Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
June 7, 2018 There were a number of highlights this week. The best was an adult-plumaged EARED GREBE, the first Ottawa County record (and the bird was sometimes in Gatineau), off Britannia Pier on the 1st. In second place was an adult SABINE’S GULL, seen for a few minutes at Britannia Point on the 4th. In a distant 3rd place was a co-operative MARBLED GODWIT in Kanata on the 5-7th. The runner-up was the WHITE-WINGED DOVE which was heard again on the 1st in the Urbandale area. This DOVE could easily linger for some time, but there is an excessive amount of suitable habitat, consisting of hundreds of well-treed backyards. Migration is clearly winding down, with 99.9% of the PASSERINES here for the season or gone until the fall. SHOREBIRD migration is probably over 95% completed. The rainy and blustery weather on the 4-6th may have been a factor in some of the rarities this week. Most WATERFOWL remaining are the regular nesters, now mostly in the inland ponds and lagoons. Some notable sightings were 5 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Britannia on the 5th , 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS at Constance Creek on the 2nd, and a GREATER SCAUP at Shirley’s Bay on the 2nd. Some other interesting SHOREBIRDS were seen despite the rather small numbers. A SANDERLING (rare in the spring) was at Britannia Beach on the 1-7 th. During the rainstorms, 50 or so SHOREBIRDS were at both Embrun and Chrysler. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen at both places. On the 6th, a cooperative RUDDY TURNSTONE was at Britannia Beach. There is probably about another week for the last stragglers to come through. TERNS were in the news, with a single long-awaited ARCTIC TERN at Britannia Point on the 3-4th and again on the 6th. 2 BLACK TERNS were there on the 4th, and one CASPIAN TERN was at Deschênes on the 3rd. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Moodie Drive ponds on the 3rd to the 5th. Other notable sightings included: · YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO in Richmond on the 6th. · PHILADELPHIA VIREO in Gatineau near Gatineau Park on the 3rd. · YELLOW-THROATED VIREO at the West March Highlands on the 2nd. · 2 SEDGE WRENS still at the “Nortel” marsh off Moodie Drive until the 5th · GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH on Munster Road 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
