Left: Ruffed Grouse, photographed by Gillian Mastromatteo (15 February 2010)

Can't find Milton Road? Not sure where the Sarsaparilla Trail is? Check the Birds Committee's location guide, complete with species to watch for and directions for getting to the best birding spots in the Ottawa region.

NOTE: Due to increasing and widespread concerns regarding disturbance of wildlife and property, the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Birds Committee has adopted a policy of no longer publicizing OWLS on the Bird Status Line or on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to the Bird Status Line for the purpose of maintaining local records. Please refer to the OFNC Code of Conduct.

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Ottawa and area bird sightings to 4 March 2010

from Chris Lewis

The recent exceptionally mild and sunny weather is forecast to continue through the weekend and will hopefully stimulate some bird movement. So far there has been very little change on the local scene.

A male NORTHERN PINTAIL on the Rideau River at Billings Bridge on the 2nd is likely an early arrival as there have been no reports of this bird all winter. At least one male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was still on the Rideau near the Hurdman bridge as of the 2nd. Two dozen WILD TURKEYS were spotted at Greenbank and Fallowfield Rds. back on the 24th.

BALD EAGLE sightings again came from widespread locations including the Rideau River near Mooney's Bay on the 23rd, and the Eardley escarpment in the Gatineau hills where a total of 6 were seen on the 28th, with 3 adults feeding on carcasses at a cattle farm along Steele Rd. A MERLIN was observed hunting in the fields along Rushmore Rd. east of Eagleson Rd. on the 3rd.

The return of RING-BILLED GULLS to our area is a sign of spring - a few were seen on the 3rd at the Trail Rd. landfill as well as at Strathcona Park, many were coming in to the large gull roost on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River at Remic rapids on the evening of the 3rd and among them was an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Increasing numbers of HERRING GULLS have been noted at both the landfill and the Ottawa River. Four GLAUCOUS GULLS were also among the evening gull roost at Remic and a singleton was seen at the landfill on the 3rd.

After a spate of NORTHERN SHRIKE sightings earlier in the winter, very few have been around; a single report this week came from the Champlain golf course in Aylmer, Quebec, on the 1st. Among our resident species that have begun to sing are BROWN CREEPERS, heard along trails in the Stoney Swamp on the 3rd. A scattered flock of approx. 150 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was feeding on Buckthorn berries as well as road grit in the Shirley's Bay area on the 3rd. A few HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS were again reported from rural areas, and a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at a manure spread along March Rd. east of Carp Rd. on the 28th.

The lack of "winter finches" made the appearance of PINE GROSBEAKS and PINE SISKINS last week seem almost like rare bird sightings - approx. a half dozen of the former were seen with about a dozen Bohemian Waxwings in Gatineau Park near Kingsmere on the 22nd, and three of the latter briefly visited a feeder in Bells Corners on the 24th.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 22 February 2010

from Chris Lewis

Reports from all across the province continue to confirm that this is a very quiet winter for birding, and the same remains true for the Ottawa-Gatineau area. However, the recent mild weather conditions have prompted some of our common residents such as AMERICAN ROBINS, NORTHERN CARDINALS and HOUSE FINCHES to sing, and a couple of species that are normally not expected until March were reported this past week - a TURKEY VULTURE in the Green's Creek area on the 18th would be the first February record for Ottawa (further details have been requested) and a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was seen in the vicinity of Russell, ON on the 14th. HORNED LARKS were reported from rural areas east and west of Ottawa during the past week, along with small scattered flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS. A flock of 12 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in the Burnt Lands near Almonte on the 21st were the first of this species reported all winter in our area.

Otherwise, most sightings have been of lingering birds. On the 21st, 5 CANADA GEESE and the "handicapped" WOOD DUCK were still at the stormwater pond on Iber Rd. in Kanata, as were the single CANADA GOOSE and HOODED MERGANSER below the rapids in Deschenes, Quebec. The same day, a male and female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE were engaging in courtship displays on the Ottawa River close to the Remic rapids lookout. A male Barrow's was also seen on the Rideau River near the Hurdman bridge on the 16th and 18th.

At least 2 GRAY PARTRIDGE were still present on the 16th on Maple Grove Rd. in Kanata, and several reports of WILD TURKEYS on both the Ontario and Quebec sides included numbers ranging from scattered individuals to flocks of over 40 birds.

Five BALD EAGLES on the 13th and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE on the 14th were the highlights from the Eardley escarpment in the Gatineau hills. Three BALD EAGLES were hanging out near an abbatoir in the Pakenham area on the 20th. COOPER'S HAWKS were noted in and near downtown Ottawa over the past 2 weeks. A couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS in the Ste-Rose area on the 16th and an AMERICAN KESTREL at Shirley's Bay were also of interest as very few of either of these species have been seen recently. A WILSON'S SNIPE west of Quyon, Quebec, was still present on the 16th. The Lafleche Rd. landfill southeast of Casselman continues to host several ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS.

A CAROLINA WREN and 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS near Parc Baker off Rue Millar in Hull, Quebec were still present as of at least the 13th, approx. 200 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen again near the Nortel complex on Carling Ave. west of Moodie Dr. on the 21st, and 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at a feeder in Beacon Hill, Ottawa on the 20th was an increase from 2 that have been here for the past few weeks. Also increasing are numbers of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at various local feeders, and small flocks of EVENING GROSBEAKS continue to visit feeders in the Eardley-Masham and Bradley Rd. area in Quebec.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 10 February 2010

from Chris Lewis

The local birding scene has been pretty much status quo over the past 2 weeks - in other words, very quiet. The most interesting report was of a WILSON'S SNIPE that has apparently been wintering near a small creek west of Quyon, Quebec; it was most recently seen on the 8th. A CAROLINA WREN remains faithful to a property on Rue Millar in Hull, Quebec as of the 7th, and a BROWN THRASHER was seen again in the same general area on the 3rd. Another CAROLINA WREN was spotted at a feeder in the Manor Park area of Ottawa back on the 28th.

