Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
November 15, 2018 There were no real highlights this week. However, the first HOARY REDPOLLS of the season were seen near Constance Bay on the 10 and 12th and at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden on the 12th. Another was in Kanata on the 15th. With the snow and cold this week, it is shaping up to be our earliest start to winter in some years, and next week looks as bad or worse. Ponds are frozen to partly frozen, although rivers are still wide open. So the scope of birding has mostly narrowed to the winter and river birds. Up to 35000 SNOW GEESE were at Embrun on the 10th, and there was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Embrun on the 12th, and a single BRANT at Andrew Haydon Park as late as the 14th. 22 species of DUCK were seen this week, but numbers are on the decline and the most common is now COMMON GOLDENEYE. A BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was at Hurdman on the 12th. PIED-BILLED GREBES were at the Champlain St. Marsh on the 9th and at Shirley’s Bay on the 13th. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS (flyover) was at Shirley’s Bay on the 10th, and a DUNLIN was at Embrun on the 11th. With the bad weather forecast, these might be the last SHOREBIRDS in a while. There are still numbers of SANDHILL CRANES in the Navan-Trim Road area. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Emerald Meadows on the 11th, and a late AMERICAN BITTERN near Almonte on the 14th is likely going to be in big trouble very soon. 2 TURKEY VULTURES were near Luskville on the 11th, and a GOLDEN EAGLE was near Val des Monts on the 10th. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at a private residence in Gatineau on the 13 th. The RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was still at Shirley’s bay as of the 10th and another was in Kanata on the 11th. Some other late birds were: · An EASTERN BLUEBIRD near Luskville on the 11th. · A HERMIT THRUSH in Gatineau Park on the 15th. · A CAROLINA WREN continuing at lac McGregor on the 10th. · A WINTER WREN at Britannia on the 10th. · Up to 2 SWAMP SPARROWS near Dow’s Lake as late as the 9th. · A COMMON GRACKLE at a feeder in Constance Bay as late as the 13th. · A RUSTY BLACKBIRD at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 8th. · A BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER at Britannia on the 9th. Last but not least, the Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the adjoining Arboretum was a bit of a hot spot for lingering fall birds this week. In the last week EASTERN BLUEBIRD, FOX SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET were seen. Even more interesting is that both PINE GROSBEAKS and EVENING GROSBEAKS are regularly (but certainly not always) showing well there, most often near the canal at the southern part of the Arboretum and the northern part of the Fletcher, and often quite photogenic. While we don’t know if they will stick around or pass through, there is no shortage of food available among all the exotic plantings. If you can’t get there, don’t despair. This has been the best season for both species in years, and there have been dozens of sightings of both species over the last few weeks. So keep on looking for the GROSBEAKS in any area with over-wintering fruit or seeds, and listening for their calls, whenever the bad weather comes along (with apologies to Al Jolson (*April Showers)*). 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. *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. 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. The OFNC has provided DND with a list of OFNC members who HAVE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED access. DND will check, so make sure that your membership is up to date and that you have requested that the OFNC put you on the access list. This list was updated recently. To get on the next access list, please contact members...@ofnc.ca. 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
