Ottawa and area bird sightings to 28 December 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Cooper’s Hawk, Bel Air, Gillian Wright. Even from this angle you can separate this juvenile from the similar Sharp-shinned Hawk: the thick(ish) band of white at the end of the tail, the orange-buff head instead of Sharpie brown.
Cooper’s Hawk, Bel Air, Gillian Wright. The bird shifts the tiniest bit, and the tail now assumes the classic rounded Cooper’s look. Never trust a single id marker. Always try for multiple identification points.
Male Mallard, Mud Lake, Alan Short. The brown, black and yellow beak and feathers are colored by pigment, but the blue and green are cast by special reflective structures on the feathers.
Eastern Towhee (female-type), Sarsaparilla Trail, Janet McCullough. Towhees are tough, short-distance migrants, so one sticking around for mild weather with ready access to food isn’t surprising.
Common Mergansers, Mud lake, Alan Short. These are the largest ducks to nest in tree cavities in North America.
Male Hairy Woodpecker, Hilda Feeders, Alan Short. Looking svelte.
Herring Gulls, Alan Short. Flying West up the Ottawa River. Notice how every bill is slightly different.
Northern Shrike, Upper Dwyer Hill, Janet McCullough. This classic exposed pose from the top of a tree or big shrub is classic Shrike, and makes them easy to spot and id from a moving vehicle.
Male Common Goldeneye, Mud lake, Alan Short.
Mourning Doves, Sarsaparilla Trail, Janet McCullough. Another species that commonly puffs themselves up to fight the cold.
Snow Goose – Dec 27, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
Common Loon – Dec 23, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Green-winged Teal – Dec 23, Halmont Drive, Ottawa.
Ring-necked Duck – Dec 24, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Harlequin Duck – Intermittent reports from Bate Island to the Deschenes rapids.
Red-breasted Merganser – Dec 26, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (up to 4) at all the regular spots: Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Trail Road, Ottawa.
Northern Harrier – Dec 24, Terry Fox Dr, Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Dec 22, Robinson Avenue, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Shirley’s Bay (Hilda Road feeders), Ottawa. Dec 23, Parc de la Gatineau–Relais Shilly-Shallly, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Gray Catbird – Dec 27, Stittsville – Poole Creek, Ottawa. Dec 25, McCarthy Woods, Ottawa.
Brown Thrasher – Continuing intermittently, Hilson Ave, Ottawa.
Winter Wren – Dec 26, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Wood Thrush – Continuing, Champlain Park Woods-Remic Rapids Loop, Ottawa
Chipping Sparrow – Continuing Connaught, Gatineau.
Swamp Sparrow – Dec 26, Mer Bleue Bog Trail, Ottawa.
Eastern Towhee – Continuing, Stony Swamp (Sarsaparilla Trail), Ottawa.
Brown-headed Cowbird (6) Dec 25, Trail Road, Ottawa.
Western Tanager – Continuing, McCarthy Woods, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 21 December 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
The first confirmed Western Tanager in Ottawa (and only the second in the OFNC circle) is alternately tormenting or delighting ardent birders.
Western Tanager, McCarthy Woods, Gillian Wright. Male from the strongly contrasting black wings and back, but with almost no red on the head, this appears to be a young male. Rarely seen in the eastern 2/3 of North America, what is it doing here in Ottawa? One possibility is 90 degree migration, where a bird that should have been born with a compulsion to migrate south has a mutation and migrates east or west instead. 90-degree migrants are usually first year birds as such birds are often not equipped to survive where they end up. But Western Tanagers are tough birds, and this one has great access to food, so his fate isn’t sealed.
Scaup, Dick Bell Park, Alan Short.
Western Tanager, McCarthy Woods, John King. Note the faintest hint of red on the head. The tanagers we encounter in Ontario – Scarlet and Summer, get their red pigments from carotenoids in plants they eat. The Western Tanager gets the red from a rare pigment called rhodoxanthin, which probably comes from insects they eat. So different birds in the same family evolved different paths to produce red feathers vital to their sexual selection and reproduction. (Info from Birds of the World, Derek’s favourite website)
Adult Merlin, Hilda Road, Alan Short. The Hilda feeders supplement the diet of many song birds throughout the winter. And those songbirds supplement the diet of raptors.
Common Mergansers, Dick Bell Park, Alan Short.
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine grove, Gillian Wright.
American Tree Sparrow, Hilda Road, Alan Short.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, Rideau Canal locks near Fletcher, Gillian Wright. Note the barred tail so unlike the smooth red of an adult bird. The primary flight feathers are so frayed one wonders how well this bird can fly.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, Rideau Canal locks near Fletcher, Gillian Wright. These two photos are really interesting examples of feather wear. The tail and primaries are extremely frayed on this first year bird. The unusual shapes of the feathers covering the wings are created by the complete wearing away of the white tips of these feathers. Note too how distended the crop is on this bird. It is eating as much as it can of the duck. Life is tough for immature birds learning to live on their own.
Cackling Goose – Dec 17, Piste cyc. Sentier des Voyageurs-Pont Champlain-Parc des Rapides-Deschênes, Gatineau.
Ring-necked Duck – Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Dec 17, Rideau River Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Common Loon – Dec 20, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Red-necked Grebe – Dec 16, Ottawa–Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa,
Harlequin Duck – Dec 15, 2023 Stanley Park, Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Dec 21, Dick Bell Park, Ottawa. Dec 19, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Dec 21, Kizell Pond, Ottawa.
Gray Catbird – Dec 19, McCarthy Woods, Ottawa. Dec 18, Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau. Dec 17, ch. Vincent, Chelseal, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais, Quebec. Dec 16, Bell Arena Woods at Bell High School, Ottawa.
Brown Thrasher – Continuing, Hilson Ave, Ottawa.
Winter Wren – Dec 16, Old Quarry Trail, Ottawa. Dec 16, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Dec 17, Tennis Cres, Ottawa. Dec 16, Greenbelt off Conroy Road, Ottawa. Dec 15, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa.
Wood Thrush – Continuing, Champlain Park Woods-Remic Rapids Loop, Ottawa.
Chipping Sparrow – Continuing Connaught, Gatineau.
White-crowned Sparrow – Dec 19, Crystal Beach, Ottawa. (2) Dec 16, Dealership Dr, Ottawa.
Red-winged Blackbird (2) Dec 20, McCarthy Woods, Ottawa.
Rusty Blackbird – Dec 16, Parc de la Gatineau–Lac-des-Fées, Gatineau.
Western Tanager – Continuing (apparently since November, under the radar). McCarthy Woods, Ottawa. Check for the eBird hotspot.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 14 December 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Expect overwhelming eBird reports this weekend with so many late birds around and 2 Christmas Bird Counts in the OFNC circle.
Female plumage Indigo Bunting, Hilda Rd., Shirley’s Bay, Tony Beck. Tony Says: Ottawa’s first December record for this species.
Wood Thrush, Tunney’s Pasture, Keith Wickens. This thrush should be in Central America by now for the non-breeding season. Wood Thrushes have a beautiful haunting song, enhanced by their ability to sing 2 different notes at the same time.
Northern Flicker, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Gillian Wright. Looking at a range map, it appears all our eastern Flickers should be south of the border by now, but a few seem to overwinter here every year. While a few Flickers will go as far as Central America, most migrate shorter distances.
Female Mallard, Mud Lake, Alan Short. Unlike Thrushes, many dabbling ducks don’t so much have an established non-breeding territory, as they go just far enough to winter in open water with enough food. If that happens to be a sewer lagoon or nuclear power plant outlet, what more could a duck want?
White-throated Sparrow, Hilda Rd., Shirley’s Bay, Tony Beck. Tony Says: A fairly hardy species, a few White-throated Sparrows can be expected to linger in our area through the winter.
Herring Gull, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Male Common Goldeneye, Mud Lake, Alan Short. Unlike the species above that leave Ottawa for the winter, Goldeneye actually come south to the balmy Ottawa river to last out the winter.
Canada Geese, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short.
Northern Flicker, European Starling, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Gillian Wright. Starlings are disliked by some birders because they displace native cavity nesters (and eat all Derek’s suet). But Gillian watched as the Flicker successfully defended the suet from the Starling. Flickers will in fact create many of the tree cavities that are used by Starlings in subsequent years.
Snow Goose – Dec 12, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa,
Northern Pintail – Dec 01, Stittsville–Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Redhead – Dec 11-12, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Ring-necked Duck – Dec 14, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa
White-winged Scoter – Dec 09, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa,
Horned Grebe (3) Dec 10, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa,
Red-necked Grebe (4) Dec 10, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa,
Harlequin Duck (2-3) Continuing, between the Deschênes rapids and Champlain Bridge.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (2) Adàwe Crossing to the Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa.
Black-crowned Night Heron – Dec 10, Britannia, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dec 14, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Dec 13, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa.
Winter Wren (2) Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Dec 12, NCC Trail 24, Ottawa.
Brown Thrasher – Dec 10 & 14, Hampton Park, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Dec 12, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Wood Thrush – Dec 07-14, Champlain Park Woods-Remic Rapids Loop, Ottawa.
Chipping Sparrow – continuing Connaught, Gatineau. Dec 11, Crystal beach, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Dec 09, Lockhead road and sideroads, Ottawa.
Red-winged Blackbird (2) Dec 09, Akins Rd, Ottawa.
Brown-headed Cowbird (1) Dec 10, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa,
Indigo Bunting – Dec 08, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Female.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 7 December 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
The Christmas Bird Count season starts next week, and lots of late birds linger tantalizingly. An exciting Black-legged Kittiwake seen a couple of times on Dec 05 in Gatineau. Is it still around?
White-winged Scoter, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. This species breeds inland in the northwest, but winters mostly on both coasts, so we see it here only on migration to and from the Atlantic.
Lapland Longspur, Experimental Farm, Clifford Rostek. “Longspur” refers to the extra long toe and talon on the toe pointed backwards of each foot. This feature is shared by many grassland species, and is believed to help them walk on uneven ground and vegetation.
Golden-crowned Kinglet, P19, Gillian Wright. Why does a bird that mostly eats arthropods still hang around here after the snow falls? They glean conifers for over-wintering micro moths. If you are small enough, your niche can be tiny too.
Herring Gull, Billings Bridge, Alan Short. As noted on this week’s eBird tip, by the middle of the month, this is the default gull in the region. Anything else merits a second look.
Common Merganser, Dow’s Lake, Gillian Wright. Imagine the number of small fish it takes to support over 100 mergs from the water draw-down until ice-up each fall at Dow’s Lake.
Great Black-back Gulls, Billings Bridge, Alan Short.
House Sparrow, Billings Bridge, Alan Short. Does it seem like some years there is a never-ending stream of juveniles at your feeders? Successful pairs may have 4 clutches a year. Despite that, this species is in world-wide decline.
Ross’s Goose (3) Dec 01, Embrun Lagoons, Prescott and Russell.
Snow x Ross’s Goose (hybrid) (1) Dec 02, Embrun Sewage Lagoons, Prescott and Russell.
Northern Pintail – Dec 01, Fox Run storm water ponds, Ottawa.
Green-winged Teal – Dec 04, Etang Grimes, Gatineau.
Harlequin Duck (2-3) Continuing, between the Deschênes rapids and Champlain Bridge.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (2) Adàwe Crossing to the Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa. Dec 06, Dick Bell Park, Ottawa.
Black Scoter – Dec 05, Grandview Road at Ottawa R (Crystal Beach boat ramp), Ottawa. Dec 05, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Dec 02, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Pied-billed Grebe – Dec 04, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Wilson’s Snipe – Dec 02, Etang Grimes, Gatineau.
Black-legged Kittiwake – Dec 05, Marais nord, Lac Leamy, Gatineau.
Red-throated Loon – Dec 05, Dick Bell Park, Ottawa. Dec. 05, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Dec 03, 2023 Central Experimental Farm Arboretum, Ottawa.
Winter Wren – Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Dec 03, Old Riverside Drive, Ottawa. Dec 03, Jock River Landing, Ottawa. Dec 01, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Reported Dec 04: Chemin du Sumac, Luskville, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Dec 01 Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau.
Hermit Thrush – Dec 04, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa.
Wood Thrush – Dec 07, Champlain Park Woods-Remic Rapids Loop, Ottawa.
Chipping Sparrow – late birds continuing at: Crystal Beach, Ottawa. Connaught, Gatineau. Bd Lionel-Émond, Gatineau.
Savannah Sparrow – Dec 03, Cedar Crest Dr, Lanark.
Rusty Blackbird – Dec 04, Etang Grimes, Gatineau.
Common Grackle – Dec 01, Whitney Road, Kemptville, Ontario, CA, Leeds and Grenville.
Common Grackle – Dec 02, Water St, Almonte, Lanark.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Dec 07, Elmvale, Ottawa.
eBird tip: By mid December most if not all Ring-billed Gulls have left the region, with Herring Gull becoming the “default” species, particularly at the dumps. Any smaller gull should be carefully scrutinized.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 30 November 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A few late birds. Some excitement on the river with lots of cool ducks, including several harlequin and a Canvasback this week. Keep an eye off Shirley’s Bay and Dick Bell Park for Black Scoter and Red-throated Loon.
Male Hooded Merganser, Dow’s lake, Alan Short. In stealth mode, with hood retracted for flight.
Female Hooded Merganser, Billing’s Bridge, Christopher Clunas. This bridge can be a good observation spot in winter, with occasional rare ducks or interesting plumages among the many ducks that congregate there once the ice starts forming, and the odd raptor showing up to hunt.
Male Hairy Woodpecker, Pine Grove, Janet McCullough. Note the 2 forward, 2 backward, toe position typical of most woodpeckers.
Female Common Mergansers, Dows Lake, Alan Short.
Canada Geese, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short.
White-breasted Nuthatch, Mud Lake Ridge, Alan Short.
Bonus pic – The Ingleside Purple Gallinule, Gillian Wright. Definately outside the OFNC circle, but a fascinating bird. Eastern Ontario had several marshland mega rarities in 2023 – this Gallinule, a King Rail, and a couple of Limpkins. This bird is surviving the cold (so far) on a diet of wild grapes.
Ross’s Goose (2) Nov 29, Embrun Lagoons, Prescott and Russell.
Snow x Ross’s Goose (hybrid) (2) Nov 29, Embrun Sewage Lagoons, Prescott and Russell.
Harlequin Duck – Continuing, Pont Champlain, Gatineau. (2) Nov 25-26, Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau. 3 total in the stretch from the head of the Deschênes Rapids to Remic Rapids?
Green-winged Teal (2) Nov 30, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Nov 30, Halmont Drive, Ottawa.
Canvasback – Nov 25, 27, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (2) Adàwe Crossing to the Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa. (2) Nov 27, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Nov 30, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. (2) Nov 25, 2023 Central Experimental Farm Arboretum, Ottawa.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Nov 25, Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau.
Winter Wren – Nov 25, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Reported Nov 27, 30, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. Nov 24, Windcrest court, Ottawa.
American Pipit – Nov 29, Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa.
Fox Sparrow – Nov 26, Stony Swamp (Sarsaparilla Trail), Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 23 November 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
What is it about large white birds that invites trespass? A reminder that we are all representatives of birding. Trespassing to photograph Snow Geese or any other bird is against the Ontario Field Ornithologists’ code of ethics. This creates conflict with landowners and utilities such as sewage lagoons. Birds (and birders) need landowners on their side.
Dunlin, Shirley’s Bay, Tony Beck. Tony says: Although late in the season for shorebird migration, Dunlin are among the last ones to regularly pass through our region in fall. At this time of year, they’re in their drab gray winter plumage.
Adult Glaucous Gull, Andrew Haydon Park, Aaron Hywarren. Our other white-winged gull, Glaucous is bigger than Iceland gulls. The primaries don’t extend as far past the tail as the long wings of the Iceland Gull.
Pine Siskin, Gatineau Park, Tony Beck. Tony says: We’ve recently encountered a few large flocks of Pine Siskins in local Canadian Shield habitats. When we find them, they’re usually feeding on spruce or alder cones.
Snow Geese, Embrum, Gillian Wright. A nice mix of plummages. The dingy gray birds are white morph juveniles. The very dark bird is a dark morph adult.
Winter Wren, Mud Lake, Sanam Goudarzi. In a mild winter the outflow from the lake will not freeze, helping birds like the wren to overwinter.
Male Green-winged Teal, Diamond Jubilee Pond in Findlay Creek, Ielca Torok. Green-winged Teal are our smallest duck, and as dablers they normally use shallow water. Stormwater Ponds like this can attract big flocks of mixed ducks and geese in winter as natural ponds and lakes freeze up.
Male Purple Finch, Ottawa, Janet McCullough. How to tell our resident red finches apart? Both species have red heads, breasts, and rumps. Helpfully, the red is localized in the House Finch, creating high contrast with the gray and white. The Purple Finch looks like almost the whole bird was dipped in raspberry juice, creating a low-contrast bird with red fringes on the back feathers and red wingbars.
Ross’s Goose (2) Nov 21, Embrun, Prescott and Russell (2), Nov 19, Winchester, Liscumb Rd, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Northern Shoveler (3) Nov 22, Constance Lake Lodge, Ottawa. Nov 21, Deschenes Rapids Lookout, Ottawa.
Harlequin Duck – Continuing, Pont Champlain, Gatineau. Female type, mostly reported from the Quebec side.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (2) Adàwe Crossing to the Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa. (2) Dow’s lake, Ottawa.
Black-bellied Plover (2), Nov 17, Dow’s Lake, Ottawa.
Spotted Sandpiper – Nov 23, Grandview Road at Ottawa R (Crystal Beach boat ramp), Ottawa.
Greater Yellowlegs (4) Nov 19, Carleton Place-Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Dunlin – Nov 20-21, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Nov 19, Carleton Place-Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Bonaparte’s Gull – Reported Nov 23, Beechcliffe Park, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Reported Nov 23, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Nov 21, Britannia Park (pier), Ottawa.
Winter Wren – Nov 22, Rue de Courchevel, Cantley, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Nov 20, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa. Nov 20, Beaver Pond Trail, Ottawa. Nov 17-18, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Common Grackle – Nov 18, Shirley’s Bay (Hilda Road feeders), Ottawa.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Nov 17, Rideau Tennis Club, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 16 November 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A brief Townsend Solitaire observation in Pine Grove; lots of searchers could not turn up the bird again. Shorebird season draws to a close with the usual suspects finalizing migration. And of course, geese everywhere to sift through for rarities.
White-rumped Sandpiper, Lake Avalon, Gillian Wright. White-rumped are rarely seen in the region in spring as they sprint north for breeding. In contrast, they have a very spread-out fall migration, with the first birds passing back through in late July, with a peak in October, and stragglers into late November.
Breeding plumage adult male Barrow’s Goldeneye, Rideau River north of Highway 417, Erik Pohanka. The cheek crescent makes it very easy to tell an adult male Barrow’s from Common Goldeneye and their rounder cheek patches.
Adult female Barrow’s Goldeneye, Dow’s Lake, Erik Pohanka. Like the male, she has the Barrow’s head shape, but the all yellow bill is easier to see.
Orange-crowned warbler, Dow’s Lake, Erik Pohanka.
Cape May Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright.
Great Black-backed Gull, Cobden, Gillian Wright. The largest gull in the world takes 4 years to reach adult plumage. We know this one fledged this year from the all black bill and the juvenile feathers on the back.
Female Hooded Merganser, Dow’s Lake, Alan Short. Mergansers, like Goldeneyes, have strong sexual dimorphism in plumage during breeding season.
Male Hooded merganser, Dow’s Lake, Alan Short.
Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Fletcher’s Wildlife Garden, Alan Short. Those short wings and long tail are perfect for pursuing birds through trees and branches.
