was present in the “lagoon” in the
centre of Upper Duck Island in the Ottawa River east of the Rockcliffe Airport.
This site is accessible only by boat, and the centre of the island appears to
be accessible only to canoes or kayaks. Nonetheless, there have been a number
of searches of the nearby shoreline AND the island, but with no success in
relocating the bird.
Meanwhile, two previous rarities continued. The habits of the LITTLE EGRET
finally became a little more, but not completely, predictable, enabling many
out-of-town birders to see it. Still seen as late as the 2nd, it has recently
been seen at the mouth of Pinecrest creek, or the creek mouth west of Andrew
Haydon Park. In the evenings it has also been seen flying to roost on nearby
Conroy Island (on the Quebec side across from Britannia Point), leaving the
roost very early in the morning. The latest sightings have it arriving at
Andrew Haydon Park at dawn, then flying off about an hour later to an unknown
location south or southwest. Not only is this the rarest bird seen in Ottawa
in recent memory, but it is possibly the most photographed as well.
The AMERICAN AVOCET persisted at the mouth of Pinecrest creek until the 27th.
Why two rare birds chose this spot at exactly the same time is a question with
no good answer.
Like last week, while these rarities have spiced the birding life in Ottawa,
there has been little else of note.
Waterfowl have been an exception. The best waterfowl was a molting male
EURASION WIGEON at McLaurin Bay on the 30th-1st. Others included REDHEAD off
Britannia and Jacques Cartier Park; LESSER SCAUP reported near Strathcona Park;
RING-NECKED DUCK at the Moodie pond and Constance Creek and last but not least
a BRANT (very rare in July) at Andrew Haydon Park on the 2nd.
LEAST BITTERN was seen at McLaurin Bay, and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was heard in
Gatineau Park (trails off Champlain lookout).
Believe it or not, southward shorebird migration has begun, right on schedule.
On June 30th, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS were at the St. Isidore Lagoon (not
in the Ottawa 50K circle), and on the 1st, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and SOILITARY
SANDPIPER were at Shirley’s Bay. Dropping water levels in the Ottawa River are
making birders hopeful of a good shorebird season.
This week, CASPIAN TERNS have been seen as far east as Petrie Island, and they
continue to be seen at Britannia and points west.
Either a very late or a very early TENNESSEE WARBLER was at Camp Fortune in
Gatineau Park, the only out of the ordinary warbler this week.
In what we hope is NOT an early sign of winter, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL flew
south of Lincoln Fields on the 30th, while 3 EVENING GROSBEAKS were at Eagle
Creek Golf course (east end) on the 27th.
The OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We
will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to sighti...@ofnc.ca for the
purpose of maintaining local records.
Thanks to everyone who contributed bird observations.
Good birding.
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