Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
March 28, 2019 The highlight of the week passed without notice. A BOREAL CHICKADEE was (briefly) at a feeder on Ch. du Lac Curley (northwestern Gatineau Park) on the 24th. 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at les Rapides Deschênes on the 27th. Below to well-below seasonal temperatures prevailed through the 26th. We did dodge a snowstorm on the 22-23rd, so some ground is getting exposed on the edges of roads and in open areas. A few birds managed to trickle through, but progress looks very slow for the next week, with more snow forecast. A few more of last week’s arrivals, and a few scarce winter residents, have become a lot more common and are showing up in many residential areas. Included are TURKEY VULTURE, SONG SPARROW, and COMMON GRACKLE. There are huge concentrations of GEESE along the St. Lawrence, but they are stuck there until we get some flooding/ reduction in snow cover in the area. The situation could change rapidly, so stay tuned. Areas of open water have expanded somewhat on the rivers, but they are generally still frozen. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL near Masson on the 27th was new for the year. Late news was up to 3 TRUMPETER SWANS in Carleton Place and Almonte from the 15th-22nd. A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was at Parc Moussette on the 25th, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was there on the 24-26th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues in the Kitchissippi Woods on the 27th, and another was on the Reveler recreational trails on the 25th. An EASTERN BLUEBIRD in Dunrobin on the 24th was the only other new bird for the year. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on Chemin Therrien on the 27th, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on Akins Road on the 26th. Finally, for those who still need them, 20+ PINE SISKINS have been regular on Pine Hill in Rockcliffe (south of the Parkway between Princess and Lisgar) for a number of months, and were seen/ heard as recently as the 27th. A HOARY REDPOLL was in Carleton Place on the 23rd, and another was at Lac Meech on the 27th. 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