Although there have been no recent updates on the whereabouts of BARROW'S GOLDENEYES on the Ottawa or Rideau Rivers, the four reported last month are likely still present. A HOODED MERGANSER continues to hang out below the rapids in Deschenes, Quebec and a few COMMON MERGANSERS can be seen here and there in open areas of the Rideau River. A few WILD TURKEYS were again noted below the Eardley escarpment in the Gatineau hills, and sightings of BALD EAGLES were reported from widespread locations on both the Ontario and Quebec sides. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew over Hwy 417 near Walkely Rd. on the 2nd, a single ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at the Trail Rd. landfill on the 31st, and one or more PEREGRINE FALCONS are still frequenting the Tunney's Pasture, Carlington and Carlingwood neighburhoods. At the Trail Rd. landfill last week there were at least 12 GLAUCOUS and 1 ICELAND GULL, and a dump on Lafleche Rd. east of Casselman has also been a good spot for gull-watching with 15 GLAUCOUS and 3 ICELAND noted on the 6th.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE in the Carling Ave. / Moodie Dr. area was seen again on the 2nd. The Britannia Conservation Area remains a haven for several AMERICAN ROBINS as well as a group of 5 CEDAR WAXWINGS that have been here since at least the 24th of January. Approx. 60 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen near Shirley's Bay on the 6th.

Visits to the Eardley-Masham and Steele Rds. in the Gatineau hills early this week revealed once again that there are very few birds in the bush; the only highlights were 5 BALD EAGLES on a deer carcass on the 9th, an adult GOLDEN EAGLE spotted from Therien Rd. on the 7th, and 8 PURPLE FINCHES and about a dozen EVENING GROSBEAKS at a feeder, also on the 9th.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 28 January 2010

from Chris Lewis

All has been fairly quiet on the eastern front. A CANADA GOOSE and a male HOODED MERGANSER were still at Deschenes below the rapids on the 24th, as were 4 Canada's and a male WOOD DUCK in a small area of open water off Iber Rd. in Kanata. The Wood Duck has a badly damaged wing; an observer who contacted the Wild Bird Care Centre learned that this duck has been surviving quite well in the area for a long time, and it is recommended that people NOT try to "rescue" it. A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen on the Ottawa River at Remic rapids as well as near Bate Island on the weekend.

Three GRAY PARTRIDGE remain faithful to the the Ottawa maintenance yard on Maple Grove Rd. in Kanata but are obviously nervous when closely approached. Another small group of partridge was seen along Akins Rd. on the 23rd. WILD TURKEY sightings came from several locations - on the 22nd, 27 were seen at Greenbank and Fallowfield Rds, and another large flock was in the Carling Ave. / Herzberg Rd. area. Nine have been regular near the Rockcliffe airport, and 15 were spotted along Hwy 148 near the Eardley-Masham Rd. in Quebec on the 24th.

Reports of BALD EAGLES again came from the Eardley escarpment in the Gatineau hills, and one flew over the Champlain bridge on the 23rd. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at the Trail Rd. landfill on the 22nd and 24th. While it is quite possible that the elusive grey morph GYRFALCON is still around, most local falcon sightings were again of adult PEREGRINES; at least 2 were seen (sometimes together) over the past week.

A few good-sized gatherings of gulls were noted, mainly at landfill sites. The predominant species were, as usual, HERRING and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, with a few ICELAND and varying numbers of GLAUCOUS GULLS among them.

NORTHERN SHRIKES continue to be reported from widespread locations. A CAROLINA WREN is still feeding and singing near Parc Baker in Hull, Quebec as of at least the 26th, and another has evidently been present all month in a downtown neighbourhood along the Rideau River, most recently seen on the 27th. AMERICAN ROBINS continue to survive the winter in a few suburban areas, flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still roving around - two small flocks were seen on the Quebec side last weekend, and 5 CEDAR WAXWINGS were seen in Britannia on the 24th. A SONG SPARROW was reported as having been present for quite some time at a property along Carling Avenue near Dick Bell Park, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are still around at a couple of local feeders as well.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 21 January 2010

from Chris Lewis

The recent spell of comfortable temperatures (if not exactly a "January thaw") has made for pleasant conditions for both birds and birders. A CANADA GOOSE and a male HOODED MERGANSER continue to linger on the Ottawa River below Deschenes in Quebec, and 5 Canada's and a male WOOD DUCK were still at a stormwater pond along Iber Road in Kanata on the 15th. Up to 4 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (2 males and 2 females) were among the large roost of COMMON GOLDENEYE at Remic rapids on the 16th; as in past winters, the Barrow's appear to be moving back and forth between the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers.

About a half-dozen WILD TURKEYS have been regular along Rockcliffe Parkway near the Rockcliffe airport, and 3 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen a couple of times in the past week near the Ottawa maintenance yard on Maple Grove Rd. in Kanata, most recently on the 19th. On the Quebec side, several observers noted a BALD EAGLE hanging out near the Deschenes rapids on the 16th and 17th; other individuals were spotted near Quyon and Alymer on the 18th, and the wintering RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was still present along Rue du Golf in Alymer as of the 17th. Again, there were extremely few sightings of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS - on the 17th, one was seen near St. Albert, and 2 were found along Concession #19 near Ste-Rose.

