This morning I led an outing for members of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club (OFNC), the annual Wild Goose Chase. This year, for a change, we thought that the ‘East End’ of town would deliver the goods. The day began at Wall Road and Giroux Ponds with widespread flurries and temperatures down to -4 degrees Celcius. There was a good selection of shorebirds including; 1 Hudsonian Godwit, 2 American Golden Plover, 3 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 7 Killdeer, 1 Dunlin and nearby, a Wilson’s Snipe in flight.
A field full of Turkey Vultures (30), on Dunning Road, were nearly mistaken for Wild Turkeys. Other raptors included; 12 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Northern Harrier and a Cooper’s Hawk. Other highlights were; 3 Sandhill Cranes on Milton, a large flock of pipits (100+) and Grackles (150+). The 7 Evening Grosbeaks were not totally unexpected for two thirds of the group, who stayed on after lunch. We finished with 38 species and disappointingly, only one goose species (Canada). It would seem that most of Ottawa’s geese are still in the West End. Richard Waters Ottawa Giroux Ponds http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25463219 Dunning Road http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25457710 Milton Road http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25463329 Indian Creek Road http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/view/checklist?subID=S25463045 http://www.pbase.com/rwaters _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