Male Common Mergansers, Dow’s Lake, ALan Short. All these recent photos from Dow’s Lake demonstrate how great a spot for waterfowl watching this area becomes once the boats come out and the water level is lowered each fall.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Lake Avalon, Gillian Wright. Another location that has proven surprisingly good for shorebirds this november.
Ross’s Goose – Nov 13, Ch St-Guillaume, Embrun, Prescott and Russell.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2) Nov 11-13 Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark. (4) Nov 11 Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
Harlequin Duck – Oct 26-Nov 16, Pont Champlain, Gatineau. Female-type. Lots of reports close to the Quebec side, often resting on rocks.
Pied-billed Grebe – Nov 10, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Adàwe Crossing to the Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa. (2) Dow’s lake, Ottawa.
Dunlin – Nov 10-12, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, , Lanark. Nov 11, Parc de la Gatineau–Lac Philippe, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Pectoral Sandpiper – Nov 11-16, Lake Avalon, Ottawa.
White-rumped Sandpiper – Nov 16, Avalon (stormwater pond), Ottawa. Nov 14, Russell Lagoons, Prescott and Russell. Nov 12, Embrun Sewage Lagoons, Prescott and Russell. (4) Nov 11, High Falls CA, Prescott and Russell. Nov 10-11, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Black-crowned Night Heron – Nov 11, Halmont Drive, Ottawa.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Nov 11, Dow’s Lake, Ottawa.
Winter Wren – Nov 13-14, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Nov 12, Ottawa–Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa. Nov 12 Ottawa–Stony Swamp (Chipmunk Trail), Ottawa. Nov 11, Nepean Tent and Trailer Campgrounds, Ottawa.
Gray Catbird – Nov 14, Clydesdale Ave, Ottawa. Nov 13, Trails South of Bell High, Hydro cut, Ottawa.
Townsend’s Solitaire – Nov 12, Greenbelt Pathway off Conroy, Ottawa. Many birders tried but failed to turn up this bird again.
White-crowned Sparrow – Nov 14, Richmond, Ottawa.
Swamp Sparrow – Nov 12, Britannia Park (pier), Ottawa. Nov 12, Stony Swamp (Chipmunk Trail), Ottawa.
Common Grackle – Nov 13, Monty Drive, Ottawa. Nov 12, Shirley’s Bay (Hilda Road feeders), Ottawa.
Orange-crowned Warbler – Nov 12, Dow’s Lake, Ottawa.
Black-throated Blue Warbler – Nov 12, Sandy Hill-Cote de Sable Ottawa, Ottawa
Cape May Warbler– Nov 13, Pine grove trail, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 9 November 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Immature Iceland Gull, Cobden, Janet McCullough. Big dark bill, just starting to show color at the base, and note the mostly white primaries meeting above the tail. Despite the name, they breed in Greenland and Northern Canada.
Swainson’s Thrush, Ottawa, Sai Wai Ip. Note the buffy eye-ring and lores (the area between the bill and the eyes. Sai photographed this subtle beauty of the deep forest in the front yard, an excellent reminder that birds show up almost anywhere on migration.
Merlin, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Spend much time at Andrew Haydon in the spring or fall, and watching the Merlin’s hunt shorebirds is a frequent sight.
Dunlin, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. One of five Dunlin that circled several times before leaving. Dunlin have a long fall migration period, and are typically still passing through the region in November, especially the first half.
Scaup, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Look closely at the bill of the male on the left, and you see where they get their nickname among hunters: bluebill.
Common Loon, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Loons are black and white, not brightly colored, but like many other birds, their non-breeding plumage is still low contrast.
Great Blue Heron, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short.
Male House Finch, Mud Lake Alan Short. House Finches were a strictly western species until a few were released in New York in 1939, and now they have one of the largest ranges of any North American bird, but with a weird gap between their western and eastern populations.
Ross’s Goose – Nov 04, Avalon (stormwater pond), Ottawa.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2) Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Harlequin Duck – Oct 26-Nov 09, Pont Champlain, Gatineau. Female-type.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Adàwe Crossing to the Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa. (2) Dow’s lake, Ottawa.
Pied-billed Grebe – Nov 08, Greenbank Pond, Ottawa. Nov 05, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Nov 05, Moodie Road Pond, Ottawa. Nov 05, Avalon (stormwater pond), Ottawa
Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) – Continuing Pont Champlain, Gatineau.
Hudsonian Godwit – Nov 01-05, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark. Nov 01-03, Dow’s Lake, Ottawa.
White-rumped Sandpiper – Nov 05, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Glaucous Gull – Nov 07, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Nov 05, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Nov 05, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Barn Swallow – Nov 03, -Green’s Creek Sewage Treatment Facility, Ottawa. No public access.
Winter Wren – Nov 06, Old Quarry Trail, Ottawa. Nov 06, Rideau River Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Swainson’s Thrush – Nov 09, Wellsmere Ct, Ottawa.
Eastern Meadowlark – Nov 06, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa.
Black-throated Blue Warbler – Nov 08, Greenbelt Trail West, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 2 November 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Godwits for everyone!
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker, Shirley’s Bay, Tony Beck. Tony says: “Red-bellied Woodpecker is a rare nester here in the Ottawa District. However, these colourful and boldly marked birds become more visible in winter, especially when they frequent local bird-feeding stations.”
Greater Snow Geese, Hallville, ON, Tony Beck. Tony says: “Snow Goose flocks have arrived in Eastern Ontario. This image includes 2 blue morph Snow Geese (Blue Goose). The flocks I photographed recently had a very low percentage of blue morphs. This suggests they are from the Eastern Canadian Arctic where blue morphs make up less than 5% of the population.”
Hudsonian Godwit, Dow’s Lake, Gillian Wright. Breeding in Hudson Bay and much farther North, and wintering in South America, a few of these must migrate over the OFNC circle every year, but we don’t always see them. Hudsonian Godwits feed primarily in the water and especially in mud under the water.
Black-bellied Plover, Dow’s Lake, Gillian Wright. Unlike the godwits, Black-bellied Plovers are common on migration in the region, along shorelines and especially in agricultural fields.
Dunlin, Dow’s Lake, Gillian Wright. The water level in Dow’s Lake has been lowered for winter, creating lots of shorebird habitat for the few still migrating through.
Black-bellied Plover and Dunlin, Dow’s Lake, Arlene Harrold. Unlike the Godwit, the Plover and the Dunlin are more likely to be seen feeding on land. Despite the Plover’s larger size, the Dunlin can feed deeper in the mud.
Male Purple Finch, Trail 10, Scott Haldane. Scott found flocks of Robins, House and Purple Finches feeding on these crabapple trees.
American Robin, Trail 10, Scott Haldane. A big fruit crop this fall may encourage many of the tougher species like robins to stick around all winter.
Male Hooded Mergansers, Mud Lake, Alan Short. nicely showing off the possible range of postures for their crests.
Male House Finch, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Young Cooper’s Hawk, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Quiz Photo, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Janet McCullough. Can you identify this bird? We will post the answer in the Facebook comments on the weekend.
Ross’s Goose – Reported Oct 28, Winchester sewage lagoons, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Snow x Ross’s Goose (hybrid) – Oct 28, Winchester sewage lagoons, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Greater White-fronted Goose – Oct 27, Ch Kennedy, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Trumpeter Swan – Oct 27, Fine Estate, Ottawa.
Blue-winged Teal (2) Oct 29 – Nov 01, Britannia CA–Mud Lake, Ottawa
Harlequin Duck – Oct 26-Nov 02, Pont Champlain, Gatineau. Female-type.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – anywhere from Adàwe Crossing to the Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa. Oct 31, Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa
Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) – Oct 31, Pont Champlain, Gatineau. Possibly a returning bird from 2020?
Hudsonian Godwit – Nov 01-02, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark. Nov 01-02, Dow’s Lake, Ottawa. The Dow’s Lake bird offers fantastic views, often feeding very close to the path.
White-rumped Sandpiper (2) Oct 31 – Nov 01, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Glaucous Gull – Oct 31, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
American Bittern – Nov 01, Halte routière, Lochaber, Papineau.
Osprey – Oct 31, Rideau River Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Oct 31, Ottawa River Pathway (view of Britannia Bay), Ottawa. Possibly a movement on Oct 28 with 4 individuals spotted at: (1) Britannia CA (general location), (2) Constance Bay, and (1) Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Oct 31, Shirley’s Bay (Hilda Road feeders), Ottawa,
Savannah Sparrow – Oct 30, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark
Magnolia Warbler – Oct 29, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Yellow Warbler – Continuing Oct 29, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 26 October 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Scaup, Shirley’s Bay, Alan Short. Apparently the best way to avoid the whole head shape frustration around separating Lesser and Greater Scaup is to catch them in flight, where the amount of white in the primaries make it obvious that these are indeed … Scaup.
Pileated Woodpecker, Sarsaparilla Trail, Arlene Harrold. The long tongue, seen at work here, allows the bird to probe deep into the hidden galleries created by carpenter ants.
Eastern Bluebird, Lime Kiln Loop, Stoney Swamp, Kanata, Scott Haldane. Bluebirds breed on both sides of the river in agricultural areas, but can be seen more widely on migration.
Snow Bunting, Shirley’s Bay, Alan Short. Buntings often land along the shore here after crossing the river on migration.
Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, White-throated Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow, Sarsaparilla Trail, Arlene Harrold. A perfect encapsulation of this week in migration. The resident Northern Cardinal briefly faces competition in the leaf litter from these migrants.
Redhead, Shirley’s Bay, Alan Short.
Northern Shrike, Perrault Rd near Milton, Arlene Harrold.
Great Blue Heron, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short.
Fox Sparrow, Sarsaparilla Trail, Arlene Harrold. Large size and sneaky forest habits lead to this sparrow being confused with thrushes, but a good look at the chevron breast markings cures any uncertainty.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 19 October 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Goose season! Watch for messy Brant flocks flying along the river, and all the other species mixed in Canada Goose flocks. Flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos and Snow Buntings announce the change of season.
Canada Geese, Andrew Haydon park, Alan Short. Canada Geese make fascinating adjustments as they come in for landings in groups. Hundreds or even thousands of Geese will often fly in at dusk to spend the night on the safety of the water between AHP and Britannia Pier.
Ring-billed Gulls, Shirley’s Bay, Alan Short. The first year gull in the foreground could almost be different species from the clean plumaged adult in the background. Those brown juvenile feathers are much weaker than the adult feathers replacing them, starting with the gray mantle that is growing in. Young birds have dark eyes, pink bills with just the tip dipped in ink.
White-throated Sparrow, Mud lake, Alan Short. Learn to id the distinctive high-pitched ‘tsip’ and you soon realize that you are often surrounded by several or even dozens of invisible sparrows in the forests of October.
Greater White-fronted Goose, Andrew Haydon Park, Gillian Wright. Arctic tundra breeders, every year a handful pass through Ottawa on their way south, and can often be found hanging with Canada Geese, like this individual flying back and forth with the Canada flocks.
Red-breasted Merganser, Andrew Haydon Park, Gillian Wright. Birds with long thin bills such as mergers and some shorebirds that feed in the water can open their bills and the water will pull small prey along the bill and into their throats.
Red-breasted Merganser, Andrew Haydon Park, Gillian Wright. Gillian caught this bird as she rose out of the water to stretch and shake her wings.
Greater Yellowlegs, Andrew Haydon Park, Scott Haldane. There was a shortage of shorebird habitat for migrants this week, but this bird found a source of easy fish in the little stream flowing into the ponds at the park.
Greater Yellowlegs, Andrew Haydon Park, Sanam Goudarzi. Same bird, different fish.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Britannia Conservation Area, Scott Haldane.
Ring-billed Gull, Britannia Conservation Area, Scott Haldane. Proving just how versatile these birds are, Scott observed this bird hovering to glean berries from trees.
Sandhill Cranes, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Arlene Harrold. 48 Sandhills passing overhead is an inspiring sight, but we heard them long before we saw them.
Ross’s Goose – Oct 17, Ottawa 33, Ottawa.
Greater White-fronted Goose – Oct 14-16, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. (4) Oct 13, (west of the Embrun lagoons ( west of St. Thomas Road )), Prescott Russell.
Trumpeter Swan (4) Oct 14, Stonecrest, Ottawa. (2) Oct 14, Dunrobin (Constance Creek), Ottawa.
Eared Grebe – Oct 8-14, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark.
Virginia Rail (2) Oct 14, Stonecrest, Ottawa.
Common Gallinule – Oct 14, Stonecrest, Ottawa.
Semipalmated Sandpiper – Oct 19, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – Oct 17, Du Bois Ave, Ottawa.
Common Tern (3) Oct 14, Piste cyc. Sentier des Voyageurs–Pont Champlain<->Parc des Rapides-Deschênes, Gatineau.
Osprey – Oct 18, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Oct 17, Rideau River Provincial Park, Ottawa. Oct 17, Andrew Haydon park, Ottawa.
Winter Wren – Oct 17, Sentier des chutes Luskville, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Swainson’s Thrush – Oct 14, 18,Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Snow Bunting (18) Oct 19, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. (10) Oct 18, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (2) Oct 17, Britannia Beach, Ottawa.
Eastern Towhee – Oct 12, Rue Goulet x Chem. Eardleyr, Gatineau.
Orange-crowned Warbler – Oct 18, Farmer’s Way, Ottawa. Oct 16-18, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. Oct 16, CISCO campus, Innovation Dr., Ottawa.
Common Yellowthroat – Oct 14, Chapman Mills CA, Ottawa. Oct 14, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa.
American Redstart (2) Oct 14, Domaine de la ferme Moore, Gatineau. Oct 13, Stittsville Main St, Ottawa.
Yellow Warbler – Oct 12,Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 12 October 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Lots of late migrants, and some rarer vagrants such as White-Eyed Vireo and Eared Grebe. Cold weather and North West winds on Thursday and Friday should move migrants.
Hermit Thrush, Frank Ryan Park, Sanam Goudarzi.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Janet McCullough. Note the yellow bill and rufus primaries. The rufus is striking in flight.
Great Blue Heron, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Great Blues can be a menace when they come in for a landing, sometimes accidentally, and often on purpose to drive off Great Egrets or other herons.
Greater Yellowlegs, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Gleaning tiny insects from the pine needles.
Golden Crowned Kinglet, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Possibly hunting the same small insects as the Yellow-rumps.
Dunlin, Carleton Place Highway 7 pond, Arlene Harrold.
Ducks, Carleton Place Highway 7 pond, Arlene Harrold. Can you id the rightmost duck from this angle?
Eared Grebe, Almonte lagoons, Arlene Harrold. Our regular migrant is the Horned Grebe, so many birders trekked to Almonte for this lovely bird.
Winter Wren Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. First to arrive, last to leave, of our migrant wrens.
Winter Wren Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Birds evolved bills that can carry out the may tasks mamals need hands or paws for, but they cannot scratch their own heads. It must be tough to be doomed like that, forever unable to scratch an itch on your own head … wait, never mind.
Greater White-fronted Goose (4) Oct 11, Embrun Sewage Lagoons, Prescott and Russel. Presumably the same flock has been in the area at least since Oct 08, seen on Notre-Dame St, Embrun, Prescott and Russell. (1) Oct 08, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa.
Trumpeter Swan (12) Oct 09, carp, Ottawa. (2) Oct 09-10, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Eared Grebe – Oct 8-11, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – Oct 12, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Oct 10-12, Kanata, Ottawa.
Limpkin – Outside the circle, the Lanark Limpkin was photographed again this week.
Long-billed Dowitcher – Oct 10, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. (2) Oct 09, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Solitary Sandpiper – Oct 11, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. Oct 10, Remic Rapids and Champlain Bridge area, Ottawa.
Common Tern (2) Oct 11, Parc Guillot & Marais Lamoureux, Gatineau. (3) Oct 08, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
White-eyed Vireo – Oct 11, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
House Wren – Oct 11, Sentier de la Rivière Blanche, Gatineau. Oct 09, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa.
Gray-cheeked Thrush – Oct 06-09, Parc de la Gatineau–Lac Meech, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Nelson’s Sparrow – Sep 22-Oct 07, Baillie Ave, Ottawa. Oct 10, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Common Yellowthroat – Oct 11, Parc Marlene-Goyet, Gatineau. Oct 11, Rockcliffe Airport, Ottawa. Oct 10, Bassin de rétention du Plateau, Gatineau.
Tennessee Warbler – Oct 11, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. Oct 11, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Oct 10, Stittsville Main St, Ottawa.
American Redstart – Oct 10, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Magnolia Warbler – Oct 11, Merivale Gardens, Ottawa.
Bay-breasted Warbler – Oct 06, Rémi, Cantley, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Wilson’s Warbler – Oct 09, Du Bois Ave, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 5 October 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Late warblers and at least one lingering Limpkin. A wave of Blue-headed Vireos and huge flocks of White-throated Sparrows. The approaching week of south winds won’t be helpful, but all the rain may drop some interesting migrants.
Hermit Thrush, Richmond, Tony Beck. Tony says: By October, most of the Catharus thrushes will have already migrated through the Ottawa area. However, the Hermit Thrush tends to be the most common of these thrushes while fall colours adorn the countryside.
Male Mallard, Andrew Haydon park, Gillian Wright. Although Mallards in general do most of their feeding on or near the surface, they do occasionally dive for food, rare behaviour that Gillian witnessed.
Solitary Sandpiper, Andrew Haydon Park, Gillian Wright.
Belted Kingfisher, Andrew Haydon Park, Gillian Wright.
Greater Yellowlegs, Andrew Haydon Park, Alan Short.
Common Merganser, Deschene Rapids, Alan Short. Racing through the water creating a wake.
Osprey, Deschene Rapids, Alan Short.
Caspian, Deschene Rapids, Alan Short. Feeding a juvenile. Note the spectacular plumage on the young bird.
Cardinal, Mud Lake Ridge, Alan Short. From a distance, Cardinals are bright and cheerful looking. Up close, they always appear grumpy. Both opinions are anthropomorphizations that speak more to human perception than cardinal mood.
American Robin vs Northern Red-bellied Snake, Dolman Ridge Road, Janet McCullough. This epic battle of miniature dinosaur vs tiny snake played out over a couple of minutes as the Robin repeatedly struck or picked up the snake, and the snake threatened, bluff struck, played dead upside down, and lunged for freedom. The Snake eventually made it into the brush and the Robin left empty-handed.
Greater White-fronted Goose – Oct 04, Moodie Road Pond, Ottawa.
Snow Goose (2) Oct 1 – Fallowfield and Merivale, Ottawa.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – Oct 03, Andrew Haydon Park east (formerly Ottawa Beach), Ottawa.
Sora – Oct 01, Stony Swamp (Chipmunk Trail), Ottawa.
Limpkin – Mississippi River, Lanark Highlands CA-ON 44.97395, -76.51962, Lanark.
Common Tern (2) Oct 04-05, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. (3) Oct 03, Baie Simard, Gatineau.
Eastern Kingbird – Oct 04, Strathcona Park, Ottawa.
Warbling Vireo – Oct 02, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Cedar Crest Drive, Lanark.
House Wren – Oct 04, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Wood Thrush – Oct 01, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa. Sep 30, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Sep 29, Greenbelt Trail 51, Ottawa.
American Tree Sparrow – Oct 01, Cumberland Village, Ottawa.
Nelson’s Sparrow (2) Sep 22-Oct 03, Baillie Ave, Ottawa.
Eastern Towhee – Oct 02-03, Fine Estate, Ottawa. Oct 01, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Northern Waterthrush (2) Oct 02, Whitney Road, Kemptville, Leeds and Grenville. Oct 02, 146 Monty Drive, Ottawa.
Blackburnian Warbler (2) Oct 04, Strathcona Park, Ottawa. Sep 30, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Sep 30, Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa.
Wilson’s Warbler – Oct 02-03, Du Bois Ave, Ottawa.