A grey morph GYRFALCON continued to play hide-and-seek last week; sightings on the R.H. Coats building at Tunney's Pasture on the 15th and in the Carling-Kirkwood area on the 16th have been complicated by the presence of at least 2 adult PEREGRINE FALCONS which are haunting the same areas as well as the Carlington quarry and downtown Ottawa-Hull. Look at any large falcon carefully before assuming its a Gyr! In the Britannia area, a MERLIN was seen again on the 15th.

Views of Remic Rapids from Parc Brebeuf in Hull, Quebec revealed a good-sized gull roost on the 16th; among the predominantly GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were a few HERRING GULLS, 4 ICELAND and 6 GLAUCOUS GULLS, as well as a 1st-winter THAYER'S GULL.

A definite movement of NORTHERN SHRIKES into our area occurred over the past couple of weeks, with multiple sightings in both rural and suburban areas. Ten HORNED LARKS were attracted to the Trail Rd. landfill site on on the 16th. A CAROLINA WREN continues to be present in the vicinity of Millar Rd. and Parc Baker in Hull, Quebec and was quite vocal on the 19th, and a BROWN THRASHER was observed in the same general area on the 16th. Also in Quebec on the 16th, another BROWN THRASHER was reported from Aylmer, visiting a property along Perry Rd.

Mild tempertures on the 15th also stimulated a bit of singing among a group of 24 AMERICAN ROBINS near the Ottawa Civic hospital. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still around, with flocks ranging from 30 - 200 birds seen in various locations including Rockcliffe Park, the Nortel Woods and the Kinburn / Dunrobin area and March Rd. at Terry Fox Dr. last weekend. A couple of feeders in Ottawa and Gatineau continue to support WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. Flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS were again a fairly common sight mainly in rural areas with one flock near Ste-Rose containing 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS on the 17th, and EVENING GROSBEAKS have been irregularly visiting feeders near the Larose forest.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 13 January 2010

from Chris Lewis

An interesting assortment of species for this time of year was found over the past week. A few CANADA GEESE appear to be toughing out the season in locations such as the Ottawa River at Deschenes, the Rideau River at Manotick, and a stormwater pond in Kanata near the Goulbourn industrial park. A male WOOD DUCK was present at the latter location on the 10th, and a HOODED MERGANSER was also at Deschenes the same day. At least 2 male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE remain fixtures on the Rideau behind the tennis club as of the 11th.

On the 9th, at least 60 WILD TURKEYS were feeding in a field along Vances Side Rd. near Dunrobin and approx. 30 were seen at Bradley Rd. and Eardley-Masham Rd. in Quebec on the 10th. Twelve were also spotted on the Quebec side along the Low-Poltimore Rd. on the 8th.

A couple of visits to the Eardley-Masham/Steele Road area in the Gatineau hills were productive for BALD EAGLES - at least 8 were spotted on the 10th. Reports of COOPER'S HAWKS came from several locations. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in Aylmer, Quebec, was still present in the Rue du Golf/Aylmer Road area as of the 11th, and a good number of RED-TAILED HAWKS were noted here and there on the weekend. Both a MERLIN and a PEREGRINE FALCON appeared in Britannia on the 10th; the Peregrine was seen again on the 12th on the same high-rise apartment building where it frequently roosted last fall. A grey morph GYRFALCON, very likely the same bird found near the Carlington quarry back on Dec. 20th, was spotted in the same general area on Jan. 10th.

The gull gatherings on the Rideau River near the Hurdman bridge as well as the Trail Rd. landfill continue to be dominated by GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, with a few HERRING and GLAUCOUS GULLS among them.

There were several reports of NORTHERN SHRIKES over the weekend, with at least 5 different individuals seen in widespread locations on both the Ontario and Quebec sides. The Gatineau Hills are, as usual, a good area for wintering COMMON RAVENS, however a few were also seen in semi-urban areas such as Britannia, Carlington and Carlingwood. Britannia is evidently a haven for AMERICAN ROBINS this winter - up to a dozen have recently been found here. A SWAMP SPARROW was discovered in Hull on Jan. 7th and a couple of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were seen last weekend - one near the Aviation Parkway and Ogilvie Rd. and another on Millar Rd. in Gatineau. Flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS of various sizes are around in various locations; one group near St-Isidore on the 10th contained 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS.

In this nearly finchless winter, a nice surprise was a report of 8 PINE GROSBEAKS picking up grit along Swamp Rd. off Lac-des-Loups Rd. on the southwestern edge of Gatineau Park on the 12th. Otherwise the only finches apart from a few HOUSE FINCHES in suburban areas, were EVENING GROSBEAKS - 20 were found along Low-Poltimore Rd. on the 8th and approx. 15 were seen at a property between Eardley and Steele in Quebec on the 10th.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 6 January 2010

from Chris Lewis

Over the past couple of weeks most of the local birding action involved digesting holiday turkey dinners and participating in Christmas Bird Counts.

While on the subject of turkeys and bird counts... record numbers of WILD TURKEYS were recorded on the Carleton Place and Pakenham-Arnprior counts on Dec. 27th, the Lanark Highlands count on the 30th, and the Dunrobin-Breckenridge count on January 2nd.

