[Ontbirds] Ottawa/Gatineau 19Nov07... Northern Gannet, California Gull, Golden Eagle

[Gordon Pringle]

- RBA

* Ontario
* Ottawa/Gatineau
* 19 November 2007
* ONOT0711.19

- Birds mentioned

Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Redhead
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Barrow's Goldeneye
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
NORTHERN GANNET
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Rough-legged Hawk
GOLDEN EAGLE
American Coot
CALIFORNIA GULL
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Shrike
American Crow
Common Raven
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Bohemian Waxwing
Oregon Junco
Pine Grosbeak
Common Redpoll
Evening Grosbeak

- Transcript

hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
date: 19 November 2007
number: 613-860-9000
for the status line : press 2
for rare bird alerts: press 1
to report a sighting: press #
coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Can. Nat. Capital Reg.), E.Ont., W.Que.
compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis  hagenius at primus.ca
internet: Gordon Pringle  parula at magma.ca

THE OFNC BIRD STATUS LINE @ 8:00 am, MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2007

This is Chris Lewis reporting.

The local excitement for the week began on the 12th with an adult Tundra
Swan at the Richmond lagoons off Eagleson Rd. and an Oregon Junco at
the Fletcher Wildlife garden off Prince of Wales Drive.  The swan was seen
again early the next morning but the junco was not.  On the morning of the
15th, an adult CALIFORNIA GULL was seen on the Ottawa River from the Shirley's
Bay boat launch.  Later on the same day an immature NORTHERN GANNET
flew past Andrew Haydon Park and headed inland, ending up at the large
quarry pond on Moodie Dr. south of Trail Rd.  Evidently the gannet fell asleep
among the Canada Geese on the pond and drifted out of sight.  Neither
the gull nor the gannet have been reported since then.

The 1st significant seasonal influx of Snow Geese into our area was noted on
the 17th - several 1000 were seen in a field on the south side of Hwy 417 just
past the #66 Casselman exit. The Moodie Dr. pond continues to be a
magnet for waterfowl and gulls - a late Greater White-fronted Goose, a very
late pair of Redhead and at least a dozen Ruddy Ducks were here on the
18th, and on the 15th a Cackling Goose, 7 Iceland, 7 Lesser Black-backed
and 2 Glaucous Gulls were also found here.  The Ottawa River at Andrew
Haydon Park continued to host small numbers of Brant, all 3 species of
scoters, a few Long-tailed Ducks and both Horned and Red-necked Grebes
this past week, and a male Barrow's Goldeneye was seen again at Remic
rapids on the 13th.

At least 20 American Coots were in the marshes on the west side of the
Shirley's Bay causeway on the 11th, and the late Osprey was still here on the
15th. Several reports of GOLDEN EAGLES came in during the week.  On the
13th, 2 were seen flying over the Trail Rd. landfill and an adult was
interacting with a Rough-legged Hawk along March Valley Rd.  On the 17th,
2 juveniles were riding the thermals over the Gatineau Hills along Hwy 148
east of Eardley along with 7 Bald Eagles and at least 2 dozen Common
Ravens.

A Barred Owl was seen along Rifle Rd. near Shirley's Bay back on the 10th,
and a Short-eared Owl that flew over a field north of Nestow Dr. west of
Merivale and Colonnade Rds. on the 18th was promptly seen off by
American Crows.  Northern Shrikes were reported from Mud Lake in Britannia
and also at Deschenes on the Quebec side, and a Carolina Wren continues
to hang out at the north end of Scrivens St. east of Andrew Haydon Park as
of the 18th - this may be the same bird that took up residence in this
neighbourhood last winter.  Speaking of neighbourhood fidelity, a Northern
Mockingbird seen behind Nestow Dr. on the 12th and 13th may be the same
bird that was in the same location back in the spring of 2006.

And finally, it almost goes without saying that Bohemian Waxwings, Pine
Grosbeaks and Evening Grosbeaks are now widespread. There have been
increasing reports of Common Redpolls as well, mostly seen flying over or
feeding in weedy fields in many locations.

Thank you - Good Birding!

- End transcript