Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Al Caughey at [email protected]
Update for 2026.05.22 (season 1; episode 17) This week, the number of species reported within the 50km Circle continued to increase (up from 206 to 216) and the number of notable species rose (slightly) to 34 - several of which were reported just once or twice or just on a single day. At least thirteen notable species were added to the list since the previous update: Red-breasted Merganser, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstone, White-rumped Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Clay-colored Sparrow, Louisiana Waterthrush, Golden-winged Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Summer Tanager. Other 'non-notable' arrivals included: Black-billed Cuckoo, Black-bellied Plover, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Mourning Warbler. The following notable species have not been reported in the past week: American Golden-Plover, Glaucous Gull, American Goshawk, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Orchard Oriole, Hooded Warbler, Prairie Warbler. These species are still being seen but are no longer tripping the rarity filter: Common Nighthawk, Willow Flycatcher, Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Blackpoll and Canada Warblers have been reported in increased numbers this past week which signals that we are coming to the end of the Spring Warbler migration season. There will still be some stragglers but they'll likely be harder to find. The weather for the coming week looks like it'll be somewhat unsettled but if the forecast stands, warm temps and strong, southwest winds on Tuesday should trigger a wave of late-season nocturnal migrants. Wednesday might be the top birding day when the winds shift to the north. Last thought about the coming week: larger numbers of shorebirds began to appear late this week, so keep an eye on local storm ponds, muddy shorelines, etc., etc. Who knows what you might find! Current Notable Birds: Cackling Goose: a single report of 1 at Rue Paradis [Gatineau] on May 15 Northern Pintail: 3 reports at 3 locations - 1 at Shirley's Bay (boat launch) [Ottawa] (twice on May 17); 1 at Britannia CA (general location) [Ottawa] (on May 17); plus another at Etang Grimes [Gatineau] on May 20 where they are not notable Surf Scoter: 3 reports at 2 locations - as many as 2 at Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc) [Gatineau] (twice on May 18); 2 at Baie Fraser [Gatineau] (on May 18) Bufflehead: 2 reports of 1 at Mississippi Riverwalk Trail [Lanark] on May 17; plus several reports in Ottawa, Gatineau and Prescott & Russell where they are not notable Common Goldeneye: 2 reports of 1 at Mississippi Riverwalk Trail [Lanark] on May 17; plus several reports in Ottawa where they are not notable Red-breasted Merganser🆕: 2 reports of 2 at Riverfront Trail [Lanark] on May 19; plus several reports in Ottawa and Gatineau where they are not notable Black-necked Stilt: 4 reports of 2 at Sewage Lagoons [Prescott and Russell] on May 15 Hudsonian Whimbrel🆕: a single report of 1 at Rockcliffe Airport Woods [Ottawa] on May 19 Short-billed Dowitcher🆕: 3 reports of 1 at Hwy 7 Storm Pond [Lanark] on May 21; plus several reports in Ottawa and Prescott & Russell where they are not notable Wilson's Phalarope: 43 reports at 2 locations - as many as 2 at Almonte Lagoons/Almonte lagoons [Lanark] (9 times on May 18); 1 at Twin Elm Rd Wetlands/Flooded field [Ottawa] (34 times on May 15) Ruddy Turnstone🆕: 2 reports of 1 at Holland's Marsh [Ottawa] on May 19 White-rumped Sandpiper🆕: 3 reports at 3 locations - 1 at Marais des Laîches [Gatineau] (on May 21); 7 at Parc Guillot et marais Lamoureux [Gatineau] (on May 19); 4 at Shirley's Bay [Ottawa] (on May 16) Lesser Black-backed Gull: 6 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Woods off of Derreen Ave [Ottawa] (on May 18); 1 at Moodie Drive Quarry [Ottawa] (twice between May 15-17); 1 at Ottawa - field west of Moodie Drive [Ottawa] (on May 17); 2 at Kinburn Side Rd [Ottawa] (on May 16); 2 at Trail Rd Landfill [Ottawa] (on May 15); plus two reports in Gatineau where they are not notable Iceland Gull: a single report of 1 at Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc) [Gatineau] on May 15 Caspian Tern🆕: 8 reports at 5 locations - 1 at South Island Park Dr [Ottawa] (on May 21); 1 at Mud Lake [Ottawa] (on May 21); 1 at Rockcliffe Airport Woods [Ottawa] (twice on May 19); 1 at Shirley's Bay (boat launch) [Ottawa] (5 times between May 16-17); plus another report at the Almonte Lagoons on May 19 [Lanark] where they are not notable Red-headed Woodpecker: 7 