Another common feature was the extremely low number of finches across the region, and woodland birding has been very quiet in general. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS also remain few and far between but good numbers of BALD EAGLES are around - no fewer than 16 were found on the Pakenham-Arnprior CBC, comparable to the numbers recorded in Ottawa-Gatineau the week before. An adult and a juvenile Bald Eagle were noted flying over the Ottawa River at Remic rapids on January 5th.

In other local reports, 2 male and 1 female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE are still on the Rideau River in the vicinity of the Rideau Tennis Club, most recently seen on New Year's Day. A GREAT BLUE HERON (likely the same one found back on Dec. 20th) was seen at a creek near the Aviation Parkway and Ogilvie Rd. on the 1st, and a very late RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was in the ash woods at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden on the 28th. Nearly 500 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were counted on the Dunrobin-Breckenridge CBC on the 2nd, and a flock of at least 40 HORNED LARKS contained 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS in the Fitzroy Harbour area the same day. A few DARK-EYED JUNCOS and HOUSE FINCHES continue to visit bird feeders around town, and small flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS were reported from rural areas over the past week.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 24 December 2009

from Chris Lewis

The local Christmas Bird Counts began with the Ottawa-Gatineau count on December 20th. All of the species totals have yet to be confirmed. Preliminary results indicated that it was a generally slow day with low numbers, but it was not a day without several highlights.

Interesting waterfowl included a few lingerers such as WOOD DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and RING-NECKED DUCK. Three BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (2 males and 1 female) were seen again on the Rideau River off Riverain/Strathcona Park. 23 WILD TURKEYS were a record high for the count, and a very late GREAT BLUE HERON was found near Ogilvie Rd. and the Aviation Parkway.

Thirteen BALD EAGLES were counted among the various sectors, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK first reported on the 13th was still in Aylmer , Quebec on count day, and a grey morph GYRFALCON was a great find near the Carlington quarry. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen; one each on the Ontario and Quebec sides.

Gull numbers were low overall within the count circle - only 8 ICELAND and 8 GLAUCOUS GULLS were reported; larger numbers were found just two days before at the Trail Rd. Landfill along with a 1st winter THAYER'S GULL.

A nice surprise was a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER along a trail off Ogilvie Rd.and the Aviation Parkway on the 20th. Four NORTHERN SHRIKES were found among the count sectors, and 124 COMMON RAVENS was in impressive record high. A CAROLINA WREN that has been visiting a feeder near a small park adjacent to Rue Millar in Hull, Quebec was seen on the 20th, and a HERMIT THRUSH and SWAMP SPARROW in the Britannia sector were both good finds as well. The COMMON YELLOWTHROAT discovered on the 19th at Strathcona Park showed up for the count and was still hanging in as of the 23rd.

On the 18th six GRAY PARTRIDGE were found in what has become a traditional wintering area in Kanata along Maple Grove Rd. near the Sensplex arena, and on the 23rd two large flocks of WILD TURKEYS were reported - 23 along Prince of Wales Dr. near Barnsdale Rd. and 30 at Corkstown Rd. off March Rd. Good numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still around, and several flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS were seen in the Ste-Rose area east of Ottawa on the 20th.

The dearth of finches certainly reflects reports from elsewhere in the province - HOUSE FINCH and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH numbers were very low on the Ottawa-Gatrineau count, and only 1 PURPLE FINCH, 3 COMMON REDPOLLS, and 3 EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported on the 20th, all in the Quebec sectors.

Thank you - and Happy Holiday Birding to all!

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 17 December 2009

from Chris Lewis

It looks like winter has arrived to stay in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Local ponds are now mostly frozen, and ice has begun to form on calmer sections of our local rivers. The "deep freeze" weather forecast for the next few days will no doubt affect conditions for the upcoming Ottawa-Gatineau Christmas Bird Count on Sunday Dec. 20th.

Lingering waterfowl this past week included a single female WOOD DUCK and a male NORTHERN SHOVELER on the Rideau River behind the Rideau Tennis Club on the 14th. A few RING-NECKED DUCKS, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, and all three species of MERGANSERS were also still around. Two male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE remain on the Rideau as of the 16th, and a female BARROW'S was on the Ottawa River below the Deschenes rapids on the 14th.

On the 16th a covey of 16 GRAY PARTRIDGE was observed flying into a cornfield at Eagleson and Fallowfield Rds., and on the 12th approx. 70 WILD TURKEYS were enjoying the offerings at feeders along Riviere Blanche Rd. in the Lac Lablanche area north of Mayo, Quebec. A rather late COMMON LOON was on the river at Shirley's Bay on the 12th and an even later GREAT BLUE HERON flew over Hwy 417 near exit #96 on the 14th. Three immature BALD EAGLES circled over Shirley's Bay on the 12th and an adult was seen from Britannia the same day. A report of a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on the 13th in Quebec along Aylmer Rd. between Ch. Grimes and Rue du Golf was interesting - an individual of this species has spent recent winters in the Aylmer area.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING reports continue to come in, with flocks numbering from 30 to over 200 seen mainly in the west end of Ottawa; locations included Carling Ave. at Moodie Dr. and at Herzberg Rd., March Rd. at Shirley's Brook in Kanata, and again at Donald B. Munro Rd. and Salisbury Rd. in Carp. A pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS in the Britannia woods, 15 AMERICAN ROBINS at Shirley's Bay, and a lingering WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at a feeder in Carleton Place were noted on the 12th. Large flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS containing several LAPLAND LONGSPURS were reported from the Ste-Rose area along Concessions #19 and #20 from the 11th to the 14th. And it's not the first time that a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT has been caught by winter in Ottawa - one was seen foraging near the Britannia filtration plant on the 15th.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 9 December 2009

from Chris Lewis

The past week was literally the calm before the storm. Several species were on the late to very late side for our area. It will be interesting to see what's still around after strong east winds and blowing snow slammed Ottawa overnight last night and all day today.

