Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
March 14, 2019 The highlight of the week was 2 (!) BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS, which were seen briefly north of the Dewberry Trail on the 9th, but were not relocated despite a lot of searching. 5 GRAY PARTRIDGE were last seen on Hazeldean Road on the 9th. Snow and below seasonal temperatures until a small break on the 14th kept Ottawa in winter conditions. Unfortunately the mild spell will be short-lived, and the emergence of real spring conditions will likely be delayed for yet another week. The arrival of RING-BILLED GULLS at their colony at Britannia were a small sign of spring, but they are not yet widespread. A GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Trail Road landfill on the 13th. A RED-NECKED GREBE was at Appleton on the 13-14th. Up to 5 LESSER SCAUP were in Carleton Place, and a BARROW’S GOLDENEYE there until the 12th. A Female BARROW’S GOLDENEYE at Britannia most of the week. Other WATERBIRDS were not notable. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was near Richmond on the 9th, and a GOLDEN EAGLE was near at Carleton Place on the 14th. A NORTHERN FLICKER was in Manotick on the 13th. The RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues in the Kitchissippi woods as late as the 12th. One was in the Dunrobin area on the 9th. A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD near Richmond on the 10th must surely be a scout for the hoped for coming flood. A CAROLINA WREN continues at a feeder in Cumberland as of the 14th. A HOARY REDPOLL was at the Hilda Road feeders on the 9th. COMMON REDPOLLS and EVENING GROSBEAKS are present in numbers on Belvedere Road west of Hammond, with scattered sightings elsewhere. A PINE GROSBEAK continues at the Conroy Pit. 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