Scarlet Tanager – Oct 04, Strathcona Park, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 28 September 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Orange-crowned Warbler/Nelson’s Sparrow season gets spiced up with some migrating Cuckoos.
American Pipit, Richmond ON, Tony Beck. Tony caught this bird engaged in a comfort break (scratching). Several flocks of American Pipits are passing through the Ottawa area right now, mainly along river courses and open fields.
Juvenile Peregrine Falcon, near Britannia, Tony Beck. Tony photographed this young Peregrine as it passed by his balcony while catching the updrafts created by the apartment building.
Rusty Blackbirds, Richmond ON, Tony beck. Tony says: unlike their dull breeding plumage, in fall, Rusty Blackbirds reveal a variety of brighter and more colourful plumage variations. The darker individual in the lower part of the frame is an adult male.
Cackling Geese, Andrew Haydon Park East, Tony Beck. There are 8 Cackling Geese in this image. Compare size, shape, and colour to the much larger and darker Canada Geese in this same image.
Nashville Warbler, Alta Vista, Christopher Clunas.
Black-throated Green Warbler, Alta Vista, Christopher Clunas.
Juvenile Common Gallinule, Petrie Island, Christopher Clunas. Although Petrie has prime habitant, Common Gallinule live up to their name all over the region, breeding in surprisingly small wetlands.
Merlin, Mud Lake Ridge, Alan Short. Folding his wings to gain speed.
Caspian Terns, in the rapids by Mud Lake, Alan Short. And adult landing and 3 first year birds, including one still in juvenile plumage.
Blue Wing Teal, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short.
Brown Creeper, Mud Lake, Alan Short. That long curved bill is perfect for probing for small arthropods in the cracks in the bark and the folds of the lichen. Bonus point for identifying all 19 species of lichen and moss in the photo.
Palm Warbler, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Ever wonder how the Yellow-rumped Warbler got its name when 80% of the warblers passing through Ottawa recently also have yellow rumps?
Greater White-fronted Goose – Sep 26, Carp–Hidden Lake Trail, Ottawa.
Surf Scoter (3) Sep 22-23, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
White-winged Scoter – Sep 24, Shirley’s Bay and path, Ottawa.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – Sep 27, Rue de Saint Moritz, Cantley, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Black-billed Cuckoo – Sep 25,Dolman Ridge Road, Ottawa.
Limpkin – Sep 21, Stonecrest Railway line , Ottawa. Heard-only.
Red-necked Phalarope – Sep 24, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. (3) Sep 22, Embrun Sewage Lagoons, Prescott and Russell.
Caspian Tern (2) Sep 25, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker – Constance Bay, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Sep 24, Ch Elm, Pontiac, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Eastern Kingbird – Sep 28, Crysler–waterfall, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Britannia CA, Ottawa. Sep 22, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Sep 21-26, Cedar Crest Drive, Lanark.
Wood Thrush – Sep 28, Ridge Road West of Ramsayville Rd., Ottawa.
Clay-colored Sparrow – Sep 24, Richmond SE – Dobson Lane, Ottawa.
Nelson’s Sparrow (2) Sep 22-24, Baillie Ave, Ottawa.
Yellow Warbler – Sep 28, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Sep 23, Fletcher Wildlife Garden. Stanley Park, Ottawa. Sep 22, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Atlas note: Did you encounter a singing bird back in May? Have you seen fledged birds or adult birds carrying food in the summer? It is not too late to join one of Ontario’s largest citizen science projects by adding your observations to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by taking 90 seconds to import an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 21 September 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
The birding season changes with the arrival of Cackling Geese, Orange-crowned Warblers and a Nelson’s Sparrow.
Belted kingfisher, Andrew Haydon Park, Alan Short. The rusty belt is absent in adult males, making this one of the few bird species where the female is more colorful.
Cooper’s Hawk, Mud Lake, Alan Short. What do you think this bird is doing? Alan caught this individual in aggressive postures as it screamed at another Cooper’s.
Magnolia Warbler, Britannia Ridge, Sanam Goudarzi. Fall Magnolia’s have less contrast than breeding birds, but the yellow seems even more intense.
Gray Catbird, Britannia Ridge, Sanam Goudarzi. Adult plumage is still coming in on this bird, born this summer, as betrayed by the yellow gape.
Scarlet Tanager, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Margaret Kenny. Mainly insectivorous in the breeding season, Scarlet Tanagers capture adult bees and wasps in mid-air, then bash them to death against branches. According to Birds of the World, there is no evidence that they remove the stingers before consumption.
Cooper’s Hawk, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Margaret Kenny. The wet feathers hint that this bird probably just bathed.
Blackpoll Warbler, Sai Wai Ip. Fall Blackpolls look very little like their crisp black and white spring uniform. Easily confused with Bay-breasted, fall Blackpolls are stripier, and often have yellow/orange feet or even legs.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Vicky Deschamps. Easier the most common warbler right now in our region, but with a million different plumages, one could be forgiven for not noticing that.
Male Red Crossbill, Eardley, Tony Beck. Tony says: relatively large-billed type eating grit along roadside – Eardley, Que. This is one of 4 Red Crossbills (two pairs) that we found below the Gatineau Escarpment this week.
First summer/second winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, Richmond, Tony Beck. Tony says: Although a small number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls spent this summer in the greater Ottawa area, their numbers have slightly increased in the last few weeks. Interestingly, this species has yet to be confirmed as a breeder on this continent. The individual in this photo is in transition from 1st Summer plumage going into second winter. Note the all-dark bill, relatively dark back, and pale head/breast with a bit of darkness around the eye & auricular. When scanning through gull flocks, look for its slightly smaller size compared to Herring Gulls.
Green Heron, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Notice how the shadows and different colors on this predator break up its shape.
Quiz time: id this young warbler. Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. 2 points for a correct id. Give yourself a bonus point if you suspect Derek only throws in quizes when he is uncertain.
Cackling Goose – Sep 20, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. (2) Sep 20, Richmond–Fox Run storm water ponds, Ottawa. Sep 19, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Trumpeter Swan (4) Sep 15, Stonecrest Railbed Trail, Ottawa.
Limpkin – Sep 15, 21, Stonecrest Railbed Trail, Ottawa. Heard-only.
Whimbrel – Sep 19, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Red-necked Phalarope (3) Sep 17, Embrun Sewage Lagoons, Prescott and Russell. (11) Sep 18, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. Sep 15, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Red Phalarope – Sep 18, Snake Island, Ottawa.
Phalarope sp. (7) Sept 15, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Red-throated Loon – Sep 19, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Olive-sided Flycatcher – Sep 19, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa. Sep 16, Britannia CA–Britannia Ridge, Ottawa. Sep 16, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Sedge Wren – Sep 18, Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Continuing, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Sep 20, Old Quarry Trail, Ottawa. Sep 16, Pleasant Park-Kilborn Gardens Corridor, Ottawa.
Evening Grosbeak – Sep 20, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Nelson’s Sparrow – Sep 17, Bay Area, Ottawa.
Baltimore Oriole – Sep 17, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Orange-crowned Warbler – Sep 18, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa. Sep 17, Britannia CA–Britannia Ridge, Ottawa. Sep 17, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa. Sep 18, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. Sep 15-16, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 31 August 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Shorebirds! Andrew Haydon Park, Crysler Falls, Petrie Island, Holland Marsh, Parc Brébeuf.
Adult Philadelphia Vireo, Shirley’s Bay, Tony Beck. Tony says: Adult songbirds, like this Philadelphia Vireo, molt in late summer while juvenile birds have fresh plumage. Note the uneven growth of this bird’s tail feathers (rectrices) – an indicator of active moult.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Arboretum, Christopher Clunas.
Blackburnian Warbler, Britannia Ridge, Jordan Milko. Migrating warblers hit the ridge at Mud Lake because of geography, but the mass emergence of aquatic insects such as this Zebra Caddisfly can keep them around for a while.
Semipalmated plover, Petrie Island, Aaron Hywarren.
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Petrie island, Gillian Wright. Note the semipalmated or half-webbed feet. This id mark is rarely visible in the field.
Spotted Sandpiper, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Belted kingfisher, mud Lake, Alan Short.
Ruddy Turnstone, Constance Bay, Aaron Hywarren.
Bobolink, Blakeney road, Arlene Harrold. Female or non-breeding male.
Stilt Sandpiper (in front of a Greater yellowlegs), Crysler, Arlene Harrold. For id purposes, note the smaller size, paler legs, dark cap, and faint ruddy cheek patch on the Stilt. Also interesting, the prehensile tip of the bill is visible on the lower mandible in particular.
Bonaparte’s Gull, Andrew Haydon Park, Christopher Clunas. Some field guides mention that they do not mix with other gulls, but in Ontario, it is not uncommon to find them on shore with Ring-billed Gulls (with the occasional Little Gull mixed in for confusion). They definitely avoid larger gulls.
Sanderling, Petrie Island, Gillian Wright. For sheer joy in the act of birding, few experiences surpass watching Sanderlings run back and forth with the waves.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Marlborough Forest–Roger’s Pond, Ottawa.
Common Goldeneye – Aug 30, Constance Bay: The Point, Ottawa. Aug 28-29, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. Aug 26, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark.
Red-breasted Merganser – Continuing Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Red-necked Grebe – Aug 31, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
Upland Sandpiper – Aug 28, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa.
Dunlin – Aug 31, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Red-necked Phalarope (6) Aug 25-26, Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa. Aug 26, Holland’s Marsh, Ottawa.
Little Gull – Aug 25, Baie Simard, Gatineau. Aug 25, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Two different birds form the descriptions.
Stilt Sandpiper (6) Aug 29, Crysler at the dam, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Sedge Wren (2) Aug 29, Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Continuing, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Gray-cheeked Thrush – Aug 29, Fifth Line Rd, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (5) Constance Bay, Ottawa.
Yellow-throated Vireo – Aug 28-29, Champlain Park Woods, Ottawa. Aug 29, Pontiac Street, Ottawa.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa, and Shirley’s Bay, and Bayview Dr, Ottawa, all on the 30th. Aug 27, Stanley Park, Ottawa.
Evening Grosbeak – Aug 27, Monty Dr, Ottawa.
Dark-eyed Junco – Aug 24, Pont Alexandra, Ottawa.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Aug 31, Bruce Pit, Ottawa.
Prairie Warbler – Reported from Britannia Ridge, Aug. 31.
eBird tip: Beware the mergansers of August…at this season the three mergansers can be tough to identify. A seasonally rare Red-breasted has been present at Britannia, but so too are Common and Hooded; several photographed reports of the Red-breasted have proven to be one of the immature Hoodeds present at the site. Look for the ragged crest and longer, thinner bill for the Red-breasted.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 24 August 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Hints that the shorebird habitat at Andrew Haydon may be re-emerging from the depths. In the meantime, lots of shorebird action at the Crysler dam.
Wilson’s Warbler, Alta Vista, Christopher Clunas. Water features such as bird baths will bring in birds that won’t visit a feeder. Easily passed over as a Yellow Warbler, note the olive green forehead and bright supercilium contrasting with the cheek patch.
Blackburnian Warbler, Mud lake, Alan Short.
Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey, Mud lake, Alan Short. A fairly common but always spectacular sight. Although Eagles can fish, they are just as likely to steal fish as catch their own. Kleptoparasitism is a surprisingly common strategy among hunting birds.
Cape May Warbler, Mud lake, Alan Short.
Bay-breasted Warbler, Mud Lake, Gillian Wright. Gillian noticed the ant in the tail. She suspects the warbler had just been anting. And the ant in the bill? Perhaps the bird grabbed a snack after a good cleaning.
Philadelphia Warbler, Mud lake, Sanam Goudarzi. Easy to confuse with Red-eyed Vireos or especially yellow-tinted Warbling Vireos. Lacks the high contrast black-edged cap and red eye of of the Red-eyed. The yellow can be much brighter than that of the Warbling Vireo and centered on the throat. Note the really dark lore.
Nashville Warbler, Mud lake, Gillian Wright. The young warbler plucked the nutritious spider out of its own web.
Wilson’s Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. A much easier ID with the faint black cap.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Ottawa, Sanam Goudarzi. Always beautiful, the adults are usually hard to see in the canopy, but young birds like this can be seen down low and sometimes even pose for photos.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Aug 22, Trans-Canada Highway, just east of Ashton, Ottawa. Aug 21, Marlborough Forest–Roger’s Pond, Ottawa.
Common Goldeneye (3) Almonte Lagoons, Lanark. Aug 24, Baillie Avenue, Ottawa.
Lesser Scaup – Aug 21, Quarry Lake, Prescott and Russell.
Red-breasted Merganser – Continuing Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Red-necked Phalarope – Aug 20, Crysler Lagoons, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. (2) Aug 17, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark.
Stilt Sandpiper – Aug 23, Crysler at the dam, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Continuing, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Aug 24, – Ottawa–Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Aug 22, Oriole Drive, Ottawa. Aug 20, Cameo Dr, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker – Baillie Avenue, Ottawa.
Yellow-throated Vireo – Aug 20, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Philadelphia Vireo – Aug 18-20, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Aug 20, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Atlas note: Did you encounter a singing bird back in May? Have you seen fledged birds or adult birds carrying food in the summer? It is not too late to join one of Ontario’s largest citizen science projects by adding your observations to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by taking 90 seconds to import an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 17 August 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A big uptick in migrating warblers this week. A big flight of Common Nighthawk just across the county line south of Pakenham on the 16th (128).
Solitary Sandpiper, Andrew Hayden Park, Scott Haldane. One of only two species of sandpiper to nest in trees, solitaries reuse abandoned nests of songbirds. Ottawa is just on the southern edge of their breeding range.
Bay-breasted Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. This species seems relatively rare when it races through in the Spring, and extremely common this week as it leisurely heads south at max population.
Virginia Rail juvenile, Ross Road Marsh, Arlene Harrold. #youcanatlasthat
Adult and juvenile and Common Gallinules, Ross Road Marsh, Arlene Harrold. #youcanatlasthat
Scarlet Tanager, Dewberry, Arlene Harrold. Not a drop of scarlet here.
Male Yellow-rumped Warbler, Mud Lake, Janet McCullough.
Cape May Warbler, Mud Lake, Derek Dunnett. Probably the most common migrating warbler this week.
Green Heron, Mud Lake, Alan Short. An excellent reminder that the versatile bill of a heron acts as both spear and tongs.
Black-capped Chickadee, Alta Vista, Christopher Clunas. The chickadee is foraging on Mullein, an opportunistic plant of disturbed habitat. This year Mullein sprang up all over the greenbelt in the newly opened up areas where storms uprooted trees over the last two years.
Cape May Warbler, Mud Lake, Alan Short. The 3 most common migrating warblers this week are Yellow-rumped, Cape May and Bay-breasted, all members of the genus Setophaga, so all have similar silhouettes. Each species also sports a wide and confusing range of plummages this time of year. Fortunately they are super easy to tell apart. It’s not like they all have variable stripes, eye arcs and yellow rumps ….
Palm Warbler, Mud lake, Alan Short. And now for something completely different: A somewhat yellow stripey fall warbler. Easy to dismiss as just another Cape May, but look at the underside of the tail – that black then white pattern is unique among our warblers.
Common Goldeneye (2) Almonte Lagoons, Lanark.
Red-breasted Merganser – Continuing Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Red-necked Phalarope (2) Aug 15-16, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark.
Limpkin – The Lanark Limpkin, first observed Aug 6, was last reported Aug 11. McDonalds Corners, Lanark.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Continuing, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Aug 14, Saint Fillans Road, Carleton Place, Lanark. Aug 15, Central Experimental Farm Arboretum, Ottawa. Aug 12, Morrison Dr, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Aug 17, Innis Point Maps Plot, Ottawa.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – Aug 14, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Philadelphia Vireo – Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa.
Evening Grosbeak (2) Aug 11, Britannia Ridge, Ottawa.
Pine Siskin – Aug 12, Steen Ln, Ottawa.
Dark-eyed Junco – Aug 16, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Aug 14, Champlain Park Woods, Ottawa. Aug 13, Hamlet Rd, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 10 August 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Juvenile Gray Catbird, Sanam Goudarzi. Not especially catbird-like with the brown juvenile feathers being replaced by dark gray. If the bird seems too blackbird-like, consider the shape of the bill. #youcanatlasthat
Immature Wood Duck, Britannia Conservation Area, Alan Short. #youcanatlasthat
Caspian Tern, Britannia yacht club, Alan Short.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. With just a hint of a gape, a first fall bird. #youcanatlasthat
American Redstart, Jim Robertson, Mud Lake.
Broad-winged Hawk, Rockcliffe airport woods, Gregory Zbitnew. Greg: If you have ever wondered what a Broad-Winged Hawk looks like when it is calling, this is it.
Broad-winged Hawk sonogram, Gregory Zbitnew. Greg: “The sonogram is what its call looks like. It is essentially 3 uniform pitches, the first at about 4800 Hz, the second weak one at about 7300 HZ, and the highest at about 9600 Hz. The highest and lowest make an octave, and the middle one indicates that the bird is trying to make either a perfect fourth or perfect fifth, but not that well, hence it is not recommended that anyone try to get the hawk to join a band.” SOUND FILE
Black-and-white Warbler, Pine grove, Gillian Wright. If the bird eats the insect in front of you, no breeding code. But if it carries it off, #youcanatlasthat
Limpkin, Mississippi River, Janet McCullough. Rarely seen north of Florida, in 2022 and 2023 a number of vagrant individuals have been found across the continent. The Lanark bird is one of the northernmost records for this mollusk specialist.
Common Goldeneye (3) Aug 07, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – The usual spots, in a variety of ages: Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. (12) Aug 10,Ottawa Polo Club grounds, Ottawa.
Least Bittern (2) Dunrobin (Constance Creek), Ottawa. (2) Petrie Island causeway, Ottawa. Stonecrest Railway trail, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Continuing, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. J
Sedge Wren (3) Stittsville – Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. (3) Torbolton Ridge Rd, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (5) Constance Bay, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Aug 06, Heart’s Desire Park, Ottawa. Aug 04, Groves Road, Prescott and Russell.
Olive-sided Flycatcher – Aug 06, Fox Run storm water ponds, Ottawa.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – Banded Aug 04, Innis Point Bird Observatory, Ottawa. No public access.
Yellow-throated Vireo – Aug 06, Monty Dr, Ottawa. Aug 04, Deer Moss Trail, Ottawa.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Aug 04, Owl Valley Dr., Ottawa.
Northern Mockingbird – Continuing, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa.
Palm Warbler (Western) – Aug 08, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa. Not the local breeder (Eastern).
eBird tip: It’s time for a reminder about the usual suspects that cause trouble this time of the year and require photos: Lincoln’s Sparrows, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Orange-crowned and Blackpoll Warblers.
Atlas note: Early to mid August is still good for late season atlassing with many birds still actively feeding young; indeed now is the best time to confirm late breeders such as Cedar Waxwing and American Goldfinch. There has also been a strong influx of Red Crossbills into the region; any area west of Ottawa with plenty of pines with maturing cones could hold small roving bands. But please exercise caution with other species as there are loads of migrants moving through as well. Your bird observations are very much welcome in the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by taking 90 seconds to import an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 3 August 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Juvenile Chipping Sparrow, Mud lake, Alan Short. It’s the season of confusing juvenile sparrows, which is great practice for the coming season of confusing fall warblers. The belly streaks and generally too busy plumage of the juvenile Chipping Sparrow is in marked contrast to the sharp crisp red, brown and white of the adults, but the shape and size is the same, and as our smallest sparrow, size is very helpful in id (for once). Don’t even look at the facial pattern, or you’ll be down the rabbit hole of rare sparrows. #youcanatlasthat
Double-crested Cormorant, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Well adapted for an underwater fishing strategy, this photo demonstrates two important cormorant traits – The long hook-tipped bill for gripping slippery fish, and the low buoyancy that means less energy is required to dive.