On the 5th, approx. 2,000 SNOW GEESE were in the ponds and fields at the Embrun sewage lagoons and CACKLING GOOSE reports continued to come in from the 4th to the 7th, mostly from the Ottawa River off Andrew Haydon Park; one was also on the quarry ponds along Giroux Rd. north of Navan. A late AMERICAN WIGEON was on Mud Lake in Britannia on the 4th, and also late were lingering GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Andrew Haydon on the 4th and both a SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on the river on the 6th. Numerous COMMON MERGANSERS were noted on Dow's Lake on the 7th, and a COMMON LOON was still at Shirley's Bay on the 6th.

On the 4th a flock of 53 WILD TURKEYS added some variety to reports from the fields along Milton Rd. where 47 SANDHILL CRANES were also still present. A RUFFED GROUSE, possibly the same one seen in the Britannia Conservation Area several months ago, was found here on the 5th. A couple of lingering GREAT BLUE HERONS included individuals in Carleton Place on the frozen pond by the Pond Motel on the 5th, as well as at Bowesville and High Rds. south of the airport and at Petrie Island on the 7th. On the 6th an immature BALD EAGLE soared over Shirley's Bay and on the 7th an adult was seen at Petrie Island. A NORTHERN HARRIER was on the late side on Giroux Rd. on the 7th, two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were reported from Milton Rd. on the 4th, an adult male MERLIN spent a good time basking in the sun while he checked out the feeders by Shirley's Bay on the 6th, and on the 5th two extremely late BONAPARTE'S GULLS were still at the Embrun sewage lagoons.

An unprecedented local late date for BLUE-HEADED VIREO was December 8th - a single bird was seen feeding on Burning-Bush fruits in Rothwell Heights near the Rothwell / Delong Dr. intersection. A CAROLINA WREN on Lismer Cres. in Kanata on the 3rd is likely the same bird that was discovered in this area back in October. A few reports of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have started to come in - at least 70 were seen along Donald B. Munro Dr. in Carp on the 6th, and 20 were in Cumberland in the vicinity of Lookout Dr. and Apple Lane on the 7th. Lingering sparrows included at least three SONG SPARROWS at Embrun on the 5th and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at the Shirley's Bay feeders the same day. A few SNOW BUNTINGS were in the Shirley's Bay area on the 6th along with a single RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 3 December 2009

from Chris Lewis

Highlights in the last week of November and beginning of December included two species that paid all too brief visits to the Ottawa River - a HARLEQUIN DUCK dropped in to the Deschenes rapids on the 23rd and an adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flew by Andrew Haydon Park on the 28th.

Large flocks of SNOW GEESE were again found along Hwy 417 at Hwy 138 and near Moose Creek on the 2nd, and smaller groups were in the Winchester and Navan areas on the 28th and 1st. Single CACKLING GEESE were reported from several locations over the past week, and 9 were closely associating at the east end of Andrew Haydon on the 2nd. On the 24th waterfowl on the Quebec side below the Deschenes rapids included approx. 150 RING-NECKED DUCKS as well as numerous SCAUP spp. and BUFFLEHEAD. Both a RED-THROATED LOON and a RED-NECKED GREBE were also reported from this location the same day. One each of SURF SCOTER and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (both late for Ottawa) were spotted off Andrew Haydon on the 2nd, varying numbers of COMMON GOLDENEYE are now on both the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers, and 2 male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continue to hang out on the Rideau between the Hurdman bridge and Riverain Park. HOODED MERGANSERS were widely reported and approx. 130 COMMON MERGANSERS were at Constance Bay on the 2nd.

On the 25th a single ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen along March Valley Rd. and an adult PEREGRINE FALCON cruised over Andrew Haydon Park on the 28th. Good numbers of SANDHILL CRANES are still in the fields on the west side of Milton Rd. southwest of Navan - 62 were counted on the 22nd, and 48 were still present on the 1st. Noteworthy gulls aside from the Kittiwake included 7 ICELAND, 4 LESSER BLACK-BACKED and 17 GLAUCOUS GULLS coming in to roost on the river off Andrew Haydon Park at dusk on the 26th, and a 1st winter "NELSON'S GULL" (Herring X Glaucous hybrid) was reported from the Nepean Equestrian Park at Moodie Dr. and Corkstown Rd. on the 28th.

A couple of late BELTED KINGFISHERS were seen along March Valley Rd. on the 25th, and at Petrie Island on the 1st. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was also noted on the 1st at Bowesville and High Rds. south of the international airport. A few DARK-EYED JUNCOS were moving through the Britannia Conservation Area on the 2nd, and on the 1st a dozen BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS were found at what has become a traditonal wintering location along Russell Rd. in Carlsbad Springs. And once again, a feeder near the village of Poland west of Lanark seems to be a magnet for what were described as "hordes"of EVENING GROSBEAKS.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 23 November 2009

from Chris Lewis

The past week and a half produced a small but interesting mixed bag of bird reports...and who could complain about the almost spring-like weather at this time of year?

On the 14th, approx. 5,000 SNOW GEESE were seen north of Winchester, and on the 17th well over 10,000 were reported in the fields along Hwy 138 south of Hwy 417. On the 21st approx. 50 were in a pond at the Embrun sewage lagoons and at least 1,000 were seen in the Ste-Rose / Moose Creek area.

