Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
May 10, 2018 The find of the week was a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, flying near the Almonte Lagoons on the 6th but not seen since. This is the second regional record. Some other good birds were seen as well, but unfortunately none of them were seen again either: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flying over Britannia on the 5th; a CERULEAN WARBLER at Ferme Moore on the 4th; and two sightings of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, one at Marais des Laîches on the 7th and the other Riverain Park in Vanier on the 9th. The week was marked by continued seasonal to well above seasonal temperatures, and we have largely “caught up” with normal migration after the horrible April. There has been a good stream of migrants, with about 36 arrivals for the season, but it appears that most have simply settled into their nesting grounds, since the regular migrant traps have not have any really big concentrations. This weekend will probably be rather quiet for migration, but sometime next week or shortly thereafter we can expect the start of peak migration. WATERBIRDS have not been much of a focus this week. New were the sighting of 35 BRANT flying over Richmond on the 9th, and AMERICAN COOT on the 3rd near Constance Bay. There have been a few interesting late sightings: 2 TRUMPETER SWANS flying over Munster Road on the 8th, 5000 SNOW GEESE at Winchester on the 5th, and COMMON GOLDENEYE in Carleton Place and at Deschênes. 9 species of PUDDLE DUCKS and 8 other species of DUCKS were in the region this week, but no large concentrations were reported. Our last regular species in this family was seen: LEAST BITTERN was on the Jock River near Carleton Place on the 7th, and on Berry Side Road on the 9th . Late ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were at the Giroux road ponds and Marais des Laîches, and a very late GOLDEN EAGLE was near Dunrobin on the 5th. COMMON TERN was seen on the Ottawa River, starting on the 5th. SHOREBIRD variety and numbers are starting to pick up. LEAST SANDPIPER, WILSON’S PHALAROPE and DUNLIN were seen at Winchester on the 5th, and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was in Embrun on the 8th. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was at Marais des Laîches on the 8th. The warbler tally is now 22 with the addition of OVENBIRD, NORTHERN PARULA, TENNESSEE, ORANGE-CROWNED, NORTHERN PARULA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, CAPE MAY, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS. Only 5 regular WARBLERS have yet to be seen, and probably all will be seen by the end of next week. Some good days have seen 10+ WARBLERS in a single trip, and about 12 regular nesters are now fairly common. Other firsts of the season include: · ALDER FLYCATCHER · EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE · RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD · VEERY · SWAINSON’S THRUSH · INDIGO BUNTING · SCARLET TANAGER · ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK · BOBOLINK · BALTIMORE ORIOLE · CLAY-COLOURED and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS (Both at Burnt lands Provincial park) · LINCOLN’S SPARROW 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