Green Heron, Stonecrest, Gillian Wright. Proving yet again that the varied poses and contortions of this species are inexhaustible.
House Wren, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. We don’t normally show nesting birds, but this photo demonstrates a lot of natural history. First, the photographer was very annoyed by the leaf, but consciously chose to leave it alone so as to not disturb the nestlings, sacrificing ‘the perfect shot’ to protect the birds. Secondly, spiders are a very important source of taurine, an amino acid invaluable to growing juveniles’ brains. The adult brought an impressive array of spiders, moth, caterpillar, grub and even dragonfly. Thirdly, this cavity was already used this season by Black-capped Chickadees who successfully fledged young. Cavities–and hence the older, damaged trees that host them–are critical to cavity nesting species. A young forest may have lots of food but nowhere to raise young birds. A photo of the chickadees enlarging this cavity was posted on 27 April 2023. #youcanatlasthat
Great Egret, Rideau River, Christopher Clunas. Have you ever noticed how wide the egret can spread it’s lower mandible? That and the expandable throat explain how such a narrow bird can swallow such big fish.
Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron, Rideau River, Christopher Clunas. #youcanatlasthat
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Fletcher, Gillian Wright. Bill and tongue adapted to feed on nectar, but the photo also shows how the hummingbird pays for its meals, propagating pollen from flower to flower.
Trumpeter Swan (3) Continuing, Marlborough Forest–Roger’s Pond, Ottawa.
Greater Scaup – Jul 29, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa,
Red-breasted Merganser – Jul 30, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Jul 29, Carrière sur chemin Vanier, Gatineau.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Continuing Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Continuing Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
Least Bittern (2) Aug 02, Stonecrest Railway Trail, Ottawa. Aug 01, Petrie causeway (Tweedle), Ottawa.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Jul 19-31, Marais aux Grenouillettes, Gatineau.
Carolina Wren (4) Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Jul 29, Deer Moss Trail, Ottawa. Jul 30, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Jul 28, Sandhurst Crt, Ottawa.
Sedge Wren (4) Continuing to at least July 30, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. (3) Aug 02, Torbolton Ridge Rd, Ottawa.
Northern Mockingbird – Continuing, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa.
Pine Siskin – Aug 03, Bruce Pit, Ottawa. Aug 03, Beacon Hill North-general area, Ottawa. Jul 29, Rideau Trail, west of Waypoint 14BB, Ottawa.
Tennessee Warbler – Jul 29, Britannia CA–Britannia Ridge, Ottawa.
Dark-eyed Junco – Aug 01, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa.
Atlas note: Though the majority of our local breeding birds are tending their young families in preparation for migration, breeding evidence – such as adults carrying food or encountering fledged young – can still be found across Eastern Ontario. Your bird observations are very much welcome in the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by taking 90 seconds to import an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 27 July 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A King Rail was reported in Ottawa for the first time in almost 150 years at an undisclosed location. A good weekend to check your local marsh? Both returning warblers and post-breeding local dispersal picked up this week.
Juvenile Tufted Titmouse, Apache Crescent, Jan Huus. How to tell a juvenile from an adult? The pale face, the lack of black above the break, and the tiniest hint of a yellow gape phalange at the base of the beak. #youcanatlasthat!
Chimney Swift, Windsor Park, Jordan Milko. Known for large communal roosts as migrants and non-breeders, the breeding pairs are actually scattered throughout the city in small roosts. Soon the single birds and pairs hunting in the sky will turn into family groups.
Broad-winged Hawk, Davidson at Hawthorne, Gillian Wright.
Juvenile Swamp Sparrow, Stittsville TransCanada Trail, Janet McCullough. #youcanatlasthat
An unbelievable collage of juvenile birds, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. All juveniles beg, but the theatrics of the Red-eyed Vireo fledglings in particular have to be seen to be believed. #youcanatlasthat
Adult Marsh Wren, Stonecrest, Gillian Wright. Gillian saw the parent feeding the young, but just carrying food is considered proof of breeding. #youcanatlasthat
Juvenile Yellow-bellied sapsucker. #youcanatlasthat
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Alan Short. Unlike a feeder, flowers don’t need to be washed every few hot days. And they often come with bonus spider snacks.
Merlins, Vanier, Alan Short. Alan has been observing this family of Merlins since there were nestlings.
Juvenile Sedge Wren, Stittsville TransCanada Trail, Derek Dunnett. Notoriously hard to see, much less photograph, adults were feeding the Sedge Wren Family, as well as the above Swamp Sparrow, right beside the trail. #youcanatlasthat
Trumpeter Swan (2) Continuing, Constance Creek, Ottawa. Continuing, Marlborough Forest–Roger’s Pond, Ottawa.
Common Goldeneye (2) Jul 23, 27, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Jul 23, Dewberry Trail, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (1) Continuing, Ritchie Ave/Goodin, Constance Bay, Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (6) Jul 20, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Jul 19-24, Marais aux Grenouillettes, Gatineau.
Carolina Wren (4) Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Jul 27, CISCO campus, Innovation Dr. Kanata/Ottawa
Sedge Wren (5) Continuing, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. (4) Jul 23, Torbolton Ridge Rd, Ottawa. Jul 22, Bonnie Lane (NE end), Kinburn, Ottawa. Please refrain from luring sensitive species such as Sedge Wrens with playback as they are still establishing late season territories.
Northern Mockingbird – Continuing, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa.
Pine Siskin – Continuing, Crystal Beach, Ottawa. Continuing Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa.
Northern Parula – Jul 26, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Jul 25, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Jul 22-23, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. Jul 23, Champlain Park Neighbourhood, Ottawa. Jul 21-22, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Tennessee Warbler – Jul 19, 24, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Jul 24, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. Jul 22, Greenbelt Pathway West, Ottawa.
Bay-breasted Warbler – Jul 25, Ottawa–Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Jul 24, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa.
eBird tip: In the late summer ducks are in active moult. This can drastically alter their appearance so please exercise caution, even with “routine” identifications. Mallards are particularly problematic, some can become very dark with feather wear causing them to be misidentified as American Black Duck, moulting males can look like hybrids, and others can have odd white patches suggestive at first glance of other species like Gadwall.
Atlas note: Have you noticed that many of our resident birds are constantly carrying food these days? They are gathering food for their young and it is behaviour that confirms breeding. Whether singing or carrying food, your observations of our resident birds are most welcome in the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by importing an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 20 July 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Adult male American Redstart, Arboretum, Christopher Clunas. The mayfly is as long as the bird, but looking closely at the bill, the bird is carrying multiple insects instead of eating them immediately, which is considered confirmed breeding, so #youcanatlasthat!
Male Common Yellowthroat, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright.
Female Common Yellowthroat, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Is that a pair in habitat during the breeding season? That’s probable breeding evidence, so #youcanatlasthat.
Recently-fledged Merlin, Vanier, Alan Short. This individual looked like a fluffy puffball just 2 weeks ago. #youcanatlasthat.
Black Tern fledglings, Smith’s Falls, Janet McCullough. Drifting in a boat allows getting closer to many species without stressing them than is possible on land. Note the scalloped look created by the wearing away of the weak juvenile feather tips (the brown ends on the feathers), much like juvenile shorebirds. #youcanatlasthat.
Northern Waterthrush, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. The same swarms of insects that make it so challenging to bird Pine Grove in July make it a great place for warblers to feed their young.
Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe, Smith’s Falls, Janet McCullough. #youcanatlasthat.
Great Blue Heron, Mud lake, Alan Short. It would be anthropomorphizing to claim this bird looks hung-over and annoyed. So we won’t say that. So instead, let’s say something about how the long flexible neck and wide variety of feather types cause this species to appear like a different creature depending on the pose.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Continuing, Constance Creek, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Continuing, Ritchie Ave/Goodin, Constance Bay, Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Jul 17 Trail Road landfill, Ottawa. Jul 15, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Olive-sided Flycatcher – Jul 15,Stanley Park, Ottawa,
Yellow-throated Vireo – Jul 14, Stonecrest Road, Ottawa.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Jul 19, Marais aux Grenouillettes, Gatineau.
Carolina Wren (4) Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Jul 18, Cambridge St N, Ottawa. Jul 14, Deer Moss Trail, Ottawa. Jul 14, Parc Queen, Gatineau. Jul 14, Wychwood, Gatineau.
Sedge Wren (3) Jul 16-20, Watts Creek & Moodie Dr, Ottawa. (2) Jul 19, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. Jul 15-17, Bonnie Lane, Ottawa.
Northern Mockingbird – Jul 17, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa.
White-winged Crossbill – Jul 16, Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield, Ottawa.
Red Crossbill – Jul 20, Monty Drive, Constance bay, Ottawa.
Pine Siskin – Continuing, Crystal Beach, Ottawa. Jul 18, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa.
Blue-winged Warbler – Jul 14, Fine Estate, Ottawa.
Northern Parula – Jul 20, Greenbelt Trail 10, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 13 July 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
While prime atlas season, and point counts, are done for another year, now is the “prime season” for confirming breeding of species, with many family groups, including recently fledged young, and adults carrying food.
Adult Peregrine Falcon, Billings Bridge, by Alan Short. Although the falcon watch program disbanded a few years ago, the falcons didn’t notice, and carried on breeding in the Billings Bridge area.
Green Heron, Greenbelt Pathway West, by Sheila Craig. Depending on how old your field guide is, this bird may be listed as Little Green Heron or even Green-backed Heron.
Pine Siskin, Crystal Beach, by Sheila Craig. More July records than usual this year for what is normally a winter bird for our region.
Eastern Kingbird, Arboretum, by Christopher Clunas. Does any other local species seem as constantly on alert as the Kingbird? Always seeking, ready to defend the territory against all comers (of any size) or grab a meal on the wing.
Immature Canada Warbler, Pine Grove, by Gillian Wright. Gillain has been ‘patch-birding’ Pine Grove this year. She invested enough time there to get to know not just the birds in general, but even to recognize specific families and individuals.
Juvenile Northern Waterthrush, Pine Grove, by Gillian Wright. One of four juveniles hopping together on the path.
Immature Hooded Merganser, Andrew Haydon, Sanam Goudarzi.
Yellow Warblers, Pine Grove, by Gillian Wright. Note the adult male carrying food, and the scruffy fledgling ready to receive it on the right.
Adult Ovenbird, Pine Grove, by Gillian Wright. Gillian noted that the crest is up because the Ovenbird was irritated at a Red-eyed Vireo.
Greater Scaup – Jul 08, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Continuing, Constance Creek, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Continuing, Ritchie Ave/Goodin, Constance Bay, Ottawa.
Bonaparte’s Gull (4) Jul 09, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Jul 09, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Jul 08 Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
Great Black-backed Gull – Deschenes rapids, Ottawa.
Semipalmated Plover – Jul 13, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. Yes, fall migration for shorebirds has started.
Carolina Wren (4) Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Jul 09, Apeldoorn at Stormont Street, Ottawa. Jul 08, Parc Queen, Gatineau.
Pine Siskin – Continuing, Crystal Beach, Ottawa. Jul 12, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. Jul 09, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Jul 08, Dolman Ridge Road, Ottawa. Jul 10 Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa.
Blue-winged Warbler – Jul 09, Extrémité Ch. de l’Hôtel de Ville, Luskville, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
eBird tips:
1. The new version of the eBird mobile app now allows users to view all of their data (not just those entered through the app). This is a welcome addition that will make editing lists easier.
2. If Merlin hears a flagged species, please upload the Merlin sound file with the flagged record so that reviewers can listen. Merlin is great but it makes lots of mistakes, particularly for things like Yellow-breasted Chat or Tufted Titmouse.
Atlas note: Have you noticed that many of our resident birds are constantly carrying food these days? They are gathering food for their young and it is behaviour that confirms breeding. Whether singing or carrying food, your observations of our resident birds are most welcome in the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by importing an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 6 July 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Quiet except for some Pine Siskins and a very sneaky Jaeger.
Adult female Merlin, Vanier, Alan Short. The large female is keeping an eye on Alan as she waits for the male to bring food.
Juvenile White-throated Sparrow, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Easily confused with a Song Sparrow with the striped flanks and breast, but the yellow gape informs us that it’s a juvenile, and the yellow lores nail down the species id. #youcanatlasthat
Juvenile Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Probably a Yellow warbler. #youcanatlasthat
Adult Swamp Sparrow, Aaron Hywarren. Carrying food instead of eating it is proof of breeding. #youcanatlasthat
Brown Creepers, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. It’s hard to tell by appearance which is the adult, but feeding young is excellent proof of breeding. #youcanatlasthat
Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Aaron Hywarren. Another parent feeding offspring. Sense a theme this week? #youcanatlasthat
Male Canada Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. The mate of last week’s female. Gillian is collecting the complete set.
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. Alan noticed the Egret was wary of the heron, and for good reason.
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short. It soon chased off the Egret. These birds are natural competitors for the same niches in habitat and food. The Great Blue – 3 times as heavy as the Egret – usually, but not always, wins these encounters.
Red-breasted Merganser (6) Jul 02, Lac Sinclair, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Female with 5 young.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Continuing, Constance Creek, Ottawa. Jul 06, Brassils Creek/Marsh via Flood Rd, Smiths Falls CA, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Continuing, Ritchie Ave/Goodin, Constance Bay, Ottawa. Ch Sauvé-Ch Symphonie, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Parasitic Jaeger – Was reported Jul 03, Rapides Deschênes, Gatineau. Jun 30, Aylmer Marina, Gatineau.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Jul 04, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
Great Black-backed Gull – the usual spots – Moodie Quarry and Deschenes rapids, Ottawa.
Acadian Flycatcher – Jul 02, Bob’s Lake, Lanark. Outside the OFNC 50k circle, but tantalizingly close.
Carolina Wren (2) Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Parc Queen, Gatineau. Jul 05, Wychwood, Gatineau. Jul 04, McElroy Dr, Ottawa. Jul 03, Rue d’Ellesmere, Gatineau. Jul 02, Garwood Ave, Ottawa. Jun 30, Parc des Cèdres, Gatineau. Jun 30, Deer Moss Trail, Ottawa.
Pine Siskin – Jul 06, Stittsville–Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. Jul 06, Crystal Beach, Ottawa.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Jul 03, Dolman Ridge Road, Ottawa.
Wilson’s Warbler – Jul 04, Huntmar Fields, Ottawa.
Northern Parula – Jul 03, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa, in the butterfly meadow border.
Atlas note: The birds that call Eastern Ontario their summer home are now on territory and have started breeding. Whether simply seen, heard singing, or noted carrying food, your observations are most welcome in the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by importing an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 29 June 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Merlins, Vanier, Alan Short.
Double Crested Cormorant, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Common Yellowthroat, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Given their belligerence while guarding their nests, this could not be more appropriate.
Juvenile Wood Thrush, Concession 9 (Pakenham), Jordan Milko. Note the fuzzy light brown edges to some feathers, and the yellow gape at the base of the bill.
Upland sandpiper, Upper Dwyer Hill Road, Jordan Milko.
Song Sparrow, Rockcliffe Airport woods, Gregory Zbitnew. Greg says: This is what we should be looking for when doing the bird Atlas. A beakful of something delicious which it carried off to its young in a nearby shrub.
Hairy Woodpeckers, Jack Pine Trail, Sanam Goudarzi. Note the difference in plumage – one has red on the back of the head (adult male) and one has a red-orange patch on top of the head (an immature bird). The immature is begging.
Hairy Woodpeckers, Jack Pine Trail, Sanam Goudarzi. The begging pays off.
Winter Wren, Jack Pine Trail, Sanam Goudarzi. A photo cannot capture the song of the Winter Wren, but this shot carries the intensity of the singer.
Female Canada Warbler, Pine grove, Gillian Wright. Almost the same pattern as the male, but lower contrast.
Black Scoter – Jun 29, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa.
Red-breasted Merganser – Jun 27, Rapides Deschênes, Gatineau.
American White Pelican (4) – Reported Jun 28, Rideau Hall, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Continuing, Ritchie Ave/Goodin, Constance Bay, Ottawa. Ch Sauvé-Ch Symphonie, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Jun 23, Parc de la Gatineau–Sentier de la Chute, Gatineau.
Olive-sided Flycatcher – Jun 23, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren (2) Continuing Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. (2) Jun 29, Deer Moss Trail, Ottawa. Jun 27, Pinecrest Park, Ottawa. Jun 25, Ornamental Gardens, Ottawa. Jun 24, Parc Queen, Gatineau.
Yellow-throated Vireo (2) continuing, Stonecrest Road rail path, Stonecrest Rd, Ottawa.
White-winged Crossbill (21) Jun 29, Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield, Ottawa. Also Jun 23, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Jun 27, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa.
Blue-winged Warbler – Continuing, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Tennessee Warbler – Jun 29, Prescott-Russell Trail Link, Ottawa.
Northern Parula – Jun 24 Rockcliffe Parkway Trail, Ottawa. Jun 23, Dolman Ridge Road, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 22 June 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A quiet week, although still some bizarrely late migration such as Swainson Thrushes arriving at night. Quick, go atlas some breeding birds before the shorebirds start migrating back through.
Great Blue Heron, Arboretum pond, Christopher Clunas. Christopher snapped this shot just after the heron speared a Bluegill for lunch. A great reminder that amazing nature scenes can be found right in the heart of the city.
Common Yellowthroat (adult male & female), Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Gillian observed the male yellowthroat with a beakful of food for the chicks. Then he stood guard while his mate delivered more.
Scarlet Tanager, Larose Forest, Sanam Goudarzi. Jack Pine trail is another great trail to look for (or at least listen for) this charismatic forest breeder.
Vesper Sparrow, Alfred, Sanam Goudarzi. Alfred may be outside the OFNC circle, but both the lagoons and the bog are well worth the trip.
Mourning Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Gillian has been studying the Pine Grove warblers carefully, and is now able to tell some of the males apart as individuals. Note the incomplete necklace on this bird. Incomplete or unimpressive breeding plumage is often the sign of a first summer male.
Adult Gray Catbird, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. This bird perched with food beside a known nest. Gillian has observed it bringing food for a few days. It sat on the branch for a while, without taking the food to the chicks. It would periodically flutter its wings as if soliciting food like a chick. Was it demonstrating to the chicks how to beg for food?
Merlin pair (male on left, larger female on right), Vanier, Alan Short. Al observed the Melrins feeding their young: The male does the hunting. As he arrives he calls out to her. He lands in a nearby tree and offers the catch, a Chipping Sparrow here, to the female. She grabs it with her beak and takes it to the nest. His hunts last about 45 minutes to an hour. Note the impressive dimorphism – female raptors are often massive compared to the males.
Adult Green Heron, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Snow Goose – Jun 19, Marais nord, Lac Leamy, Gatineau. Jun 17, Giroux Rd, Ottawa.
Red-breasted Merganser – Britannia CA Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Bonaparte’s Gull – Britannia CA Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Great Black-backed Gull – Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Caspian Tern – Jun 21, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. Jun 19, Petrie Island (Causeway), Ottawa
Northern Mockingbird – Jun 20, Cannamore Rd. near Reveler. Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Continuing, Ritchie Ave/Goodin, Constance Bay, Ottawa. Jun 09-20, Ch Sauvé-Ch Symphonie, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Jun 21, Stonecrest Road rail path, Stonecrest Rd, Ottawa. Jun 20, Dunrobin Road near Kinburn, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Jun 15, RÉ de la Forêt-la-Blanche, Papineau,
Yellow-throated Vireo – continuing, Stonecrest Road rail path, Stonecrest Rd, Ottawa. Jun 07, Kilmaurs Side Road, Ottawa.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Continuing, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa.