A pair of REDHEAD was at the Embrun lagoons on the 21st along with 6 BONAPARTE'S GULLS - a very late date for this species in our area. Three male GREEN-WINGED TEAL were rather late lingerers in the ponds at Andrew Haydon Park on the 21st, as were single BLACK and SURF SCOTERS, 18 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS on the river on the 22nd. Two late RED-THROATED LOONS also put in appearance on the river off Dick Bell Park this weekend.

On the 14th, the number of SANDHILL CRANES hit a new record high for the Ottawa area - nearly 100 birds were observed in the fields at Milton and Smith Rds. southwest of Navan. The same day, a DUNLIN was still on the beach at Petrie Island, and the large quarry pond along Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd. hosted one each of ICELAND, LESSER BLACK-BACKED and GLAUCOUS GULLS.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE near Carling Ave. and Rifle Rd. was present as of at least the 15th. The late BLACKPOLL WARBLER at Dick Bell Park was last reported on the 15th, and the only recent finch report was from the feeders at the Chelsea visitor centre in Gatineau Park, Quebec - a single PURPLE FINCH and EVENING GROSBEAK were noted here on the 17th.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 13 November 2009

from Chris Lewis

While nothing as exotic has appeared around here as some of the recent rarities in southwestern Ontario, several interesting birds were seen in our region.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found on the Ottawa River off Dick Bell Park as well as at the Moodie Dr. quarry pond on the 8th; the Moodie Dr. bird was still present on the 11th. A first-winter THAYER'S GULL was at Andrew Haydon Park on the 7th and 8th. A male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER found at the end of Greenland Rd. near Constance Bay on the 5th was seen again on the 6th. A GRAY JAY reported on the Quebec side in a ravine behind Rue Ravin Bleu in Hull on the 23rd was searched for the next day but was not seen again. A record late BLACKPOLL WARBLER first seen on the 7th in the trees near the lighthouse at Dick Bell Park was still actively feeding here until at least the 11th, and a late male EASTERN TOWHEE was scratching away in the leaves in Goldridge Park in the Kanata Lakes area on the 9th.

The SNOW GOOSE numbers along Hwy 417 south of the Hwy 138 exit increased to at least 10,000 on the morning of the 9th. Although the lone BRANT has evidently not been seen at Andrew Haydon Park for over a week, a singleton was feeding on a lawn in the Billings Bridge area on the 10th. Two CACKLING GEESE were observed among the Canada's in a field west of the Moodie Dr. pond on the 11th. Several reports have come in, in recent weeks, of odd-looking geese in various locations, particularly the Ottawa River. Most of the descriptions and photos appear to represent CANADA GOOSE X DOMESTIC GOOSE hybrids. Considering the huge numbers of geese that appear in our area at this time of year, it's not surprising that a few odd fellows show up in the mix. It is usually impossible to determine the exact parentage of the really strange-looking ones; however most geese with Canada colours combined with weird white plumage and pink or orange-ish legs or bills likely have some barnyard blood.

Numbers of BUFFLEHEAD and COMMON GOLDENEYE continue to build on our local rivers; among the goldeneye on the Ottawa and Rideau rivers were 2 male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and a male COMMON X BARROW'S hybrid most recently reported from the Rideau off Riverain Park on the 12th. Many locations also hosted numerous HOODED MERGANSERS last week, and a half-dozen female RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were on the river off Dick Bell Park on the 11th.

A flight of RED-THROATED LOONS occurred on the 6th - 2 flocks totalling 48 birds briefly settled on the Ottawa River off Andrew Haydon before heading southeast. On the 11th, seven COMMON LOONS were behaving in a more leisurely fashion from Shirley's Bay through Constance Bay, as were a small number of RED-NECKED GREBES. Several BALD EAGLES were noted in flight over the Ottawa River from the 6th to the 11th. After a lengthy drought in shorebird reports, a single BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and DUNLIN were found along the beach at Petrie Island on the 8th. A somewhat late group of 36 BONAPARTE'S GULLS was observed at the Embrun sewage lagoons on the 9th.

On the 6th a couple of NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen along Greenland Rd. and also at Carling Ave. and Rifle Rd., and the same day 75 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS put in an appearance along Riddell Rd. And finally, in keeping with the so far skimpy finch reports - a single COMMON REDPOLL was heard flying over Shirley's Bay on the 11th.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 6 November 2009

from Chris Lewis

Most of the interesting observations during the past week involved waterfowl. Approx. 7,000 GREATER SNOW GEESE were seen on the evening of Oct. 29th south of Hwy 417 off Hwy 138. The lone BRANT was still at Andrew Haydon Park this week and another singleton was in a field north of Burritt's Rapids on Nov. 4th. Flocks of 60 - 400 BRANT flew over the Ottawa River at Constance Bay, Dick Bell Park and Britannia on the 1st. Nine CACKING GEESE were reported on the river off Andrew Haydon Park on the 1st, and it was also a great day for a large flight of LONG-TAILED DUCKS - up to 200 mostly male birds were restlessly flying around and settling on the river between Dick Bell Park and Shirley's Bay before they took off heading west. Reports of adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYES came from both the Rideau River across from Strathcona Park on the 2nd and the Ottawa River off Andrew Haydon on the 3rd. Among other duck species reported mainly from the Ottawa River were a few GREEN-WINGED TEAL, good numbers of GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, small numbers of SURF, WHITE-WINGED and BLACK SCOTERS, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. A few HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBES were still around last weekend. Northwest winds on the 1st also prompted a movement of raptors; local sightings included a BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 2 GOLDEN EAGLES and an imm. PEREGRINE FALCON.

