Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
August 31, 2017 The highlight of the week was a WHIMBREL seen and heard briefly at the Carp River Reclamation area. Also of interest at Embrun were continuing RED-NECKED PHALAROPES (2 on the 30th) and WILSON’S PHALAROPE (as late as the 29th ). The week was dry with mostly seasonal temperatures. However, there are signs of fall with some cool mornings and the 31st was especially bad, being a very dreary cool day with low cloud. Like last week, there was a good variety of PASSERINES, and a very poor selection of SHOREBIRDS. Some of the insectivore numbers have risen as they pass through, and these numbers will be plummeting very soon. The first SNOW GOOSE of the season was near Richmond on the 31st, but the numbers of other WATERBIRDS has been relatively constant. Embrun continues to be useful for SHOREBIRDS, with the BAIRD’S SANDPIPER present on the 27th, and a modest variety other species in addition to the rarities noted above. The Carp River had a few species this week, and a few of the storm water basins had a few, but nothing else of note. However, the Ottawa River continues to be devoid of habitat. The LEAST BITTERN was seen in Carp as late as the 27th. There have been some decent sized flocks of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS all over the region, travelling south. There are scattered sightings of YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, and 2 recent sightings of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, one at Ferme Moore on the 30th, and another near the Dewberry Trail parking lot on the 31 st. The first GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH of the season was heard in Britannia at night on the 29th, while a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was on Dolman Ridge Road on the 30 th. 4 species of VIREOS were seen this week, and 23 species of WARBLER, with a particularly good single trip to Britannia on the 27th yielding 20 species. Lastly, RED CROSSBILLS were still near Lac McGregor on the 29th, and 3 were in Carp on the 30th. 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. *Reminder regarding access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway:* DND has amended our access procedure. You must call Range Control (613-991-5740) for permission, state that you are an OFNC member and give your name. DND will be provided with the OFNC's membership list and they will check, so you need to keep your membership up to date. Finally, you must call again when you have left the area. DND would also like to be informed if you see anyone on the property who should not be there, such as boats in the bay or people fishing on the causeway. They are trespassing and DND will deal with the situation. _______________________________________________ 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
