Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Gregory Zbitnew at sighti...@ofnc.ca
November 14, 2019 The bird of the week was a female TUFTED DUCK, found just east of the Shirley’s Bay boat launch on the 14th, and seen by many observers so far. This is the first sighting of this species in 7 years, in more or less the same spot. Next was a WHITE-EYED VIREO at Ferme Moore on the 10th but not reported again. In a distant 3rd place, there were 2 very late sightings: a WOOD THRUSH was at Ferme Moore on the 13th, and a SCARLET TANAGER in Brantwood Park on the 9-10th Winter arrived on the 11th, with heavy snow and unspeakably early cold. Unfortunately it is shaping up to be a repeat of last year’s early winter, or worse. Thus any surviving lingering land birds will be headed to feeders, and with ponds rapidly freezing up, the rivers are the places to go. WATERBIRDS in general were here in good variety, with 23 species of DUCKS seen, although the numbers are not large, and as usual Shirley’s Bay to Britannia is the best area. Expect big drops as everything ices up. On the rivers, at least, ice currently restricted to the shore. The HARLEQUIN DUCK continues near the Adawe Bridge as of the 13th and 2 RUDDY DUCKS were at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 11th. A RED-THROATED LOON was at Shirley’s Bay on the 14th, and an AMERICAN COOT was at Dow’s Lake on the 13th. KILLDEER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Emerald Meadows on the 10th were the last SHOREBIRDS reported. A GOLDEN EAGLE was on Chemin Steele on the 9th. There have been a few scattered sightings of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. An ICELAND GULL was at the Moodie Drive Ponds on the 11th, with 5 other common species there from time to time. Among the FINCHES, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was in Gatineau on the 13th and there have been a few scattered sightings of PINE SISKIN here and there. A number of late/ lingering birds were of note: · FOX SPARROW in Richmond on the 13th. · EASTERN BLUEBIRD in Almonte on the 14th. · WINTER WRENS in Forêt Boucher on the 8th, Britannia on the 9th, and one near Almonte on the 10th. · CAROLINA WREN in Britannia on the 9th. · RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET near Munster on the 14th · NORTHERN PA RULA in Kanata on the 8th. · YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in Brantwood Park on the 10th. · CHIPPING SPARROW on the 14th near Hawthorne and St. Laurent. *Reminder regarding access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway:* DND has advised extra caution as the causeway is in rough shape. They have also requested that if any garbage can be removed it would be appreciated. To access this site, you must be on the access list, and 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 was sent to DND this spring and will be updated occasionally. To get on the next access list, please contact members...@ofnc.ca. 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. 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