A nice discovery on the 5th was a male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at the west end of Greenland Rd. by the Ottawa River, as was a record-late female INDIGO BUNTING at a feeder near Andrew Haydon on the 31st and 1st. Among the birds at the feeders on Hilda Rd. by Shirley's Bay on the 1st were a FOX SPARROW and a few WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and the latest count of EVENING GROSBEAKS at a feeder in Poland (west of Lanark) was 48, with several more in the trees nearby.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 29 October 2009

from Chris Lewis

Among the reports from the past week were a couple of firsts for the season: a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE arrived at a traditional wintering location on the Ottawa River at Remic rapids on the 24th, and a RED-THROATED LOON was seen on the river off Andrew Haydon Park on the 23rd and 24th.

Approximately 2000 SNOW GEESE have been in the area of St-Isidore near Hwy 417 for about a week, and smaller flocks were noted along Milton Rd. southwest of Navan as well as at the Moodie Dr. quarry pond. Up to 9 CACKLING GEESE were on the sandy spit at the east end of Andrew Haydon Park on the 20th. On the 23rd and 24th several hundred mostly BLACK SCOTERS were spotted on the Ottawa River from Britannia Bay to Shirley's Bay, and numbers of other duck species have varied from day to day on the river and elsewhere, along with a smattering of COMMON LOONS and both HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBES.

A thorough count of the SANDHILL CRANES on the 25th near Navan confirmed that there were 86 in the fields along Trim Rd. between Navan and McFadden Rd. - this is a record high number for the Ottawa area. The only recent shorebird reports were of 2 GREATER and 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS at the stormwater pond on Eagleson Rd. south of Fernbank Rd. on the 25th. A few "white-winged" gulls have begun to arrive - single ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS were noted in the vicinity of the Trail Rd. landfill since the 20th along with 16 mostly adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and a Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gull were also seen at Andrew Haydon Park on the 24th. On the 25th, 2 BALD EAGLES, several RED-TAILED HAWKS and a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE flew over the Moodie Dr. quarry ponds.

A few NORTHERN SHRIKES have begun to appear, most recently one was seen at Barnsdale and Cedarview Rds on the 21st. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS have become more numerous, and lots of FOX SPARROWS were again widely reported. LAPLAND LONGSPURS continue to move through - 15 flew by the Shirley's Bay boat launch on the 25th. SNOW BUNTINGS were reported from widespread locations, and EVENING GROSBEAKS are back in Poland (west of Lanark) as of the 26th; 18 were counted at the same feeders that hosted large numbers last winter. A couple of Evening Grosbeaks were also noted on the Quebec side.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 21 October 2009

from Chris Lewis

Lots of action in local reports especially in the world of waterfowl. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was feeding on the lawn at Andrew Haydon Park on the 14th, and 3 BRANT have remained here after the large flocks that dropped in a week ago moved on. Also on the 14th, 2 adult ROSS'S GEESE were found in a field along Milton Rd. southwest of Navan and one was still present as of at least the 20th. A male EURASIAN WIGEON appeared among the Americans at Constance Creek on the 17th but flew south and was not seen again. Five REDHEAD were seen in various locations on the weekend along with the expected dabbling and diving ducks. A good number for the Ottawa area was 18 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Shirley's Bay on the 14th. Sea ducks in ponds are always an incongruous sight; a few LONG-TAILED DUCKS turned some heads at Andrew Haydon and a couple were also seen at the Embrun sewage lagoons on the 18th.

Good numbers of COMMON LOONS and RED-NECKED GREBES were found on the OFNC Fall Bird Count last weekend, and 147 WILD TURKEYS were a new record high for the count. The final count results will soon be posted on the OFNC web site.

No real movement of raptors has been noted recently, however a total of 10 MERLINS tied the previous Fall Count record and again confirmed the success of the species in our area. SANDHILL CRANE numbers continue to build in the fields near Navan with 59 reported so far. Shorebird numbers were again low; a somewhat late SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was at Shirley's Bay on the 18th, and expected species such as KILLDEER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN were also still around in various locations.

Record high numbers of EASTERN PHOEBES, BLUE JAYS and WHITE-BREATED NUTHATCHES were found on the count, and an unusual number of MARSH WRENS were still around for this time of year including 6 seen all together in a marsh at the end of Champlain St. west of Petrie Island on the 18th. GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS continue to be reported along with EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and HERMIT THRUSHES. A VARIED THRUSH spotted at Mud Lake in Britannia on the weekend was moving through with a flock of AMERICAN ROBINS and was not re-found despite extensive searching. Numerous robins are on the move and several were singing during the recent spell of pleasant weather. Apart from YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, no other species were recently reported except for a very late AMERICAN REDSTART (a new species for the fall count). Sparrows are also still moving through including fair numbers of FOX SPARROWS, and large flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES were again seen mainly in rural areas.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 14 October 2009

from Chris Lewis

Dynamic weather and bird movement made the past week an exciting one. Geese were the big story, begining with a ROSS'S GOOSE discovered on the 10th at the large quarry pond along Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd., and another on the 11th along Milton Rd. southwest of Navan. On the 12th, 2 ROSS'S GEESE (an adult and a juvenile) were seen on Milton along with an adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and at least 3 CACKLING GEESE. Combined with a SNOW GOOSE on the Moodie Dr. pond, at least 700 BRANT in the vicinity of Andrew Haydon Park, and multitudes of CANADA GEESE, several observers were treated to a remarkable "six goose day"!

