Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
December 29 2016 There were no real highlights this week. Temperatures were well above seasonal almost all week, so it was generally favourable for birding except for freezing rain on the 26th and more snow on the 29th. So two rotten days in seven is not bad for Ottawa. Generally the regular bird crew was here, as well as most of the same group of lingering birds as last week. The best of the lingering WATERBIRDS was the HARLEQUIN DUCK, still at Hurdman as of the 25th. The NORTHERN PINTAIL continues at the pond on Iber Road as of the 27th. WOOD DUCK and AMERICAN WIGEON were at Billings Bridge on the 28th. There are still 5 species of GULL in the region, but really not very many. At the Trail Road landfill on the 27th, there were 2 ICELAND and 1 GLAUCOUS GULL. The mild weather has kept a few storm ponds open- there was a BELTED KINGFISHER at a stormwater pond on Eagleson on the 23-25th (but not on the 26th). The most sought after bird of the week was GRAY PARTRIDGE. Up to 14 are still being seen in the corn stubble off Eagleson between Aikens and Brownlee, most recently on the 28th. These birds hide very well; some birders have made 4 trips before being successful. The most unusual of the lingerers was not seen previously this winter. A GRAY CATBIRD was in Manotick on the 27th, and another was in Kanata South on the 28th. CAROLINA WRENS continue in Carlington on the 23rd, in New Edinburgh on the 25th and in Carleton Place on the 26th. 2 LAPLAND LONGSPUR were near Marvelville on the 25th. Other lingering birds are as follows: 1. The TUFTED TITMOUSE continues near Quyon as of the 27th. 2. The HERMIT THRUSH was at Marais Sabourin on the 27th. 3. NORTHERN FLICKERS continue north of Aylmer on the 29th, in Aylmer on the 27th and the Island Park area on the 25th. 4. A (male) RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was on Kinburn Sideroad on the 26th and 2 in Masson on the same day. 5. The FOX SPARROW continues in the City View area as of the 25th. 6. Up to 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRD were on Greenland Road/ Fifth Line on the 23rd 24th respectively. A PURPLE FINCH, scarce this winter, was in Richmond on the 28th. Finally, there were some FINCH reports from Arnprior-Pakenham Christmas Bird Count on the 26th: 1. 30 PINE SISKIN on Bellamy Road 2. 22 EVENING GROSBEAK on Concession 6. 3. 54 COMMON and 1 HOARY REDPOLL on Bellamy Road 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. We encourage everyone to report their bird sightings on eBird for the benefit of the entire birding community. Good birding. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
