Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
July 27, 2017 There were two minor highlights this week. A breeding-plumaged LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was on the Diamondview flood plain on the 21st, but not relocated. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was at Embrun on the 23rd. There are continuing signs of migration, but mostly it is quiet adult birds and lots of young of the nesting birds that are being seen, often in confusing plumages. The main factor affecting birding is that the Ottawa River remains high. Heavy rain on the 24th brought July rainfall a few millimeters shy of the record, dashing any immediate hopes of habitat on the Ottawa. Flooded fields and inland ponds are the only real options for finding shorebirds for now. A COMMON GOLDENEYE at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 24th was the only WATERBIRD news of the week. A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was heard flying over Barrhaven at night on the 25 th, but the following is the status of some known and more usual SHOREBIRD areas: 1. Almonte: 4 shorebirds of 2 species on the 25th. 2. Embrun: 11 birds of 6 species on the 26th. 3. Russell: 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER on the 26th. 4. Petrie: SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on the 25th. Any shorebirds are likely to be found on the east beach before the crowds (if any) arrive for beach activities. 5. Carp River flood plain: 45 birds of 6 species on the 26th. Other notable sightings include: 1. A LEAST BITTERN IN Carp on the 26th. 2. Up to 5 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at the Moodie Drive Ponds. 3. 1 CASPIAN TERN at Petrie Island on the 27th, and 2 at Plaisance on the 23rd. 4. 2 (adult) SANDHILL CRANES on Smith Road on the 22nd. 5. 8 GRAY PARTRIDGES in Russell on the 25th, and 2 in Marathon on the 22nd. 6. A (silent) RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in Constance bay on the 25th. 7. 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS in Larose forest on the 26th. 8. TENNESSEE WARBLER in Britannia on the 26th. 9. NORTHERN PARULA on Thomas Dolan on the 25th. 10. PINE SISKIN at Innis Point on the 22nd. 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