Golden-winged Warbler – Jun 04-22, Parc de la Gatineau–Relais Plein Air, Gatineau. On the edge of Trail #5.
Brewster’s Warbler – Jun 15, Sentier des chutes Luskville, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Blue-winged Warbler – Continuing, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Northern Parula – Jun 19, Rockcliffe Parkway Trail, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 15 June 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
The star of the week was Parc Brébeuf, producing a number of late shorebirds.
Adult Sandhill Cranes, Steele Line, Quebec, Tony Beck. Tony says: First recorded in the Greater Ottawa area in 1975, Sandhill Cranes have increased in numbers as they gradually expand their range in a Northeasterly direction. While most are migrating to breeding grounds further north, a few will stay to breed.
Adult breeding male Northern Parula, Gatineau Park, Tony Beck. Tony says: A warbler of Northern Forest canopies, the Northern Parula is an uncommon nester in the Ottawa area.
Upland Sandpiper, Winchester, Gregory Zbitnew. Greg found this bird while atlassing in the Winchester area. He points out that they are impossible to see in the grass but often pose on fence posts. The eastern Ontario corn belt is still a good area for grassland species like this one.
Brown Thrasher, Horton Township, Vicky Deschamps. Vicky feels lucky to have this guy around for a few years in her backyard.
Snow Goose – Jun 13, Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau.
Semipalmated Plover – Jun 12-14, – Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau.
Ruddy Turnstone – Jun 13, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
White-rumped Sandpiper – Jun 12, Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau.
Solitary Sandpiper – Reported Jun 10, Marlborough Forest–E4 entrance, Ottawa.
Greater Yellowlegs – Jun 12, Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau.
Semipalmated Sandpiper – Jun 11, Kanata–Carp River Watershed Reclamation Area, Ottawa.
Bonaparte’s Gull – Jun 15, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Jun 15, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Rideau Canal–Black Rapids Lock, Ottawa.
Caspian Tern – Jun 13, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Jun 11, Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa.
Olive-sided Flycatcher – Jun 12, Wolf Grove Road, Lanark. Jun 11, Champlain Street Marsh, Ottawa.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – Jun 11, Concession Rd 9, Mississippi Mills, Lanark.
Northern Mockingbird – Continuing – Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Continuing, Ritchie Ave/Goodin, Constance Bay, Ottawa. Jun 09-13, Ch Sauvé-Ch Symphonie, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Jun 12,Groves Road, Prescott and Russell. Jun 14, Chemin Wiggins, Pontiac, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais, Quebec.
Yellow-throated Vireo – continuing, Stonecrest Road rail path, Stonecrest Rd, Ottawa. Jun 07, Kilmaurs Side Road, Ottawa.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Jun 13, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa
Golden-winged Warbler – Jun 04-14, Parc de la Gatineau–Relais Plein Air, Gatineau. On the edge of Trail #5.
Blue-winged Warbler – Continuing, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Northern Parula (3) Jun 014, Wolf Grove Road, Lanark.
Blackpoll Warbler – Jun 09, Foxleigh Crescent, Ottawa.
Prairie Warbler – Reported Jun 10, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Despite much effort, the bird was not refound.
eBird tip: Please note that Merlins, like humans, have a hard time distinguishing Philadelphia from Red-eyed Vireos. Given the close similarity between their songs, breeding season, eBird reports of Phillies will only be validated if well seen.
Atlas note: The birds that call Eastern Ontario their summer home are now on territory and have started breeding. Whether simply seen, heard singing, or noted carrying food, your observations are most welcome in the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by importing an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 8 June 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A big surprise is a late-reported White-winged Tern at Marais des Laîches on May 21. It could still be around, and it is definitely worth checking any local Black Terns for an interloper. The bird was well photographed.
Adult male breeding Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Larose Forest, Tony Beck. Tony says: Although one of the most common warblers seen during migration, small numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers breed in the greater Ottawa area. The subspecies expected here is the Myrtle Warbler. Some authorities recognize it as a separate species.
Common Tern, Andrew Haydon, Alan Short.
Merlin ready to jump, Vanier, Alan Short.
Peregrine Falcon, Billings Bridge, Alan Short. Notice the features that the large Peregrine shares with its smaller cousin, the Merlin, such as the falcon wings and the sharply pointed bill.
Adult male American Redstart, Mud Lake, Alan Short. Did you know their eyes are brown?
Cedar Waxwing, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Snow Geese, Giroux, Keith Wickens. Wondering why this group of Snoose Geese are hanging out so far south of their breeding grounds? Keith noticed a possible wing injury. When one or a few geese stay behind, there is usually illness or an injury at play.
Snow Goose (3) Navan (Giroux Road Ponds), Ottawa.
Trumpeter Swan (3) Jun 07, Kilmaurs Side Road, Ottawa.
White-winged Scoter (6) Jun 07, Barnett Park, Ottawa.
Bonaparte’s Gull (2) Jun 08, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. “Adults. Non breeding.”
White-winged Tern – May 21, Marais des Laîches, Gatineau.
Least Sandpiper – Jun 06, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark.
Greater Yellowlegs – Jun 02, Carleton Place–Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark. Other interesting but not rare birds reported here, such as Least Bittern.
Red-headed Woodpecker – Continuing, Constance Bay, Torbolton Forest, Ottawa.
Yellow-throated Vireo (6) Jun 04-08, Stonecrest Rd, Ottawa. Jun 07, Kilmaurs Side Road, Ottawa.
Philadelphia Vireo – Jun 04, Parc du Lac-Beauchamp, Gatineau.
Northern Mockingbird (2) Jun 05-07, Thad Johnson Private, Ottawa.
Golden-winged Warbler – Jun 04-08, Parc de la Gatineau–Relais Plein Air, Gatineau. On the edge of Trail #5.
Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler (hybrid) – Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa. The local eBird reviewers suggest reporting the female hybrid as “Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler (hybrid)”, not “Lawrence’s Warbler”, in eBird.
Blue-winged Warbler – Continuing, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Tennessee Warbler – Jun 07, Wilson-Dale Trail, Ottawa. Jun 05, Bellamy Mills Rd, Almonte, Lanark.
Northern Parula – Jun 05, Torwood Armitage, Ottawa.
Bay-breasted Warbler – Jun 08, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Blackpoll Warbler – Jun 07, CISCO campus, Innovation Dr. Kanata, Ottawa.
Atlas note: The birds that call Eastern Ontario their summer home are now on territory and have started breeding. Whether simply seen, heard singing, or noted carrying food, your observations are most welcome in the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. #youcanatlasthat anywhere in Ontario via the NatureCounts app, the Atlas website, or by importing an eBird checklist. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 1 June 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
The wave of male Blackpoll warblers that sang their way through the area last weekend announces the tail end of warbler migration for this spring. Lots of interesting birds around though.
Adult male Blue-winged Warbler, Burnt Lands, Dan Vasiu. Please be prudent and don’t disturb the Blue-winged Warblers trying to breed at Burnt Lands. With today’s tech, they can be safely observed from a distance. Blue-winged are regionally significant birds, and we would really like them to succeed.
Adult male Golden-winged Warbler, Murphy’s Point, Arlene Harrold.
Adult female warbler, Burnt Lands, Dan Vasiu. Take special care identifying these birds, as the hybridization zone that already includes Murphy’s Point is creeping northward.
Winter Wren, Jack Pine Trail, Jordan Milko. Jordan observed how the bird was singing from the understory, a trait of this species. These birds are generally secretive, but they will sometimes sing from exposed perches deep in the forest, but closer to the ground than the canopy.
Winter Wren carrying food, South March Highlands Conservation Area, Dan Vasiu. #YouCanAtlasThat.
Ruddy Turnstone, Remic Rapids Lookout, Aaron Hywarren. As Aaron describes the scene: a Ruddy Turnstone turning over a ruddy stone.
Adult Common Grackle feeding juvenile, Prescott-Russell Trail, Gillian Wright. #YouCanAtlasThat. According to the Birds of the World site, vertebrates such as nestlings and fish make up < 1% of grackle diet, but they are an adaptable species, and fish can be very significant for birds nesting near water like these.
Virginia Rail adult and chicks, Prescott-Russell Trail, Gillian Wright. #YouCanAtlasThat. If humans stop moving, many birds will ignore us. Gillian had a magical experience with this family of rails. She sat, and they carried on as if she wasn’t there. The family of rails became comfortable enough to nap in front of her before moving on. There are 5 chicks under the adult.
Juvenile Virginia Rail, Prescott-Russell Trail, Gillian Wright.
Adult female Belted Kingfisher, Thomas Dolan Parkway Bridge, Alan Short.
Adult male American Goldfinch, Mud Lake, Alan Short. It’s amazing how this bright yellow bird blends into this picture, with both the color and the shape of the leaves.
Willow Flycatcher, Nortel Marsh, Sanam Goudarzi. Both Alder and Willow flycatchers can be found here, but Sanan was able to id this bird by song.
Adult Herring Gull with young Northern Pike, Mud Lake, Sanam Goudarzi. Over the course of its life, a luckier pike will reach the top of the aquatic food chain, becoming big enough to eat some ducks. Not sure if that’s a bird-fact, or just a fish fact involving some birds…
Snow Goose (3) May 21-30, Navan (Giroux Road Ponds), Ottawa.
Eurasian Wigeon – May 25-28, Alfred Sewage Lagoons, Prescott and Russell. Outside the OFNC circle, but an interesting bird.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – May 31, Torbolton Forest, Ottawa.
Caspian Tern (2) May 30, Petrie Island, Ottawa.
Arctic Tern – May 31, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – May 29, 2023, Promenade de la Gatineau, promenade Champlain, incluant belvédère, Gatineau.
Red-headed Woodpecker (4) Constance Bay, Torbolton Forest, Ottawa.
Yellow-throated Vireo – May 28, Ch Carnochan, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. May 28, Richmond SE – Harbison Rd NE, Ottawa. May 27, Richmond Fen, Ottawa. May 26, Old Carp Rd, Ottawa.
Northern Mockingbird – May 29, Thad Johnson Private – Canada Border Services, Ottawa.
Louisiana Waterthrush – May 30, Parc de la Gatineau–Sentier de la Chute, Gatineau.
Blue-winged Warbler – May 26-Jun 01, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa. This is a regionally significant bird demonstrating breeding behavior, so please be prudent and don’t disrupt any breeding birds.
Atlas note: It’s May and many of the birds that we now enjoy are on territory and seeking mates. Whether simply seen or heard singing in suitable habitat, your observations are most welcome in the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact Aaron Hywarren the Atlas Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 25 May 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Northern Shovelers, Alfred Lagoons, Arlene Harrold. Will they breed here? Imagine the chicks – they start out looking much like Mallard chicks, but the bill starts growing well before they are even half-sized.
Adult male Canada Warbler, Petrie Island, Tony Beck. In Ottawa look for Canada Warblers passing through in May on migration. This species is skulky, usually low in trees or in shrubs. There are a few local breeders, but most are just passing through.
Green Heron, Mud Lake, Alan Short. Different heron species have different hunting strategies. Green Herons mostly stalk incredibly slowly and strike fast. But sometimes they use bread as bait to lure in fish.
Peregrine Falcon, Billings Bridge, Alan Short.
Northern Mockingbird, Shirley’s Bay, Dan Vasiu. Dan caught the bird hunting insects, but mockers eat a lot of fruit too. In fact, their northward range expansion is credited to planting of Multiflora Rose, a flower loved by landscapers for its toughness and hated by others for its invasiveness. No complaints about the mockers though.
Adult male Canada Warbler, Britannia ridge, Sanam Goudarzi. Note the yellow lore leaks into the upper part of the eye ring, giving this species a bi-colored eye-ring. The white in the bottom half of the eye-ring is the only white on this bird.
Adult male Golden-winged Warbler, Pine Grove area, Aaron Hywarren. A local breeder, but in very small numbers. Hard to find in the OFNC Circle, but fairly easy to see at Murphy’s Point PP, thanks to their exuberant songs.
Adult male Wilson’s Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Another migrant.
Adult male Mourning Warbler, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. A rare local breeder, and usually hard to see, as they forage invisibly on the ground. But sometimes the male will sing from a ridiculously exposed perch.
Female Yellow warbler, Arboretum, Christopher Clunas. I have no idea what is going on in this fascinating photo. Unlike the other warblers in this report, yellows are common local breeders, often nesting in surprisingly small shrubs.
Barn Swallows, TransCanada Trail in Stittsville, Dan Vasiu. Watching swallows collect mud for nest building is a real joy of spring.
American White Pelican (4) May 20, on the Ottawa River behind the Parliament Buildings.
Snow Goose (5) May 21-25, Navan (Giroux Road Ponds), Ottawa.
Surf Scoter (3) May 19, Petrie Island, Ottawa.
Whimbrel – May 24, Britannia Park (pier), Ottawa.
Hudsonian Godwit – May 20, Marais aux Grenouillettes, Gatineau. Many other shorebirds reported here this week, not just the rarities below.
Marbled Godwit – May 18, Dilworth Rd., Ottawa.
Red Knot (2) May 24, Marais des Laîches, Gatineau.
Caspian Tern – May 23, Marais aux Grenouillettes, Gatineau. May 20, Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa. May 19, Britannia, CA, Ottawa.
Arctic Tern (10) May 24, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – May 22, Innis Point Bird Observatory, Ottawa. May 22, Greenbelt Trail 10, Ottawa. (2) May 20, Dolman Ridge Road, Ottawa.
Red-headed Woodpecker – Constance Bay-Len Purcell, Ottawa.
Northern Mockingbird – May 25, Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa. May 23, Stanley Park, Ottawa.
Evening Grosbeak – Many sightings May 23-25 all over the circle, including Mer Bleue Bog and Britannia areas in Ottawa.
White-winged Crossbill (3) May 22, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Yellow-headed Blackbird – May 19, Parc Guillot & Marais Lamoureux, Gatineau.
Atlas note
It’s May and many of the birds that we now enjoy are on territory and seeking mates. Whether simply seen or heard singing in suitable habitat, your observations are most welcome in the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation opportunity to provide important data that will help inform conservation policies for years to come. For more on the Atlas, visit www.birdsontario.org or contact Aaron Hywarren the Atlas Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 4 May 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A little turnover in the birds, but lots of potential in the imminent warmer weather. Many birds holding just south could move in mass.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker, Dewberry Trail, Tony Beck.. Tony says having spent the winter around the entrance of the Dewberry Trail where the OFNC maintains a bird feeder, the female Red-bellied Woodpecker continues here into spring. We watched her take bits of remaining seeds and cache them in nearby tree crevices.
Rusty Blackbirds, Cambrian Road, Tony Beck. Tony says Rusty Blackbirds are uniformly dark during spring with the males appearing blacker than females (in this photo – two males above and one female below). They don’t achieve their characteristic rusty tones until fall. However, they’re recognized throughout the year by their squeaky calls, often compared to the sound of rusty door hinges.
Richardson’s Cackling Goose, Richmond, Tony Beck. Tony says: Compare the tone, size & shape of this Cackling Goose (left) with the Canada Goose (right). Although spring waterfowl migration begins fairly early in the Ottawa area, interesting goose sightings can still occur in May, and even early June (Brant). Keep your eyes out for uncommon species like this Cackling Goose (and others), even while you might be distracted by warblers and other late-spring migrants.
Great Egret, Andrew Hayden, Alan Short. Note the green breeding color between the bill and the eyes.
Horned Grebe, Shirley’s Bay, Alan Short. Alan captured the bird in mid drive. They can stay under for a remarkable time and distance.
Winter Wren, Dan Vasiu, South March Highlands Conservation Area. Carrying nesting material! #Youcanatlasthat.
Rusty Blackbird, Greenbelt Pathway between Conroy and Bank, Keith Wickens. It’s easy to dismiss these all dark blackbirds ‘grackles’, but with a second glance, note the slim practical bill, not at all grackle-like.
Sora, Ottawa, Paul Legasi. A familiar rail story – common local breeders, rarely seen. Much easier to hear than see, with their haunting ‘kerWEEE’ calls.
Common Gallinule, Tweedle Rd marsh, Edith St-Martin. Edith saw a pair in habitat. This photo shows off the well adapted feet and legs. None of our rails are easy to see, but the Gallinules have a habit of swimming along the edge of the vegetation that makes them slightly more viewable than the Sora.
Adult male Scaup, Andrew Haydon, Gillian Wright. Look at those back feathers! Beautiful, and functional, as the pattern breaks up the body shape for predators.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Last week we saw a bird displaying zero sign of a crest. In contrast, this bird is all crest! They can control the amount of red that shows – not necessarily consciously, but in response to different stimuli. This vertical posture with erect crown indicates a singing male (although not singing at the instant the photo is snapped). He can look even more aggressive if another male were to sing. If you see two males counter-singing, look for an aggressive horizontal posture and even more red on display. (Described in Birds of the World).
Adult Black-crowned Night-Heron, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. All our breeding heron and egret species have returned for the season.
Outside the OFNC circle, but of interest to local birders, an adult Northern Gannet was photographed in Farran Park, near Ingleside on May 04.
Snow Goose – Not ‘rare’, but a lovely spectacle, thousands of geese on Frank Kenny on May 04.
Ross’s Goose (2) May 03, Colonial Road, Ottawa.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2) May 03, Ch Sarsfield, Ottawa. May 02, Dunning Rd, Ottawa.
Brant (28) Apr 29, Chaudière Island, Ottawa. (19) Apr 29, Andrew Haydon Park West, Ottawa. (60) Apr 28, Eardley, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Early, but part of a broader push including Montreal.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Continuing Vance’s Side Rd/Constance Creek, Ottawa. (4) April 30-May 01, Bruce Pit, Ottawa. (4) Apr 29, Sarsapilla Trail, Ottawa.
White-winged Scoter – May 02, -Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Ruddy Duck (3) May 04, Moodie Quarry, Ottawa.
Iceland Gull – May 04, Brophy Drive Area, Ottawa. April 28 Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (3) May 04, Brophy Drive Area, Ottawa. May 03, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (15) May 02,Fourth Line Road, Ottawa.
Red-throated Loon – May 04, Innis Point Bird Observatory, Ottawa. Early.
Golden Eagle – Apr 28, Parc de la Gatineau–Lac Black, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – May 02, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – April 30, May 04, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – May 04, Domaine Mackenzie-King, Gatineau. May 03, Cumberland Ridge Drive Dog Walk Loop, Ottawa. Apr 30, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa. Apr 29, Ottawa–Dewberry Trail, Ottawa.
Harris’s Sparrow – Continued to at least Apr 28, Ch des Boulders, Gatineau.
Louisiana Waterthrush – May 03, Parc de la Gatineau–Sentier de la Chute, Gatineau.
Atlas note
With spring upon us, several local species have already started their breeding behaviour. Migrants are arriving daily and staking out territory before nesting. Observing and reporting this activity to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas provides essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will help guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. The Atlas is conducted every 20 years and is five years in duration. Participation in this once in a generation community science opportunity is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 27 April 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A huge raptor migration on the 22nd, with some observers reporting over 100 Broad-winged Hawks. Birders woke up on the 23rd to a river full of grebes, with hundreds of breeding plumage Horned Grebes and many Red-necked Grebes, in a flock that stretched from the Shirley’s Bay boat launch to Britannia. Not exciting enough? How about the first Ottawa report of a Swallow-tailed Kite since 1880?
Swallow-tailed Kite, Champlain Street Marsh, Edith St-Martin. Sure, it’s been 140 plus years since this bird was last reported in Ottawa, but this bird is worth waiting for. Rare southern visitors to Ontario, if they do show up, they often stick around for a while, so maybe it’s hiding out. Keep an eye out for this spectacular raptor. They eat lots of dragonflies and frogs, so if you know a spot with both, and some scattered tall trees to perch in….
