[Ontbirds] Ottawa - Harlequin Duck, Barrows Goldeneye, Peregrine Falcon etc

[Heather Pickard]

Hello Ontbirders,

A very satisfying morning of winter birding was enjoyed by our group today, 
led by Tony Beck. We began at Britannia where an adult Red-tailed Hawk 
started things off and after birding the river we located a lone Cedar 
Waxwing keeping company with three American Robins all feeding in the 
buckthorn on the ridge north of Cassels Road.
>From the shores of the Ottawa River on the Quebec side just east of the 
Champlain Bridge we located the female Harlequin Duck that has been sighted 
there recently as well as two Long-tailed Duck, one female and one young 
male.
A little farther east at Brebuef Park, using scopes we spotted a male 
Barrow's Goldeneye in a group of Common Goldeneye feeding across the river 
close to the Ontario shore.
Back on the Ontario side, from the parking lot at the south-east corner of 
the Champlain Bridge we viewed two adult Peregrine Falcon perched close 
together in a tree on the small island located between Bate Island and the 
Ontario shore. One bird was obviously larger than the other and they 
appeared to be a pair.
Flocks of Bohemian Waxwings were seen on both sides of the river today and 
at the Arboretum we viewed flocks of Pine Grosbeaks and a single American 
Robin  feeding in the crab apple trees.

Good birding,
Heather Pickard

Directions courtesy Larry Neily and NeilyWorld Birding Ottawa site:

Britannia Conservation Area:
http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/orwo10.htm

Champlain Bridge:
http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/orwq5.htm

Brebeuf Park:
http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/orwq3.htm

Arboretum:
http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/rideauw7.htm