Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at [email protected]
September 21, 2017 This news flash is just in: a PARASITIC JAEGER at Andrew Haydon Park/ Ottawa Beach on the 21st. The other highlight of the week was 2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS, the first being in Britannia on the 16th and the second in the Richmond area on the 19th. Neither was found again, and it is too early to know if this is a coincidence or a sign of something. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, seen in Maple Hill Park on the 18th, was also a good find. The week was entirely sunny and warm, and while birders enjoyed the weather, it was not particularly good for migration. Birds just trickled in with no significant influx. Likewise, with no significant influx of WATERFOWL, and a noticeable decline of PASSERINES like WARBLERS, there was a bit less variety this week. Among the WATERBIRDS, 240 SNOW GEESE were reported in Gatineau on the 18th, early for such a large flock. There were a fewer somewhat earlier birds, such as HORNED GREBE at Constance Bay on the 17th, and 10 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS there on the 20th. A CACKLING GOOSE at the Eagleson Storm water ponds on the 17th and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in LUSKVILLE on the 20 th were the first of the season for these species. A STILT SANDPIPER was an unexpected addition to an otherwise bland collection of SHOREBIRDS at a storm outlet on Strandherd on the 19-20th. 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were briefly at Peterson’s turf farm on Snake Island road on the 16th. As last week, generally the supply for SHOREBIRDS remains poor, with a few at Embrun and the Carp River and almost none at Almonte. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Parc du Lac Beauchamp on the 20th was getting a bit late. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was in Chelsea on the 17th. 200 AMERICAN PIPITS were on some bare fields on Frank Kenny on the 17th, a sure sign of the advancing season. Others were scattered here and there. Both SWAINSON’S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH have been audible night migrants, but there has been no major flyover yet. 5 species of VIREOS and 22 species of WARBLERS were seen this week; a few hours in the better areas are still producing over 10 species of WARBLERS. Some summer bird sightings are getting a bit late. An EASTERN TOWHEE was on Jack Pine trail on the 17th, and another 2 were reported in Kanata on the 15 th. An INDIGO BUNTING was at the Cope Drive Ponds on the 20th, and CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW was with 7 other species of SPARROW in the fields off Robert Grant. Finally, the first NELSON’S SPARROW was at the mouth of Constance Creek on the 17th, but it was not relocated. It is hoped that this is not the last! The OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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
