[Ontbirds] Ottawa/ Gatineau: recent sightings to July 12, 2018
Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca July 12, 2018 Again there were no major highlights this week, as the summer doldrums continue. The heat moderated somewhat, but it is now getting very dry. There are signs of the progress of the season. There are more young seen, and bird song is noticeably diminishing. 2 SNOW GEESE in Winchester on the 8th were an interesting lingerer. The lack of rain has resulted in a drop of levels on the Ottawa River, and it will be interesting to see what things will be like in 4 weeks. In the meantime, a few of the more common SHOREBIRDS have been seen: · Shirley’s Bay: 2 GREATER and 40 LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the 10th. · Russell: 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS in Russell on the 6th. · Winchester: 1 each of SEMIPALMATED and SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the 8th. · Petrie Island: 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the 10th. · Carp: 1 LEAST SANDPIPER on the 6th. · Crysler: 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the 8th. 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were in Chesterville on the 10th, and 2 were on Franktown Road near Munster on the 7th. Single GREAT and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the Moodie Drive ponds on the 6th. 15 BLACK TERNS were at Plaisance (Baie Noire) on the 8th, and 1 was at Shirley’s Bay on the 7th. 1 CASPIAN TERN was at Petrie Island on the 9th. 2 LEAST BITTERNS were at Shirley’s bay on the 7th and 1 on the 9th. BLACK TERN at Shirley’s Bay on nthe 7th. EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard at several locations in the Munster area on the 7th. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO at Britannia on the 9th, and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO was in Stony Swamp on the 11th. An early TENNESSEE WARBLER, also a late one as it was unfortunately a window fatality, was downtown on the 10th. 2 TENNESSEE WARBLERS were in Gatineau on the 11th. A PINE SISKIN flew over Britannia on the 7th, and 2 have been in the western part of Larose forest for several weeks now. Finally, 3 RED CROSSBILLS were seen on Corkstown Road flying north on the 6th. 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 has already been sent to DND this spring and will be updated occasionally. 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
[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report
Greetings Ontbirders Presqu’ile Birding Report for the week of 6th July to 12th July Highlights: WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, LONG-TAILED DUCK, PIPING PLOVER, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, CATTLE EGRET A surprising total of 52 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 11 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen between beaches 1 and 2 on July 8th. This same flock was seen again on July 12th. This flock is fairly far out and needs to be seen early in the morning on calm days before heat haze builds up! Up to 6 GADWALL have been reported this week off of Sebastopol Island and the 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL reported last week were relocated today on natural beach. A RED-BREASTED MERGANSER flew past the Lighthouse today. 4 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were seen in the town of Brighton on July 12th. A VIRGINIA RAIL was found in a somewhat odd location of Salt Pt on July 8th and another at the Marsh Boardwalk on July 8th and 11th. Families of COMMON GALLINULES can be found on the Marsh Boardwalk or easier at Brighton Constructed wetland. The bird of the week was a PIPING PLOVER band number 064 a female who nested here in 2016. This bird was originally found on July 8th between Beach 1 and 2 and relocated on July 12th in the same area. A single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was also seen on July 8th in the same area. A WILSON’S PHALAROPE spotted by the Park Staff on High Bluff Island was a nice find. A SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was also spotted on Beach 1 July 12th. WILSON’S SNIPE could be heard winnowing from Beach 1 Parking lot on July12th and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS flew over Beach 1 calling as it headed out to one of the islands. LESSER YELLOWLEGS were located at a couple of locations this week 2 July 10th on Huff Rd and 2 July 12th at the Constructed Wetlands. KILLDEER AND SPOTTED SANDPIPERS can easily be seen on the beaches of Presqu’ile as family groups are moving around. The fall shorebird season is starting to kick off and the beaches at Presqu’ile look great! BONAPARTE’S GULL has been reported most days this week at Beach 1and Salt Pt with a high of 3 birds and the team studying COMMON TERN’S on Gull Island had a tern they thought was a FORSTER’S TERN flyby although not confirmed for sure at this point. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen on July 8th and LEAST BITTERN were seen numerous times this week along the Marsh Boardwalk. A COOPERS’S HAWK was seen being harassed by a mob of birds opposite Louisiana Pond and a RED-TAILED HAWK flew over a residential yard on July 10th. For those looking for swallows 7 CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen on July 8th on Huff RD and a mix of 150 SWALLOWS were seen at the same location July 10th. PURPLE MARTIN’S can still be seen around Lighthouse. More common breeding birds such as EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE’S, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, RED-EYED AND WARBLING VIREOS,BROWN CREEPERS, HOUSE, WINTER and MARSH WRENS, WOOD THRUSH among others can be heard still singing in suitable habitats such as Newcastle Woods and Jobes Woods. Early morning is best! RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS AND ORCHARD ORIOLES are readily being seen in residential backyards but can be also found looking in other locations in Park such as Lighthouse and Calf Pasture. Thanks to all the observers and Park Staff who shared their findings for this report. Without them this would be a very short list! Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, just south of the town of Brighton. It can be reached from either Hwy. 401 or Cty. Rd. 2 and is well signed. A Park map can be found in the information tabloid available at the Park gate. Presqu’ile’s two offshore islands – Gull and High Bluff – support a large multi-species colonial bird nesting area and access is not permitted during the breeding season. Bill Gilmour ___ 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
