Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
May 2, 2019 The highlight of the week was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER seen in Navan from the 27th to at least the 30th. Weather was rather poor for migration most of the week, the 1st being particularly rotten. Flooding has now limited access to some premier spots such as Britannia. Still, birds are trickling in. The weekend looks promising for migrants, although the big push of SONGBIRDS is probably 1-2 weeks away. Woodlots away from the river and some inland ponds may be the best bet in the next week. *REMEMBER: May 4 is eBird sponsored Global Big Day, so get out birding and put your checklists on eBird!* There is good diversity of WATERBIRDS on the Ottawa River and inland ponds such as Moodie Drive and Giroux (REDHEAD on the 27th). However, there are no big concentrations. The Richmond Conservation Area had up to 3 LONG-TAILED DUCKS most of the week, and both SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL were present there this week. An AMERICAN COOT was on Frank Kenny Road on the 27 th, where there was still quite a bit of water. 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were near Carp on the 27th. A SOLITARY SANDIPER was at Twin Elm on the 30th, but other SHOREBIRDS were mostly just a lot of scattered sightings of YELLOWLEGS. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Moodie Drive Ponds (Barnsdale side) as late as the 30th. New arrivals among the insectivores included 2 CHIMNEY SWIFT near Navan on the 26th, and 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS near Constance Bay on the 30th. Of the new SONGBIRDS, a SWAINSON’S THRUSH at the Rockcliffe Airport Woods on the 1st was new. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at the Fletcher Wildlife gardens on the 28th was our first since the winter. The CAROLINA WREN in Navan has been singing regularly, and was last seen/ heard on the 30th. The WARBLER tally for the year is now 8. New additions were: 1. YELLOW WARBLER at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden on the 28th. 2. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER at the Richmond Conservation area on the 28 th. 3. NASHVILLE WARBLER in Cumberland on the 28th. 4. 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at Val des Monts on the 29th. 5. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER in the Parkdale-Westboro woods on the 28th. There are still some winter lingerers. EVENING GROSBEAKS (40 in Chelsea), COMMON REDPOLLS, PINE SISKINS and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (150 at Ferme Moore) are still around here and there. A HOARY REDPOLL in Constance Bay on the 29 th was especially notable. 20 SNOW BUNTINGS were near Luskville on the 28th. *Reminder regarding access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway:* *Due to flooding, DND has removed access to this area until it is safe again. Updates will be announced when they are available. * 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
