Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
May 31, 2018 A sensational find highlighted the week. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE, the first record for the 50K, showed up in the Urbandale area of Ottawa on the 26th. While not that “cooperative”, most people who looked eventually heard/ saw the bird. Reports from locals suggest that it may have still been around on the 28th. A few other lesser but still good birds were seen too. A MARBLED GODWIT was seen briefly at the Emerald Meadows Storm Ponds on the 29 th. 11 (First of the Year) RUDDY TURNSTONES were at Winchester on the 26th, and single one was at Petrie Island on the same day. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at Shirley’s Bay on the 28th. It was a warm week with some precipitation. Most of the migration activity was the later migrants, especially WATER and SHOREBIRDS. However, this activity seemed to fizzle later in the week. Notwithstanding this, we may yet get something in the next week especially with the unsettled weather this weekend. Among the WATERBIRDS there has been a big push of BRANT, with flocks of up to several hundred being seen early in the week. There were also small groupings of WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on the Ottawa River early in the week. Aside from that, with a few exceptions there was not a whole lot around. TRUMPETER SWAN at the Bruce Pit on the 28-29th was one of the exceptions. Some lingerers were of interest: 3 SNOW GEESE seen from the Kitchissippi lookout on the 30th, and a COMMON GOLDENEYE at Constance bay on the 28th. SHOREBIRDS were around in good numbers early in the week. Notable were a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Embrun on the 27-28th and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at Crysler on the 27-28th. 20 BLACK TERNS were around in good numbers at their nesting grounds. There were 20 at Plaisance (Baie Noire) on the 28th and 15 at *Marais des Laîches on the 25th. * There are still a number of SANDHILL CRANES around, the latest being seen flying over Herzberg Road on the 30th. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was at Burnt lands PP, and LEAST BITTERN continues near Munster on the 26th. Late FLYCATCHERS are their usual scarce selves: A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was at Rockcliffe Airport on the 27th and at Britannia on the 28th. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was in Gatineau Park (Lac Mousseau) on the 29th, and one was on High Road on the 30th. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS have been seen in a number of locations, but so far not more than once: On the carp Ridge on the 24th, near Cantley on the 28th, Lauriault Trail on the 30th, on Earl Armstrong Road on the 30th, and near Cannamore on the 28th. In some good news, 2 SEDGE WRENS were at the “Nortel Marsh” on the 30-31st, and with any luck they will stick around for a while. A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was at Britannia on the 24th. A late WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was in Sandy Hill on the 30th. There was a bit of a movement of the late WARBLERS this week: BLACKPOLL, TENNESSEE, and WILSON’S. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Innis Point on the 25th, and one was at the Thurso marsh on the 30th. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was near Carleton Place on the 30th. 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