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Forest East of Burnt Lands Rd (Private) [Ottawa] (on May 17); 1 at Burnt Lands Provincial Park [Ottawa] (twice on May 17); 1 the Findley Creek area [Ottawa] (on May 17); 1 at Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc) [Gatineau] (on May 16); 1 at Torbolton Forest [Ottawa] (twice on May 15) Red-bellied Woodpecker: 3 reports at 3 locations - 1 at Belvédère Champlain [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 19); 1 at Relais Shilly-Shallly [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 16); 1 at Promenade Fortune [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 16); plus several reports in Ottawa, Lanark and Leeds & Grenville where they are not notable Black-backed Woodpecker: 4 reports of 1 at Sheila McKee Park [Ottawa] on May 16 Olive-sided Flycatcher🆕: 6 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Stanley Park [Ottawa] (twice on May 18); 1 at Thessaly Woods [Ottawa] (on May 18); 1 at Hanson Side Rd [Ottawa] (on May 18); 1 at Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Rd [Ottawa] (on May 17); 1 at Almonte Lagoons [Lanark] (on May 16) Alder Flycatcher🆕: a single report of 1 at Sentier des Outaouais [Papineau] on May 16; plus many reports in several counties where they are not notable Yellow-throated Vireo: 52 reports at 5 locations - 1 at Sheila McKee Park [Ottawa] (23 times between May 16-21); 1 at Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Rd [Ottawa] (23 times between May 16-20); 1 at Pine Grove Forestry Trail/Pine Grove Trail [Ottawa] (6 times between May 16-18); plus another report in Lanark where they are not notable Sedge Wren: a single report of 1 at Marais aux Grenouillettes [Gatineau] on May 17; plus additional reports on the TransCanada Trail in Stittsville [Ottawa] where they are not notable Northern Mockingbird: 5 reports at 2 locations - 1 at Sneddon Casey Park/Country St, Mississippi Mills ON [Lanark] (4 times on May 17); 1 at Marais aux Grenouillettes [Gatineau] (on May 17); plus additional reports in Ottawa where they are not notable Gray-cheeked Thrush🆕: a single report of 1 at Boisé, Musée canadien de la nature [Gatineau] on May 21; plus at least 4 additional reports in Ottawa where they are not notable Evening Grosbeak: 9 reports at 6 locations - as many as 2 at Dewer Side Rd, Beckwith ON/Dewer Side Rd, Ashton ON [Lanark] (twice between May 18-19); 1 at a home in Manotick [Ottawa] (on May 18); as many as 2 at Forest East of Burnt Lands Rd [Ottawa] (3 times between May 16-17); 1 at Greenland Rd [Ottawa] (on May 17); 1 at Monty Drive [Ottawa] (on May 15); 1 at Cumberland Village [Ottawa] (on May 15); several additional reports in other counties where they are not notable Lapland Longspur: 2 reports of 2 at Marais des Laîches [Gatineau] on May 21 Clay-colored Sparrow🆕: a single report of 1 at Willoway [Lanark] on May 17; plus at least 8 reports in Ottawa where they are not notable Dark-eyed Junco: a single report of 1 at Mer Bleue Bog [Ottawa] on May 21; plus several other reports from Ottawa prior to May 21 (when apparently, they became notable) and several other counties where they are not notable Louisiana Waterthrush🆕: a single report of 1 at Belvédère Champlain [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] on May 16 Golden-winged Warbler🆕: 5 reports at 2 locations - as many as 2 at Relais Plein Air [Gatineau] (4 times between May 19-21); 1 at Sentier 5 [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] (on May 21); plus several additional reports in Lanark and Ottawa where they are not notable Blue-winged Warbler🆕: 4 reports of 1 at Extrémité Ch. de l'Hôtel de Ville, Luskville [Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais] on May 19; plus a handful of additional reports in Ottawa & Lanark where they are not notable Orange-crowned Warbler: 10 reports at 4 locations - 1 at Gloucester-Southgate [Ottawa] (on May 21); 1 at Britannia CA (general location)/Mud Lake [Ottawa] (7 times between May 15-16); 1 at Fletcher Wildlife Garden [Ottawa] (on May 15) Orange-crowned Warbler (sordida)🆕: a single report of 1 at Britannia CA (general location) [Ottawa] on May 15; plus several reports in Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais, Papineau and Prescott & Russell where they are not notable Summer Tanager🆕: 18 reports of 1 at Britannia CA (general location); unfortunately, it was a one day wonder As always, send questions, comments or photos to [email protected]. Your feedback is appreciated. Remember that it is Ottawa Race Weekend so traffic will be disrupted (badly) in downtown Ottawa! Good birding, Al -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
