Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club
Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec
Compiler: Greg Zbitnew at k_zbitn...@bell.net or sighti...@ofnc.ca
Recent sightings to September 3, 2015
Single WHIMBRELS, rare but not exceptional, were seen at Britannia Point and
Carleton Place on the 30th, and these were the best birds of the week.
Summer-like weather continued through the week. The only significant rain was
the evening of the 29th. No major weather systems passed through the area, and
winds were generally unfavourable for migration. The weather may have been a
factor in the disappointing numbers and variety of SHOREBIRDS, despite
considerable good habitat. Oddly enough, although there were no rarities,
passerine variety was excellent most of the week, and it will likely be the
peak week of the year as many species will soon be vacating the region.
Among the waterbirds, the only novelty was 3 HORNED GREBE at Russell on the
29th. We are still over a month from any significant influx.
Only 15 species of SHOREBIRD were seen in the region this week, quite poor
considering that we are at the peak of shorebird migration. Aside from the
rarity noted above, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was at Embrun early in the week, a
SANDERLING was at Andrew Haydon Park east most of the week, and a STILT
SANDPIPER was at Shirley’s Bay on the 2nd. No place was particularly good, and
the sightings were 98% common species only. Recent sightings include:
1. Shirley’s bay: Up to 55 birds of up to 7 species on the 30th, and 75 of
8 species on the 2nd.
2. Petrie Island: 30 birds of 6 species on the 30th; 45 birds (25 of them
WILSON’S SNIPE) of 7 species on the 1st.
3. Embrun: 16 birds of 3 species on the 31st.
4. Chrysler Dam: 20 birds of 4 species on the 30th
5. Andrew Haydon Park east (Ottawa beach): 10 birds of 4 species on the
31st.
6. Parc Brébeuf: 6 birds of 3 species on the 1st.
7. Russell: 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the 29th., and 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS on
the 2nd.
8. Deschênes: 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on the 29th
9. Sod farms south of the city: nothing of interest on the 29th.
10. Almonte: No sightings this week.
There were a number of sightings of COMMON NIGHTHAWK, sometimes in numbers, and
the 5 at Britannia at 9:30 am on the 30th were at a most unusual time of the
day. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO at Shirley’s bay on the 29th was late, and a
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO in Aylmer on the 31st was very late.
There have been a number of reports of YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER and
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER but they remain uncommon, and there are no predictable
locations.
The general dullness of the week was alleviated by the good variety of
passerines. There have been many reports of PHILADELPHIA VIREO. Warbler
variety was the best of the fall if not the entire year. Regionally, 24 of the
25 regular WARBLERS were seen from the 28-30th, including the first-of-the-fall
BLACKPOLL WARBLER, and a rare in the fall female GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER This
latter was at Britannia on the 30th, where 20 WARBLER species were seen that
day, 18 of them by one person. On the 31st at Britannia, there were 19 species
seen by one person, and on the 2nd 16 species. On most days this week
observers saw 10-15+ WARBLERS on a single trip (1-3 hrs) to the better areas.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS seem to be everywhere in numbers, while a single INDIGO
BUNTING in Wakefield on the 2nd was somewhat late.
Finally, BLACKBIRDS have become conspicuously absent from many places as they
gather in large flocks in places like cornfields, while BOBOLINKS are being
heard calling overhead in many locations as they head south.
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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