Duck highlights included a female CANVASBACK at Shirley's Bay and a male REDHEAD at the Casselman sewage lagoons on the 12th. Increasing numbers of GREATER and LESSER SCAUP and COMMON GOLDENEYE were noted as well as all 3 species of SCOTERS and all 3 species of MERGANSERS. Several RUDDY DUCKS were still on the Moodie Dr. pond as of the 12th. A couple of reports of COMMON LOONS came from the Ottawa River on the weekend, PIED-BILLED GREBES are still very much in evidence, and 4 RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Shirley's Bay on the 12th.

An adult and an immature BALD EAGLES were seen at Shirley's Bay and an adult was also at the Moodie Dr. location on the 12th. The first seasonal sightings of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS came in on the 12th and a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE flew over the Milton Rd. area on the 11th. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON has been regular in the Lincoln Fields area, and an adult was also observed at the Moodie Dr. pond on the 12th.

As of the 12th, 20 SANDHILL CRANES have been seen in the fields along Milton Rd. Four cranes were also spotted near Lanark on the 11th. An increase in the water levels on the Ottawa River has cleared out many shorebirds. On the 10th 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and a small number of GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were at Shirley's Bay along with the MARBLED GODWIT; by the 12th all but a few Yellowlegs seemed to have left and there have been no reports of the Godwit since the 10th. On the 12th, a few KILLDEER, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER and 1 WILSON'S SNIPE were still hanging in at Andrew Haydon Park, a late SOLITARY SANDPIPER was last reported here on the 7th, and 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS flew over the Moodie Dr. pond on the 10th. A nice find at the Alfred lagoons was a RED PHALAROPE on the 7th. Single adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were noted at Andrew Haydon and near Manotick. Rounding out the non-passerine highlights was a male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER along the Rideau trail off Richmond Rd. on the 13th.

Passerine activity continued to be quite lively as well. Good numbers of BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were again reported, a rather late RED-EYED VIREO was also at Brtannia on the 10th, BROWN CREEPERS, WINTER WRENS and both species of KINGLETS were again easy to find, a GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSH were among numerous HERMIT THURSHES at Deschenes, Quebec on the 11th and HERMIT THRUSHES and AMERICAN PIPITS were also common all week on the Ontario side. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have thinned out, single ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE and PALM WARBLERS were found at Britannnia and Shirley's Bay, 4 CHIPPING SPARROWS were late visitors a feeder near Andrew Haydon Park on the 13th, the first seasonal reports of FOX SPARROWS came in last week, WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS continued to be abundant migrants, approx. 40 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen near Winchester on the 12th, and several hundred SNOW BUNTINGS were spotted near Carp on the 11th. Large flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES were seen in widespread locations on the weekend, and a movement of PURPLE FINCHES was noted as well.

Ottawa and area bird sightings to 7 October 2009

from Chris Lewis

Observations for the end of September and the beginning of October included a nice mix of both water and land birds, some on the late side and some even a bit early.

Apart from the lone BRANT that has spent nearly 3 months at Andrew Haydon Park, a flock of approx. 55 Brant flew in to the east end of the park on Oct. 6th, and 2 CACKLING GEESE were seen here on the 3rd. Ducks remain few on the Ottawa River and elsewhere, but an increasing variety has begun to show up - small numbers of GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, SURF SCOTER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS were noted from the 30th to the 6th. A tour of several sewage lagoons east of Ottawa on the 5th revealed high water levels and very little bird activity, but the Alfred lagoons were productive for several waterbirds including 7 REDHEAD, over 100 RUDDY DUCKS, a couple of late AMERICAN BITTERNS, and numerous COMMON MOORHENS and AMERICAN COOTS.

On the 6th 3 RED-NECKED GREBES and at least 1 GREAT EGRET were present at Shirley's Bay, and an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was still at Mud Lake in Britannia on the 3rd. The local MERLIN show continues with individuals seen in a variety of locations chasing everything from BELTED KINGFISHERS to COMMON RAVENS. Sightings of PEREGRINE FALCONS came from the Billings Bridge and Carlingwood areas on the 5th and 6th.

Shorebird numbers and species change from day to day. From the 28th to the 6th, reports from the Ottawa River from Andrew Haydon Park to Shirley's Bay included 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, a few KILLDEER, small numbers of GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and 2 STILT SANDPIPERS. Our local autumn star, the MARBLED GODWIT, was still present at Shirley's Bay on the 6th (its 19th day at this location) and 1 DUNLIN and 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS have also been lingering here for approx. two weeks. Two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were also noted at Parc Brebeuf on the Quebec side on the 1st.

Although many songbirds have begun to thin out, a nice selection was reported from the 30th to the 6th. A rather late flight of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES occurred on the night of the 6th and a few were also noted the previous week. Not surprising were lots of HERMIT THRUSHES over the weekend as well as both species of KINGLETS. Warbler species from the 1st through the 6th included ORANGE-CROWNED, NORTHERN PARULA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, YELLOW-RUMPED and BLACK-THROATED GREEN, as well as a few late-ish fellows such as PALM, BLACK-AND-WHITE, AMERICAN REDSTART, OVENBIRD and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. In addition to the continuing movement of WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, early harbingers of the coming season were 3 LAPLAND LONGSPURS flying over the St. Isidore lagoons on the 5th and a SNOW BUNTING at Shirley's Bay on the 6th.