Swallow-tailed Kite, Champlain Street Marsh, Edith St-Martin. Not every white bird flying by is a gull.
Ringed-billed Gulls, Shirley’s Bay boat launch, Arlene Harrold. Bright red cere (or exposed skin around the eyes and bill), and sharing food instead of fighting? Ringed-billed Gulls in love. Or at least about to share some genetic material.
Horned Grebe with prey, Shirley’s Bay, Dan Vasiu. One of hundreds that day. These numbers probably migrate over the region every year, but this time they ran into precipitation and set down to wait out the day.
Broad-winged Hawks, Elmvale Acres, Aaron Hywarren. Aaron counted 120 Broad-tailed hawks in an hour, plus several other raptors. The 22nd was a spectacular day for raptor migration.
Swamp Sparrow, Jack Pine Trail, Tony Beck. Because three trillers wasn’t confusing enough.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Smith Road, Nina Stavlund. Sometimes the Kinglet just won’t show the crown. This week the woods are filled with the fast paced song of tiny but fierce songsters.
Tree Swallow, Brewer Park, Judith Gustafsson. Many species of cavity-nesting birds now rely primarily on human-built homes. That begs the question, what did they do before there were cities and farms everywhere? Natural unmanaged forests have trees of varying ages, and far more cavities than we are used to seeing in controlled parks where decaying trees are quickly removed.
Hermit Thrush, Celebration Park, Catherine Lawrence. This bird of the deep forest is just casually sitting on a fence, because night-time migrants set down at dawn, and can’t always make it to their preferred habitat.
Black-capped Chickadee, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Chickadees have such a strong drive to remove soft wood from potential cavity homes, that if you want to entice them into a nest box, filling the bottom inch with sawdust increases the chance of successfully attracting them. DIY’ers gotta make it their own.
Virginia Rail, Pineview Area, Craig Warmington. A common breeder in our area, but very a sneaky marsh bird, and rarely seen, especially in backyards. A bird in a weird location like this might be injured, or it might have just made a last minute landing decision after a hard night of migration. When wondering what to do with a bird you are concerned about, reach out to the Wild Bird Care Centre (613) 854-2849 or Safe Wings 613-216-8999. This year, because of avian flu, don’t collect sick or injured waterbirds or raptors without reaching out to one of these organizations first. They may not be able to accept the bird for treatment.
Swallow-tailed Kite – April 25. A single observer photographed a Swallow-tailed Kite over the Champlain Street marsh, from François Dupont Park, Ottawa. Unfortunately the bird was not refound.
Ross’s Goose – Apr 23, Dunning Rd, Ottawa.
Greater White-fronted Goose – Apr 23, Dunning Road, Ottawa.
Tundra Swan – Apr 21, Ottawa 35, Ottawa.
Canvasback – Apr 22-24 Station d’épuration, (Masson-Angers), Gatineau. Apr 24,Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa.
White-winged Scoter (2) Apr 23, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Eared Grebe – Apr 23, Baie Simard, Gatineau. One little grebe in a flock of hundreds of Horned Grebes.
Golden Eagle – Apr 22, O’Toole Rd, Cumberland, Ottawa. Apr 22, Clarendon’s end, Ottawa.
Bonaparte’s Gull – Apr 24, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Apr 23, Dick Bell Park, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Apr 25, 27, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Apr 22, 25, 27, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Warbling Vireo – Apr 26, Bilberry Creek near river, Ottawa. Apr 23, Parc de la Gatineau–Relais Keogan, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Apr 23, Priam Way, Ottawa.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Apr 26, Parc du Marais de Touraine, Gatineau.
Marsh Wren – Apr 27, Watts Creek Pathway, Ottawa.
Harris’s Sparrow – Apr 24-26, Ch des Boulders, Gatineau.
Northern Waterthrush – Apr 24-26, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa. Apr 26, Richmond SE – Dobson Lane, Ottawa. Apr 25, Greenbelt Pathway West, Ottawa. Apr 22, Marlborough Forest–E4 entrance, Ottawa.
Nashville Warbler – Apr 24, Parc de la Gatineau–Sentier Lauriault, Gatineau.
Common Yellowthroat – Apr 26, Ramsay Conc. 5a, Lanark.
Yellow Warbler – Apr 26, Ottawa–Remic Rapids and Champlain Bridge area, Ottawa.
Black-throated Green Warbler – Apr 26, Parc du Marais de Touraine, Gatineau.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 20 April 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
New shorebirds with Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers arriving. Thousands of Tree Swallows swarming over Britannia on the 20th. A big influx of Palm Warblers – both Western and Yellow, on April 16. This Saturday, winds look good to bring more birds.
Palm Warbler, Mud lake, Sai Wai Ip. It would be easy to pass this very yellow warbler off as a Pine Warbler, the other yellowish warbler passing through this week and last. But the yellow undertail and white tail tips call for a second look. The eastern or yellow population of Palm Warblers is vibrant yellow compared to most of the Western Palm Warblers we see in this region. The cheek patch almost disappears into the light, and the cap is hidden from this angle.
Palm Warbler, Mer Blue, Aaron Hywarren. This is a much simpler ID, with the obvious red cap and cheek patch, but warblers don’t always oblige like this.
Pine Warbler, the other, other, yellow warbler. Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Focus on the enormous bill, and the white-belly (unlike the first Palm Warbler above). And ignore the orange undersides of the feet, lest you face nightmares about misidentified fall Blackpoll Warblers.
American Robin, Brewer’s Park, Judith Gustafsson. Not only #youcanatlasthat, but this photo explains why Derek’s bird bath is always muddy this time of year, no matter how often he cleans it. The robins work the mud, then bath, then work the mud. Rinse and repeat (literally). Evidence of breeding behaviour, such as carrying nesting material, is very helpful to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas.
Tree Swallow, Brewer Park, Judith Gustafsson. Many swallows returned this week and are already claiming nest boxes.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Kizell Pond, Dan Vasiu. Note the hints of yellow, and the blush of the red in the throat and nape. Two males? Who wins in a plumage competition?
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bruce Pond, Arlene Harrold. Wait, Kinglets eat plant matter? Apparently, in very small quantities, except during fall migration when plants become 31% of the diet (according to Birds of the World). This isn’t fall migration, so this is a fairly rare sighting. But this flexibility has to help in the spring when somedays all the insects are too cold to fly or walk around. Because kinglets take such small prey and other food items, the species they eat are less identified than those of larger birds.
Big Corvid, Carp River Reclamation Area, Dan Vasiu. Can you ID this bird without seeing the bill clearly?
Male Eastern Towhee, Carp Highlands, Aaron Hywarren. Another species back on breeding territory already.
Osprey, Thomas Dolan Parkway Bridge, Alan Short. This bird needs those calories, as it will spend the summer feeding chicks as large as itself.
Double-breasted Cormorant, Andrew Haydon Park, Alan Short. Dull and drab from a distance, up close there is always something else to notice in the stunning plumage and soft tissues of the cormorant. Check out the mottling and the qrange tips on the bill. The sparkles around the blue eye. Always stunning.
Bufflehead pair, Brewer Pond, Sandy Garland. The white cut-out pattern on the head is reminiscent of which local breeder? These birds are migrating through Ottawa to the northwest.
Ross’s Goose (2) Apr 16, Cobb Lake Creek flood plain, Prescott and Russell. Apr 15, Milton Road and area, Ottawa.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Apr 19-20, Dunrobin Shore, Ottawa. “Continuing birds in the sand pit off Vance’s Side Road.” (3) Apr 15-17, Ch de la Grande Presqu’Île, Plaisance, Papineau. Apr 19, Old 17 and Mississippi Bridge, Ottawa. Apr 17, Carp River Watershed Reclamation Area, Ottawa. Apr 17, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa. Apr 16, John Shaw Road, Kinburn, Ottawa. Apr 16, Marlborough Forest–Roger’s Pond, Ottawa. Apr 16, Dunrobin (Constance Creek), Ottawa. Apr 15, Lac Ruthledge Quebec, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Apr 15, Bleeks Road, Ottawa.
Tundra Swan (2-3) Apr 15-18, Cobb Lake Creek flood plain, Prescott and Russell.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Apr 17, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. Male.
Spotted Sandpiper – Apr 16-20, Carp River Watershed Reclamation Area, Ottawa. Apr 19, Clifford Allen Island, Ottawa,. Apr 17, Grandview Road River Access, Ottawa.
Solitary Sandpiper – Apr 15-20, Twin Elm Rd, Ottawa. Apr 19, Richland to Jock River, Ottawa. Apr 17, Greenbelt Pathway West, Ottawa.
Iceland Gull (2) Apr 20, Trail Road, Ottawa. Apr 17, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Apr 15-16, Twin Elm Rd, Ottawa.
Bonaparte’s Gull (4) Apr 20, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Apr 19, flooded field, Roger Stevens Drive, east of 3rd Line., Ottawa. Apr 19, Dilworth Road, south Ottawa, ON, Ottawa. Apr 15, Rideau River Provincial Park, Ottawa. Keep checking the black-headed gulls for rarities!
Caspian Tern – Apr 15, Shirley’s Bay (boat launch), Ottawa.
Green Heron – Apr 18, Marais Pierre-Ménard, Gatineau.
Golden Eagle – Apr 20, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Apr 17-19, Rue du Val-Perché, Gatineau. Apr 16, Sixth Line Road, Dunrobin, Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Apr 18, Pine Grove (South), Ottawa. Apr 15-17, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa. Pair foraging together on the 15th!
Blue-headed Vireo – Apr 18, Wolf Grove Road, Lanark. Apr 15, Ch Elm, Pontiac CA, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
House Wren – Apr 20, Nortel Marsh, Ottawa. Apr 19, Aylmer rural – secteur sud-ouest, Gatineau.
Carolina Wren (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Apr 16, Orleans, Ottawa.
American Pipit – Apr 20, Dilworth Road, Kemptville, Ottawa.
Pine Grosbeak – Apr 17-18, Bellamy Mills Rd, Almonte, ON, Lanark,
Snow Bunting – Apr 15, Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa. Apr 15, Birchgrove Road, Ottawa. (40) Apr 14, Navan (Giroux Road Ponds), Ottawa.
Palm Warbler (Western) Apr 16-18, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Apr 16, PN de Plaisance–Marais Perras, Papineau. Apr 16, Parc de la Gatineau–Sentier P17, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Apr 16, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa. Apr 16, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. Apr 15, Baie Simard, Gatineau.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (2) Apr 15-16, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa. Apr 16 Britannia CA, Ottawa.
Atlas note
With spring upon us, several local species have already started their breeding behaviour. Migrants are arriving daily and staking out territory before nesting.
Observing and reporting this activity to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas provides essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will help guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. The Atlas is conducted every 20 years and is five years in duration. Participation in this once in a generation community science opportunity is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird.
Come find out about the Atlas in our region and meet fellow participants: we’re having an informal Meet and Greet for the Ottawa Region of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas from 0830 to 1000 at the Shirleys Bay Boat Launch on Sunday 23 April.
For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 13 April 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
The region exploded with song this week. Ruby-crowned joined their Golden-Crowned cousins, Winter Wren set up shop en masse, and the warbler vanguard of Pine and Yellow-rumped warblers arrived.
Vesper Sparrow, Central Experimental Farm, Clifford Rostek. Vespers breed at Burnt lands and in Dunrobin, but aren’t usually found in the heart of the city. The Farm, the Arboretum, and the Fletcher Wildlife Garden form a mid-city oasis for migrating birds with grasslands, meadows, water, and forest habitat. It’s always worth checking out on migration.
Hooded Mergansers, March valley Road, Alan Short. Could a pair look less alike? The female plumage optimized to avoid predation, and the male plumage evolved to just show off his genes and health status.
Pine Warbler, around Vincent Massey Park, Aaron Hywarren. Just when you’ve memorized the trilling song of the dark-eyed Junco, the Pine Warbler returns to sow confusion. But that’s OK, you’re wrong, it was actually a Chipping Spparow in the Pine Tree after all. They snuck into town when we were’t paying attention.
Eastern Meadowlark, Berry Side Road, Arlene Harrold. Sometimes the meadowlark is real.
Eastern Phoebe, Watt’s creek, Janet McCullough. Sometimes the phoebe is real.
Black-capped Chickadee, Taylor lake, Janet McCullough. Chickadees are cavity nesters, but they don’t just use holes left by woodpeckers. They will excavate their own cavities in soft wood, such as the rot where this branch broke off.
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Emerald Meadows, Sanam Goudarzi. Eastern Puffball in full glorious song mode.
Tree Swallow, Richmond lagoons, Sanam Goudarzi.
Common Redpoll, Dewberry, Arlene Harrold. Time is running out to see the birds of winter.
Double-crested Cormorants, Deschenes Rapids, Maureen Mark. Cormorants and Great Egrets nest in the trees of Conroy Island.
Snow Goose, Winchester, Alan Short.
Ross’s Goose – Apr 04, Liscumb Rd, North Dundas, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Apr 04, Chemin de la Sapinière, Luskville, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Ross’s Goose – Apr 13, Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield, Ottawa. Apr 12, P&R—Rollin road, Prescott and Russell. Apr 10, John Shaw Rd, Ottawa. Apr 09, Winchester sewage lagoons, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2) Apr 12, P&R—Burton road, Prescott and Russell. Apr 12, P&R—Rollin road, Prescott and Russell. Apr 12, Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield, Ottawa. Apr 10, Carp River at John Shaw Road, Ottawa.
Trumpeter Swan – Apr 13, Magladry Rd, Ottawa. (2) Apr 13, Fine Estate, Ottawa. (2) Apr 12, Dunrobin (Constance Creek), Ottawa. Apr 09, John Shaw road, Ottawa. Apr 08, Dunning Rd., Ottawa.
Tundra Swan (2) Apr 10, Larose Forest, Prescott and Russell. Apr 09, Frank Kenney or nearby flooded areas, Ottawa.
Redhead (2) Apr 13, Grandview Road, Ottawa. Apr 10, Rideau River Provincial Park, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Apr 10, Almonte–Martin/St. Paul St lookout, Lanark.
Common Gallinule – Apr 11, Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa.
Iceland Gull (2) Apr 12, NW corner of Barnsdale Rd and Twin Elm Rd, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Apr 10, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa. Apr 09, Perrault Rd, Ottawa.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2) Apr 10, Rideau Canal (Hartwells Locks to Mooney’s Bay), Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Apr 13, Parkway Rd, Ottawa. Apr 11, Dunvegan Rd, Ottawa. Apr 10, Bruce Pit, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Apr 08, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Carolina Wren (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa.
Brown Thrasher – Apr 12, Shirley’s Bay (Hilda Road feeders), Ottawa. Apr 12, Old Quarry Trail, Ottawa. Apr 11, Third Line Rd S, Ottawa. Apr 10, Florizel Avenue, Ottawa.
American Pipit – Apr 11, Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield, Ottawa.
Pine Grosbeak – Apr 08, Wedgewood Cr, Ottawa.
Snow Bunting – Apr 13, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. (1000) Apr 13, Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Greenbank Pond, Ottawa. Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Baltimore Oriole – Apr 11, PN de Plaisance–Marais aux rubaniers, Papineau.
Pine Warbler – Apr 12, Parc du Lac-Beauchamp, Gatineau.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 6 April 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A big influx of Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons, all of whom immediately regretted their decision. Lots of geese in flooded fields.
Male Pileated Woodpecker, 5th line road, Alan Short. Watching a huge pileated woodpecker zoom overhead is one of the thrilling moments of birding.
Red-shouldered Hawk, 6th Line Road, Alan Short. Preferring forest nests, they are easier to hear than see in the summer.
Hairy Woodpeckers, Sarsparilla Trail, Janet McCullough. #youcanatlasthat
Eastern Bluebird, Berry Side Road, Alan Short.
Rough-legged Hawk, Breckenridge, Jordan Milko.
Female Belted Kingfisher, DND HQ pond, Dan Vasiu. One of the few bird species where the female is more colorful than the male.
Pileated Woodpeckers, Berry Side Road, Arlene Harrold. Two female woodpeckers checking out a roost hole in a telephone pole. Note the raised crest on one. Pileated are not known for cooperative breeding. Competition for the prime location? Last year’s young?
American Woodcock, Blackburn Hamlet, Hans Lankamp. Surprisingly common in Ottawa, woodcock are very hard to see. Hans and Elaine watched this newly arrived woodcock forging in the leaf litter of a sheltered part of their yard. Just another reason to leave some leaves behind in the fall cleanup: good for the soil, the insects, and the birds.
Male American three-toed woodpecker, Greenbelt trail off Conroy, Gillian Wright. The birds off Conroy have overwintered. They will probably head north sometime this month, but the atlassers are hoping the pair will stick around.
Male Blue-winged Teal, DND HQ pond, Dan Vasiu. Nondescript little brown ducks for much of the year, Blue-winged Teal are stunning when it counts.
Blue-winged Teal, DND HQ pond, Dan Vasiu. For once, an actually useful duck name.
Ross’s Goose – Apr 04, Liscumb Rd, North Dundas, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Apr 04, Chemin de la Sapinière, Luskville, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2) John Shaw Rd, Ottawa. (2) Roger Stevens Dr, Ottawa (last reported Apr 02).
Trumpeter Swan – John Shaw Rd, Ottawa.
Tundra Swan (7) Frank Kenney or nearby flooded areas, Ottawa.
Long-tailed Duck – Apr 04, Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Apr 02, Almonte – Martin/St. Paul St lookout, Lanark. Last reported at Strathcona park, Ottawa on April 01.
Red-breasted Merganser – Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Seen eating a Mud Puppy.
Iceland Gull (2) Apr 06, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa.
Black-crowned Night-Heron (7)Lemieux Island, Ottawa. Springhurst Park, Ottawa. Britannia CA, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Apr 04, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Apr 03, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Mar 27, Camp Fortune, Chelsea, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Apr 03, Berry Side Road, Dunrobin, Ottawa.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Apr 06, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa. Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Apr 04 Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail), Ottawa.
Carolina Wren (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Apr 06 Greenbank Pond, Ottawa. Apr 05, Pinetrail Crescent, Ottawa. Apr 03, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Atlas note
What do species as diverse as Great Horned Owls, Feral Pigeons, Eastern Screech Owls, Common Ravens, Northern Saw-whet Owls, Barred Owls, Mourning Doves, Ruffed Grouse, and Trumpeter Swans all have in common?
All could now be breeding here in Eastern Ontario and the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas needs your observations of these species, even if you only see or hear them.
Your observations will provide essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will help guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. Participation is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 30 March 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Many tough migrants showed up this week, especially waterfowl. Canada Geese abound everywhere in flooded fields, with Cackling and Snow sprinkled in randomly. Song Sparrows returned and claimed territory, singing fiercely. Even more species are poised to move, just south of us.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Quyon, Tony Beck.
Canada Geese, Mud Lake, Alan Short. Geese are suddenly everywhere in the flooded fields in the area. Careful sifting of the flocks may reveal singles and pairs of Snow Geese, Cackling Geese, Ross’s Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, and possibly rarer birds.
Snow Bunting, Thomas Dolan Parkway, Alan Short. Speaking of migrants, as our birds return, this bird is preparing to leave for arctic breeding grounds.
Male American Kestrel, 5th Line rd, Alan Short.
Turkey Vulture, Steeple Hill Crescent, Tony Beck.
Eastern Meadowlark, Rushmore at Richmond, Arlene Harrold. This grassland bird isn’t afraid of a little snow in the race for territory.
Female Pileated Woodpecker, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Gillian observed this female raising her crest in response to calls of a nearby Piliated. This is the same bird from different sides, showing the crest raised and relaxed.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Dewberry Trail, Tony Beck. Much like the resident Merlin, this Sharpie is happy to take advantage of the Dewberry feeders.
Immature Bald eagle, River Road near Balmoral Drive, Andrei Grushman. Most of our birds are adults by the time they return to their breeding grounds, but Bald Eagles take 4 years to achieve their adult plumage.
Killdeer, Hallville, Tony Beck. One our first shorebirds to return each year, this bird’s iconic call is so loud Derek heard them returning this week from inside the house. Maybe Derek needs better windows.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2) Continuing. Mississippi Riverwalk Trail, Lanark. (3) Mar 30, Roger Stevens Drive, Ottawa, near McCordick Rd. Mar 28, Donnelly near Malakoff, Ottawa. Mar 26, Carleton Place–Stonewater Bay stormwater pond, Lanark.
Trumpeter Swan – Mar 29-30, Constance Bay, Ottawa. (3) Mar 27, Fourth Line Rd and Callendor Rd flooded fields, Ottawa.
Northern Shoveler – Mar 27, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. “Male; Lake Deschenes ice edge.”
Gadwall – Stittsville–Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Greater Scaup (8) Mar 26, Britannia Yacht Club, Ottawa.
White-winged Scoter – Mar 26, Britannia Yacht Club, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (3) Strathcona Park, Ottawa. Mar 28, Almonte–Martin/St. Paul St lookout, Lanark. Mar 26, Beryl Gaffney and Maple Hill Parks, Ottawa.
Red-breasted Merganser – Mar 26-29, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (6) Mar 23, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Double-crested Cormorant – All along the Rideau River and back in the usual breeding spots on the Ottawa – Rapides Deschênes and Chaudière Island, etc.
Great Egret – Mar 29, Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau. Mar 29, Rockcliffe Park & McKay Lake, Ottawa. Mar 27, Greenbank Pond, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Mar 29, Dilworth Rd, Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Mar 24, Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Road, Ottawa. “Female Black-backed Woodpecker on Greenbelt Pathway off Conroy, about 800 m in from Conroy (east). North side of trail.”
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Mar 27, Camp Fortune, Chelsea, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Tree Swallow (3) 27 Mar, Riverside South stormwater ponds, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Mar 30, Armitage Ave, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Mar 27, Merivale Gardens, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Mar 19-28, Greenbank Pond, Ottawa.
Eastern Towhee – Mar 28, Voyageur Dr, Ottawa. This bird went unreported for 2 months, but probably overwintered in the area.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 23 March 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Many regular breeding species returned this week: American Woodcock, Great Blue Heron, Sandhill Crane, robin, cormorant, Song Sparrow, and many more Turkey Vultures than last week. Even more migrants are gathering south of the circle, and south winds overnight Saturday look really exciting.
Wild Turkey, Ottawa south end, Aaron Hywarren.
Trumpeter Swans, Rideau River by Chapman Mills Conservation Area, Anish Muradia.
Pileated Woodpecker, Berry Side Road, Alan Short. Alan observed this male adding another hole on the same pole he worked on last year. Ever wonder why you see those fake Pileated Woodpeckers on telephone poles? This is why.
Immature Cooper’s Hawk, Cobden Rd x Baseline Rd, Alan Short.
Common Grackle, Shirley’s Bay, Arlene Harrold. This is why our local Common Grackle is called “bronzied.”
American Tree Sparrow, Shirley’s Bay, Janet McCullough. The much smaller Chipping Sparrow does look like a Tree Sparrow, without the breast spot and bi-colored bill. The fact that the two species don’t overlap much in time no doubt makes the id harder. Tree Sparrows will head north soon, to be replaced by Chipping Sparrows for the summer.
Brown Creeper, Pine Grove (near the OFNC feeder), Gillian Wright.
Rough-legged Hawk, Horton Township, Vicky Deschamps. The feather-covered legs that give this species its name are visible in this shot. Landing on an apparently too small branch, and using the wings to balance, is a trait of this species.
Tundra Swan (2) Mar 21, Ottawa River, crossing towards Baie McLaurin or Marais des Laîches, Gatineau.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Mar 21, Rideau River by Chapman Mills Conservation Area, Ottawa, and Dunrobin Rd E of Thomas Dolan Rd, Ottawa, same day.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (3) Strathcona Park, Ottawa.
Double-crested Cormorant – Mar 18-22, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Mar 20, Lazy Bay Area, Ottawa.
Gadwall – Stittsville–Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Mar 21, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa. March 20, Britannia Area, Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Mar 18, NCC 12, Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Mar 20, Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Road, Ottawa. “Continuing. Observed in the pines at the ONFC feeder.” Mar 16, Aylmer, Gatineau.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Mar 21, Steeple Hill Crescent, Ottawa. Mar 18-19, Terry Carisse Park, Ottawa. Mar 18, Berry Side Road, Dunrobin, Ottawa. Mar 17, Beacon Hill North – Delong Drive, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse – North Gower, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Mar 19-22, Greenbank Pond, Ottawa. Continuing, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Atlas note: Although there is still snow on the ground, some bird species of our region are already busy breeding. The Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas would welcome your observations of Great Horned Owls and Eastern Screech Owls, as well as both Red and White-winged Crossbills wherever you encounter them. Your observations – whether these species are seen or heard – are valuable and will provide essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. Participation is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 16 March 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Right on time, the last two weeks of March see Golden Eagles migrating North over the region.
Horned Lark, east end, Sanam Goudarzi. Most of the Horned Larks will be leaving for their breeding grounds, although we have a small breeding population.
Cedar Waxwing, Ottawa, Alan Short. Note the surprising two-part tongue, ideal for eating fruit.
Bohemian Waxwings, Ottawa, Alan Short. Ever wonder how expert birders count huge flocks? Usually by counting a representative area, then extrapolating (see How to Count Birds). This photo is an excellent opportunity to try this techinque. See how much space 10 birds take, estimate how many 10-bird groups there are, and then count the actual birds in the photo to see how close you got. Over time this technique becomes faster and more accurate.
Adult Bald Eagle, east end, Sanam Goudarzi. If you are ever feeling frustrated about conservation issues, remember the amazing success story of the recovery of the Bald Eagle across North America. One pair usually breeds near Shirley’s Bay.
Black-backed Woodpecker, Pack Pine, Gregory Zbitnew. So much cool behaviour in this one shot. All three toes are in the front position (one toe can be swung 180 degrees). The nictitating membrane is protecting the eye when the bird strikes the tree, and in this shot, when it shoots out its tongue to retrieve prey. Woodpecker tongues have to be super long to go past the long bills and deep into insect tunnels inside the tree. While this individual has been hard to find as it overwintered at Jack Pine, that’s not because it’s shy. Like many northern birds, it mostly ignores people, and at the point Greg took this shot, it had been feeding at a variety of trees very close to the trail for an hour, as a crowd gathered to watch in awe.
Adult Cooper’s Hawk, Kanata Lakes, James Fulcher.
Adult male Pine Siskin, Jack Pine, Janet McCullough. Birders love these bright yellow ‘green morph’ individuals. Green morphs are not a subspecies or genetically distinct group. In fact, Sibley says they are just on the extreme end of a normal distribution of plumage colour.
Adult male Pine Siskin, Jack Pine, Janet McCullough. How many types of feathers can you find here? Long, strong, asymmetrical flight feathers that generate lift. Symetricatical undertail feathers. Soft body feathers protecting the belly. Similar but more aerodynamic feathers protecting the flanks. Extremely asymmetrical tail feathers for maneuverability. More types of feathers are visible in the previous photo.
Bohemian Waxwing, Alan Short, Ottawa.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Mar 16, 417 and Kinburn, Ottawa.
Gadwall – Mar 12, Stittsville–Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Lesser Scaup (2) Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Adàwe Crossing, Ottawa.
Gray Partridge – Giroux Road, Ottawa. In the fields or hiding in the tree-line.
Golden Eagle – Eagle season until the end of the month! Mar 15, Flew north across the Ottawa River, east of Britannia, and then over the Gatineau Hills. Mar 15, Carp River Watershed Reclamation Area, Ottawa. Golden Eagle – Mar 12, Trans Canada near Limoges, Prescott and Russell.
Belted Kingfisher – Mar 13, Watts Creek Pathway, Ottawa, near the train tracks.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Mar 10-12, Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail), Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Mar 11, Chemin Steele, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
Tufted Titmouse – North Gower, Ottawa. Infrequent and unpredictable.
Carolina Wren – (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. (2) Mar 16, Lismer Crescent, Kanata, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 9 March 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A few new waterbirds to tease spring?
Female American Three-toed Woodpecker, Jack Pine, Dan Vasiu. Although there is a Three-toed breeding record from the first Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, these birds may head back north by late April, and we may not see them again for years. With at least 5 birds in the area, fingers crossed that a pair will stick around.
Greater White-fronted Geese and Trumpeter Swans, Carleton Place, Tony Beck. The swans have been around for months, but the geese are a fresh sign of impending spring.
Bohemian Waxwing, Hildra Road, Alan Short. One of the 200 Alan saw.
Female Common Goldeneye, Mud Lake, Alan Short.
Gadwall, Iber Pond, Dan Vasiu. For a bird with just brown and black feathers, the Gadwall sports a stunning array of beautiful feather patterns.
Male Northern Pintail, Iber Pond, Edith St-Martin.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2) Mar 05-09, Carleton Place–Riverside Park, Lanark.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Carleton Place–Riverside Park, Lanark. Mar 06, Armitage road, Ottawa.
Northern Shoveler (4) Mar 05, Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau.
Gadwall – Mar 09, Stittsville–Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Lesser Scaup (2) Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (4) Adàwe Crossing, Ottawa.
Gray Partridge (5) Giroux Road, Ottawa.
Turkey Vulture – Mar 09, Britannia CA–Britannia Ridge, Ottawa. Mar 07, Walkley Rd, Ottawa. Mar 06, Perth, Lanark. Mar 06, Amberwood Village, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Mar 05, Panmure Rd, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Mar 05, Greenbelt Pathway between Hawthorne and Ramsayville, Ottawa. Mar 03, Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail), Ottawa. Talking to the gurus who know the historical data, these birds will probably leave by late April.
Northern Flicker – Richland Dr, Ottawa. Mar 06, Hopewell Avenue, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. NCC Trail 24, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse – North Gower, Ottawa. Infrequent and unpredictable.
Carolina Wren – (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. (2) Richland Dr, Ottawa.
Fox Sparrow – Continuing, Wellsmere Ct, Ottawa. Very close to overwintering.
White-crowned Sparrow – Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 2 March 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Horned Lark, Akins Road, Tony Beck. This individual of the Prairie subspecies is likely a spring migrant.
Gray Partridge, Giroux Road, Edith St-Martin. Despite what many people believe, most songbirds don’t care if birders talk, sing, move around, or wear white, as long as we don’t move too fast or get too close. But gamebirds are a different story. Close views are tough to get. One strategy is to use a vehicle as a blind, shooting photos from the window or behind the vehicle to break up the human shape. If shooting through an open window, remember the difference in temperature may distort the shot. Holding the camera entirely outside the window may help.
Evening Grosbeak, Dewberry Trail, Arlene Harrold. With breeding success tied to Spruce Budworm outbreaks in the Boreal Forest, their numbers are much lower than decades ago. But there is speculation that reduced spraying over the last 3 years has caused a population bounce.
Bohemian Waxwing, Hilda Feeders, Alan Short. Not there for the seeds, Alan found these wanderers feeding on buckthorn fruit.
Male Mallard, Mud lake, Alan Short
Female Evening Grosbeak and Tree Sparrows, Dewberry, Janet McCullough. Note the massive size difference. Yet over and over on social media people who have never seen grosbeaks before post them as goldfinches, which are smaller than the sparrows, and shaped differently than the grosbeaks. New birders just naturally respond to colour before other field marks.
Cedar Waxwing, Jack Pine, Janet McCullough. Also eating buckthorn. At a quick glance, the Cedar Waxwing presents as a brighter, yellower, smaller bird.
Bohemian Waxwing, Hilda Feeders, Alan Short. These poses are close enough to really highlight the differences in plummages in these related species. The Bohemians appear larger and darker, with more red and gray instead of the yellow and white of the Cedar.
Gray Partridge, Giroux Road, Edith St-Martin.
Lesser Scaup – Continuing to at least Feb 27, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (4) Adawe, Ottawa. 2 adult males, 1 adult female, and 1 first year male. Try to collect the whole set among the Common Goldeneyes.
Gray Partridge (3) Giroux Road, Ottawa. Frequently seen in or near the trees at the base of the hill that borders the field.
Turkey Vulture – Feb 23, Riverain Park, Ottawa.
Northern Flicker – Richland Dr, Ottawa. William Mooney Road, Ottawa. Feb 26, Upper Otterson Pl, Ottawa. Feb 25, Billings Bridge, Ottawa. Feb 24, Abingdon Dr, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. NCC Trail 24, Ottawa. Terry Carisse Park, Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Mar 01, Parc de la Gatineau – sentier 53, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Feb 24, 26, NCC Trail 24, Ottawa.
American three-toed Woodpecker – Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse – North Gower, Ottawa.
Boreal Chickadee – Magladry x Birchgove to Feb 26 , Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Richland Dr, Ottawa. Feb 24, Pebble Rd, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Hermit Thrush – Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau. Feb 25, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 23 February 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
More Red-bellied Woodpeckers than you could shake a perforated stick at. An influx of White-throated Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds. On the other hand, several of our rarities have been here for months. Time to start taking bets on whether they make it into the atlas.
Adult male Pine Grosbeak, Terry Carisse Park, Jordan Milko. Jordan observed the flock of about two dozen birds feeding on boxelder keys. Jordan also observed that like many northern birds, Pine Grosbeaks are not very shy.
Adult male Red-winged Blackbird, Metcalfe, Erik Pohanka. Red-winged Blackbirds demonstrate their breeding worth by the quality of breeding territory they can defend from other males. So every year some individuals take the risk to turn up while the wetlands are still iced and food is scarce, to lay first claim to prime locations. Feeders alter the risk/reward ratio by helping early arrivals weather the end of winter.
Adult male Common Goldeneye, Mud lake, Alan Short. If there is nothing as graceful as a bird in flight, there are few things less graceful than waterfowl taking off or landing. Alan caught this bird’s impressive takeoff, as it fights gravity with physics. Imagine pushing against water hard and fast enough to take to the air.
Adult male Northern Pintail, Iber Rd storm pond, Alan Short. Both this drake and the drake gadwall at the same location have already developed gorgeous breeding plumage. This is a very different strategy from the blackbirds’ attempt to hold the breeding territory. Drake ducks demonstrate their health and genes through their plumage, and in many species may not even follow the females to the areas where they nest.
Scaup sp., Britannia Point, Scott Haldane.
Red-tailed Hawks, Fallowfield, Arlene Harrold. Arlene frequently sees this pair together in the same area, so this is probably a pair that has bred together in a previous year.
Ruffed Grouse, Jack Pine, Janet McCullough. Having been on the receiving end of both the broken wing distraction display, and the ‘I’m a huge scary dinosaur, run away’ leaping fake attack, Derek much prefers the first strategy of protecting the chicks. It’s less heart-attack inducing. How scary could a mama bird possibly be? She’s a terrifying dinosaur!
Snow Goose – 18, Liscumb Rd, North Dundas, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Gadwall – Continuing in Stittsville at the Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Northern Pintail – Continuing in Stittsville at the Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Lesser Scaup – Continuing, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (3) Riverain Park, Ottawa.
Gray Partridge (3) Giroux Road, Ottawa.
Turkey Vulture – Feb 19, University of Ottawa Campus, Ottawa.
Northern Harrier – Feb 19, Greenbank Pond, Ottawa.
Northern Flicker – Continuing, Richland Dr, Ottawa. Feb 22,Terry Carisse Park, Ottawa. Feb 17-18, William Mooney Road, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Ch Steele, Pontiac. Continuing NCC Trail 24, Ottawa. Feb 22-23, Terry Carisse Park, Ottawa. Parkway Rd, Ottawa. Feb 19, Priam Way, Ottawa. Feb 19, Manion Heights, Ottawa.
American three-toed Woodpecker – Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa. Most frequently reported near waypoint C.
Tufted Titmouse – North Gower, Ottawa. Feb 18, Winchester area, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. The 5th Titmouse in the circle this winter?
Boreal Chickadee – Magladry x Birchgove, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Richland Dr, Ottawa. Feb 19, Ashton Station Rd, Lanark. Feb 18, Morrison Dr, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Continuing all winter, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Fox Sparrow – Continuing Wellsmere Ct, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – to at least Feb 18, Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau.
Common Grackle – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Feb 20, Foothills Dr, Ottawa.
Red-winged Blackbird – From a handful of reports last week to single males showing up everywhere this week.
Brown-headed Cowbird (4) Feb 17, Mariah St, Ottawa.
Atlas note: Although there is still snow on the ground, some bird species of our region are already busy breeding. The Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas would welcome your observations of Great Horned Owls and Eastern Screech Owls, as well as both Red and White-winged Crossbills wherever you encounter them. Your observations – whether these species are seen or heard – are valuable and will provide essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. Participation is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 16 February 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
First Ring-billed Gull reports in a month. An uptick in Red-wing Blackbird reports. Hints of seasonal change.
Adult Red-tailed Hawk and American Crow, Moodie Drive, Tony Beck. Does that hawk seem stressed? Does that crow seem up-to-no good? That’s just anthropomorphization. Hah, that hawk is definitely stressed. Chasing raptors is the main hobby of corvids of all sizes. The Red-tailed hawk mostly eats rodents (and cottontails), so it’s not a significant danger to adult crows, and not really competing with them either. But all corvids, and many passerines will mob bigger predators and try to drive them away.
Trumpeter Swan, Mississippi River in Carleton Place (Riverside Park), Scott Haldane. The orange stain on the head is probably from feeding in iron-rich wetlands in Alaska or the Yukon. Unlike Tundra Swans that breed all across the Tundra from Quebec to Alaska, Trumpeter Swans breed in the North West.
Male Common Merganser, Mud lake, Alan Short.
Merlin, Dewberry Trail Feeders, Alan Short.
Adult Female Northern Cardinal, Fletcher, Janet McCullough.
Wild Turkey, Upper Dwyer Hill, Janet McCullough. Note the wicked spurs on the back of the legs. They are keratinized like talons, and so are actually formidable weapons. Males may use them in fights for dominance when the dance-off doesn’t solve things.
Gadwall – Continuing in Stittsville at the Iber Rd storm pond, Ottawa.
Lesser Scaup – Continuing, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (3) Adawe/ Riverain Park, Ottawa.
Gray Partridge – Feb 12, Navan (Giroux Road Ponds), Ottawa.
Northern Harrier – Greenbank Pond, Ottawa. Feb 14, Richmond golf course, Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Feb 11, Kizell Pond, Ottawa.
Northern Flicker – Continuing, Richland Dr, Ottawa. Armitage Ave, Ottawa. Feb 15, Baxter CA, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Feb 14, Ch Steele, Pontiac. Feb 14, Oriole, Ottawa. Feb 10, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Feb 12, NCC Trail 24, Ottawa. Feb 11, Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa.
American three-toed Woodpecker – Feb 11-16, Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa. Generally reported near waypoint Near C. More frequently reported this week.
Tufted Titmouse – Feb 07-10 North Gower, Ottawa.
Boreal Chickadee – Feb 12, Magladry x Birchgove, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Richland Dr, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Continuing, Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau.
White-throated Sparrow – Feb 12-15, Fletcher Wildlife Centre, at the feeder. Feb 15, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa. Feb 12, Solva Dr, Ottawa. Feb 13, Old Quarry trail, Ottawa.
Common Grackle – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa.
Red-winged Blackbird – Feb 16, Stony Swamp (Sarsaparilla Trail), Ottawa. Walden Dr, Ottawa. Feb 14, Dwyer Hill Rd, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 9 February 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A new Tufted Titmouse in North Gower. Titmice for everyone! Both Bohemian Waxwing and Pine Grosbeak numbers have increased in the past few weeks.
Black Capped Chickadee, Mud lake, Alan Short. Chickadees, Robins and other birds will eat sumac in late winter when other fruit runs out. And they will investigate it for insects year round.
Male House Finch, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Alan Short.
Male Evening Grosbeak, Dewberry Trail, Tony Beck. The flock at Dewberry is fairly consistent and easy to see. Can’t guarantee your photos will turn out as well as Tony’s though.
Barrow’s Goldeneye, and several Common Goldeneye, Adawe Crossing, Scott Halane. This is a great learning shot. Compare the face patches, and the difference in black and white on the scapulars is nicely contrasted too. And the Barrow’s distinctive pose is so different we could id him from a silhouette.
Winter passerines, Lockhead Road, Gillian Wright. How many of each, and what species?
Winter passerines, Lockhead Road, Arlene Harrold. Different view, same question.
Horned Lark, Lockhead Road, Jordan Milko. Jordan caught this Lark looking perfectly at home in the -40 (with windchill) weather.
Red-tailed hawk (and American Crow), Steeple Hill, Janet McCullough.
White-throated Sparrow, Tanya Middlebro. Tanya has had a white-throated sparrow under her feeder since November, and for the last two winters as well. It is a very special bird to her, as it was the first bird her beloved grandmother taught her to recognise at the age of 9. It nested outside their remote family cottage. Sometimes birding is as much about our relationships with others as it is about the birds.
Snow Goose – Feb 05, Wincester–Liscumb Road, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Adult, in open creek.
Trumpeter Swan (7) Feb 09, Riverside Park, Carleton Place.
Green-winged Teal – Feb 08, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. A gorgeous male.
Lesser Scaup (2) Continuing, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Seen from both sides of the river.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – (3) Riverain Park, Ottawa.
Northern Harrier – Trail Road Landfill. Greenbank Pond, Ottawa.
Northern Flicker (2) Continuing, Richland Dr, Ottawa. Armitage Ave, Ottawa. Feb 05, Bankfield Road, Ottawa. Feb 05, Armitage Ave, Ottawa. Feb 05, Abingdon Drive, Ottawa. Feb 04, Arboretum, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Feb 06, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa. Feb 05, NCC Trail 24, Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Feb 07, Old Quarry Trail, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse – Feb 07-09 North Gower, Ottawa.
Evening Grosbeak (19) Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Not rare, this flock is consistent and easy to find.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Richland Dr, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Continuing, Jan 28-Feb 07, Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau.
White-crowned Sparrow – Feb 09, Greenbank Pond, Ottawa. Continuing, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Fox Sparrow – Continuing Wellsmere Ct, Ottawa.
Common Grackle – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Feb 05, Riverside South stormwater ponds, Ottawa.
Brown-headed Cowbird – Feb 05, Heritage Dr, Montague, Lanark, just outside the circle.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 2 February 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
A new Tufted Titmouse in Kanata.
Cooper’s Hawk, Winchester, Nina Stavlund.
American Black Duck x Mallard, and American Black Duck (both male), Billings Bridge, Judith Gustafsson.
Snow Buntings, Aikins, Janet McCullough. What’s the difference between a snow-covered roof and a snow drift? Not much if you’re a visitor from the far North. This flock was sheltering from the wicked winds on the leeward side of the roof, typical Snow Bunting behaviour in a storm. In storms they will let themselves be passively buried by the snow. But during extreme conditions, such as the temperatures expected in our region on Feb 02 and 03, they actively burrow under the snow. Look close, and you can see some are already half buried. Info from the excellent BirdsoftheWorld.org.
Merlin, Hilda Road, Alan Short.
Female Hairy woodpecker, Mud lake, Alan Short. Following up on last week’s woodpecker question, the longer beak and clean white outer tail feathers make this ID. There is also a hint of the black spur down the chest from the shoulder as well.
Female Downy Woodpecker, Mud Lake, Alan Short. Again, another easy ID, with the shorter beak, and the obvious black spots on the outer tail … oh come on birds, must you make a liar out of Derek every week? OK, no visible black spots on the tail feathers, and an excellent reminder to use multiple ID points, not just one, when possible. Well, the bill is short… except facing away from us is it foreshortened and appearing artificially short? Let’s say probable Downy Woodpecker.
American Robin, Mud lake, Alan Short. With a fairly poor wild grape crop this winter, overwintering robins are relying on Buckthorn, much to the benefit of the Buckthorn.
Lesser Scaup – Continuing, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Seen from both sides of the river.
Gadwall – Continuing, Iber Road storm pond (Stittsville), Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – (2) Adawe Crossing, Ottawa. Anywhere from Adawe to Hurdman.
Northern Harrier – Strandherd Dr, Ottawa. Trail Road Landfill. Presumably the same bird.
Northern Flicker – Continuing, Richland Dr, Ottawa. Armitage Ave, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing to Feb 02, Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Jan 29, Parkway Rd, Ottawa. Jan 27, NCC Greenbelt Trail 24, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Jan 31, Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse – Jan 31, Hansen Ave. There are trails in the park behind Hansen Ave.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Richland Dr, Ottawa.
Winter Wren – Feb 01, Fifth Line, Ottawa.
Eastern Bluebird – Continuing, Fifth Line Rd, Ottawa. Berry Side road, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Continuing, Jan 28-Feb 01, Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau.
White-crowned Sparrow – Continuing, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Common Grackle – Continuing to Feb 02, Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Jan 30, Greenbank Pond, Ottawa.
Brown-headed Cowbird – Jan 30, Julia Ct, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 26 January 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
No new birds this week. Perhaps it’s a good time to work on bird song for the upcoming atlas season.
Bohemian Waxwings, Bridlewood, Tony Beck. One of these things is not like the others. Which, and why?
Snow Bunting, Steeple Hill, Arlene Harrold. Snow Buntings have two types of camouflage. Their winter colors of white, black and browns blend well into weedy, snow-covered fields. And the white breaks up the body making it challenging for a predator to see the outline of the body to target them well.
Mallard, Strathcona Park, Judith Gustafsson. Not many animals spend as much time grooming as ducks, but when icy water is just a poor grooming attempt away, the effort becomes vital.
Mallard, Strathcona Park, Judith Gustafsson. Is this bird actually contorted enough to apply oil from the rump gland to her own head? It sure looks like it.
Gadwall, Iber Rd storm pond, Gillian Mastromatteo.
Merlin, Hilda Rd Feeders, Alan Short. Bird feeders feed more than seed-eaters.
Woodpecker, Hilda Rd Feeders, Alan Short. Which woodpecker, and why?
American Tree Sparrow, Hilda Rd Feeders, Alan Short. It is worth it to spend some time watching these birds, and listening to their calls. These are sounds we will not hear in the summer.
Northern Flicker, Metcalfe, Erik Pohanka. What’s a bird that mainly eats ants on the ground doing in Metcalfe in January? In this case, using suet to stay closer to the breeding grounds.
Lesser Scaup – Continuing to at least Jan 21, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Gadwall – Continuing, Iber Road storm pond (Stittsville), Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Riverain Park, Ottawa.
American Coot – Jan 03-25, Half Moon Bay Park, Ottawa.
Northern Harrier – Continuing, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Jan 23, Long Island, Manotick, Ottawa
Northern Flicker – Continuing, Richland Dr, Ottawa. Jan 24, Pleasant Park-Kilborn Gardens Corridor, Ottawa. Jan 23, Warrington Drive, Ottawa. Jan 22, McKendry Park Woods, Metcalfe, Ottawa. Jan 20-21, Armitage Ave, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Jan 26, Rue Larabie, Gatineau. Jan 26, Parkway Rd, Ottawa. Jan 21, Ch. Steele, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Oct 16 to Jan 23, on the NCC Greenbelt Pathway, just East of Conroy, Ottawa. Jan 21, Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa.
Boreal Chickadee – Continuing Dec 01-Jan 21, Birchgrove and Magladry roads, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse – Continuing Dec 04 – Jan 22, Fairmile Rd, Ottawa. Avoid 2449 Fairmile.
Carolina Wren (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Jan 14, Magladry Rd and Birchgrove Rd corner, Ottawa. Jan 14, Airport Parkway, Ottawa.
Eastern Bluebird – Continuing, Fifth Line Rd, Ottawa.
Fox Sparrow – Jan 22, Wellsmere Ct, Ottawa.
White-crowned Sparrow – Jan 24, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Common Grackle – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 19 January 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Mourning Dove, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Alan Short. Ever notice the bright pink feet?
Adult male Common Goldeneye, Adàwe Crossing Bridge, Ottawa, Alan Short. As in the male Mallard, the green iridescence is caused by microstructures in the feathers that reflect green light, not pigment.
Adult female Common Goldeneye, Adàwe Crossing Bridge, Ottawa, Alan Short.
American Coot, Half Moon Bay, Gillian Mastromatteo. Like many diving birds, coots have red eyes, but in low light they appear dark and the eyes seem to disappear.
Northern Pintail, Half Moon Bay, Gillian Mastromatteo. Always double check the sleeping Mallards. They pick up stragglers.
Adult male Horned Lark, Lockhead Road just south of North Gower, Bill Buchanan. The “horn” tufts of feathers are not always visible. The strong black does identify this as a male.
Horned Lark, Lockhead Road just south of North Gower, Bill Buchanan. Some birds hop, and some walk. Larks are obviously walkers. Note the long spur on the back toe.
Red-tailed Hawks, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Gillian Wright. Gillian observed these hawks hanging around together. Pairs that have previously mated will spend time together outside of the breeding season. The female is on average 20% larger than the male.
Male American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grove, Gillian Wright. Wondering how much longer he can hide from Derek? Forever? Possibly forever…
Lesser Scaup (2) Continuing, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Gadwall – Jan 18-19, Iber Road storm pond (Stittsville), Ottawa.
Horned Grebe – Jan 14, River near Constance Bay, Ottawa.
Harlequin Duck – Continuing to Jan 15, Bate Island, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye (3) Strathcona Park, Ottawa.
American Coot – Jan 03-19, Half Moon Bay Park, Ottawa.
Turkey Vulture – Jan 15, Highway 17, Ottawa, Ottawa.
Golden Eagle – Jan 17, Ramsay Con. 7B, Lanark.
Northern Harrier – Jan 18, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa. Jan 17, Northgraves Cres, Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Jan 17, Tanger Outlets, Ottawa.
Northern Flicker – Jan 18,Richlan Dr, Ottawa. Jan 16, Heart’s Desire Park, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Continuing Twin Elm Road Wetlands, Ottawa. Jan 15, Ch. Steele, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Jan 14, NCC Greenbelt Trail 24, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Oct 16 to Jan 16, on the NCC Greenbelt Pathway, Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Jan 14, Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail), Ottawa.
Boreal Chickadee – Continuing Dec 01-Jan 18, Birchgrove and Magladry Road, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Jan 14, Magladry Rd and Birchgrove Rd corner, Ottawa. Jan 14, Airport Parkway, Ottawa.
Eastern Bluebird (3) Jan 14, Fifth Line (abandoned farm), Ottawa.
Chipping Sparrow – Jan 17, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa.
Fox Sparrow – Jan 18, Wellsmere Ct, Ottawa.
Brown-headed Cowbird – Jan 16, North Gower, Ottawa.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Continuing Dec 27 to Jan 15, Solva Drive, Ottawa. On trail behind Solva.
eBird tip: Fairmile is a quiet residential street. The continuing presence of smiling people with fancy optics standing around for long periods has unsettled some residents and created friction with observers. For the sake of the homeowners and the positive reputation of our birding community, consider skipping the Titmouse. There will be another one. If you do report the Tufted Titmouse, please use the newly created hot spot. If you have existing checklists, please consider merging with the new hotspot. The stakeout pin is: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L22251193
How to merge a personal location to a hotspot
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 12 January 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
There seems to be a regular turn over of ducks, presumably due to varying ice conditions.
Adult male Mallard, Mud Lake, Gillian Wright. What pigments give Mallards their gorgeous colors? Carotenoids for the yellow, melanins for the brown. But the colour-shifting metallic green? No pigment at all, but tiny reflective tissues in the feathers.
Female White-breated Nuthatch, Mud lake, Alan Short. Our local male and female nuthatches can be told apart. The males have black caps, and the females have gray caps. Ever watch them when someone offers them food? Some individuals will fly to the hand and take seeds. Others will not, but they will take the peanuts that they just watched the chickadees hide. (Not advocating hand-feeding, just pointing out an easily observed behaviour on the Jack Pine Trail).
First winter male Common Goldeneye, Mud Lake, Alan Short. Notice the white patch developing on the face as the bird transitions from juvenile to adult plumage.
Female Common Goldeneye, Baie Fraser, Scott Haldane. That yellow bill tip might get the heart racing – Barrow’s! But bills are too long, the yellow tip too limited (for this time of year), and too much white in the coverts. These are both Common Goldeneye.
American Coot, Half-moon Bay, Sanam Goudarzi.
Rock Pigeon, Strathcona Park, Judith Gustafsson. Of all our birds, Rock Pigeons probably have the most variable plumage, presumably since North American birds are descended from escaped or introduced individuals.
Adult male Northern Pintail, Billings Bridge, Judith Gustafsson. Bonus points for IDing the other duck.
Bohemian Waxwings, Mud lake, Gillian Wright. With its abundant winter fruit, and laxative qualities, the invasive Common Buckthorn is quickly spread by birds.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Jan 04-07 Carp River watershed at March Road, Ottawa.
Tundra Swan – Jan 07, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa.
Canvasback – Jan 10, Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau.
Ring-necked Duck – Jan 09-10, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Lesser Scaup (2) Continuing, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Greater Scaup – Continuing, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Northern Pintail – Jan 11, Étang Grimes, Gatineau.
Green-winged Teal – Jan 09, Britannia CA–Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa.
Harlequin Duck – Continuing to Jan 11, Bate Island, Ottawa.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Continuing Adàwe Crossing, Ottawa.
American Coot – Jan 03-10, Half Moon Bay Park, Ottawa.
Northern Harrier – Jan 07, Sixth Line Road, Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Reported Jan 12, River Rd, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Jan 08, Berry Side Road, Dunrobin, Ottawa. Jan 08 and 11, Rivermill Crescent, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Oct 16 to Jan 10, “Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy)” is the eBird hotspot, the bird is seen east of Conroy, Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Jan 07, Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy), Ottawa.
Boreal Chickadee – Continuing Dec 01-Jan 10, Birchgrove and Magladry Road, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren (2) Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Jan 07, Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa,
Common Grackle – Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse (2) Dec 01 – Jan 11, Fairmile Rd, Ottawa. All the visits are causing discomfort to some of the homeowners. If you go, please don’t stand directly in front of houses, see the bird(s), and leave. Or skip the titmouse. There will be another.
Eastern Bluebird (2) Jan 11, Berry Side Rd, Ottawa. (3) Jan 09, Fifth Line Road, Dunrobin, Ontario, CA (45.417, -75.966), Ottawa, Ontario
White-crowned Sparrow – Continuing, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Continuing Dec-27 to Jan 12, Solva Drive, Ottawa. On trail behind Solva.
eBird Tip: Sitting Scaup are notoriously difficult to identify. If the diagnostic wing stripe is not noted, it is recommended to record these as Scaup species.
Ottawa and area bird sightings to 5 January 2023
by Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca
Despite (or because of) the wet mild weather, listers are off to a great start, with many long-staying rarities still here. A very brief and unseasonal Laughing Gull meant 6 species of gull (plus Thayer’s).
Male Long-tailed Duck, Britannia, Aaron Hywarren.
Yellow-rumped warbler, Crystal Beach, Sheila Craig. These robust warblers winter as far north as the southern edge of Lake Ontario, or southwest Nova Scotia, so a mild Ottawa winter such as this isn’t a great threat. Insectivores for the breeding season, they naturally add fruit and seeds in the winter, and may live entirely on fruit at times.
Female American Three-toed Woodpecker, Jack Pine Trail, Gillian Mastromatteo.
Black-capped Chickadee, Magladry and Birchgrove, Tom Devecseri.
Boreal Chickadee, Magladry and Birchgrove, Tom Devecseri. Tom has provided an excellent comparison in these two profiles. The structure is the same, and if we look closely, so too are the feather tracts. Just the colours differ.
Mallards, Mud lake, Alan Short.
Male American Black Ducks, Billings Bridge, Judith Gustafsson. How can we tell these are males when male and female plumage is the same in this species? The bright yellow bills, as in the closely related Mallard. Female bills are dark olive, but lack the dark patch of the female Mallard’s upper bill.
American Coot, Half Moon Bay Park, Aaron Hywarren. An unexpected delight for winter listers. Check out the feet.
First winter male Harlequin Duck, Bate Island, Aaron Hywarren. More white is showing as this individual moves from immature towards adult plumage.
Northern Cardinal, Mud lake, Alan Short.
Trumpeter Swan (2) Jan 04-05, Carp River watershed at March Road, Ottawa.
Wood Duck – Rideau River between Adàwe Crossing and Billings Bridge, Ottawa.
Lesser Scaup (4) Jan 03, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Harlequin Duck – Continuing to Jan 01, Bate Island, Ottawa. Reported Jan 02 from Britannia CA, Ottawa. Adult male plumage is slowly emerging.
Barrow’s Goldeneye – Continuing Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Bate Island, and Adàwe Crossing, Ottawa.
American Coot – Jan 03-05, Half Moon Bay Park, Ottawa.
Wilson’s Snipe – Dec 27, Klondike Rd, Ottawa.
Laughing Gull – Jan 01, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. First winter record for Ottawa.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2) Dec 30, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa.
Great Blue Heron – Jan 03, Richmond – town SW, Ottawa. Dec 30, Park Champlain Neighborhood, Gatineau.
Northern Harrier – Jan 03-04, Terry Fox/Fernbank farm fields, Ottawa. Trail road landfill. Jan 04, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa.
Belted Kingfisher – Jan 01- 04, Kizell Pond, Ottawa.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Continuing Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa. Jan 04, Twin Elm Road, Ottawa. Jan 02, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa. Dec 29, Pine Ridge, Wakefield, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Dec 29, Dunvegan Rd, Ottawa.
American Three-toed Woodpecker – Oct 16 to Jan 05, “Greenbelt Pathway (East/West of Conroy)” is the eBird hotspot, the bird is seen east of Conroy, Ottawa. Dec 18-Jan 02, Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail), Ottawa.
Black-backed Woodpecker – Jan 03, Pine Grove (South), Ottawa.
Northern Flicker – Jan 04, Abingdon Drive, Ottawa. Visiting feeders around Leskie Park and Briargreen. Jan 01 Richland Dr, Ottawa.
Boreal Chickadee – Continuing Dec 01-Jan 05, Birchgrove and Magladry Road, Ottawa.
Carolina Wren – Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa.
Hermit Thrush – Jan 02, Cantley, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais,
Brown-headed Cowbird – Flock continues Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa. Jan 05, Birchgrove and Magladry Road, Ottawa.
Red-winged Blackbird – Jan 02, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa. Jan 01, Emerald Meadows x Eagleson storm water ponds, Ottawa.
Common Grackle – Continuing to Dec 29, Dewberry Trail Parking Feeder, Ottawa.
Tufted Titmouse (2) Dec 01 – Jan 05 Fairmile Rd, Ottawa.
Eastern Towhee – Jan 02, Voyageur Dr, Ottawa.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Dec-27 to Jan 05, Solva Drive, Ottawa. On trail behind Solva.
eBird tip: While for much of the year Ring-billed is the commonest gull in the Ottawa area, this is not the case from mid December to mid February when Herring out numbers them by a ratio of at least 100:1. In some years Ring-billed is completely absent for about a month in mid-winter.