[Ontbirds]Ottawa are (Embrun) - Tufted Titmouse

[Christina Lewis]

Hello Ontbirds people,

A TUFTED TITMOUSE (still a rare bird in the Ottawa area) was reported today by J. P. Cheff, at his feeders in Forest Park, Embrun. He first noted the bird at ~ 9:00 am.  It came frequently between 9:00 and 11:00, and then less often but was still present until at least 1:00 PM.

The address is #103 Manitou St., and the feeders are at the back of the house.  J. P. is a birder and does not mind if people come to the side of the house by the garage and observe the feeders from there.  However, please respect the private property and do NOT enter the backyard without permission.

The Forest Park community seems to be a "bird magnet" in recent years! A male Yellow-headed Blackbird over-wintered at another feeder on Manitou St. for the previous 3 consecutive seasons (no reports this winter...yet!), and a Boreal Chickadee was a fixture here 2 years ago. I has also been a great location for many other birds such as Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds, that are unusual elsewhere in our area in wintertime.

DIRECTIONS (from Ottawa):

Take Hwy 417 east to exit #79 and follow County Rd. #5 south to Route 500 West.  Go east on Rte 500.  Manitou is the 4th street on your right.  The feeders at #103 are behind the house, and the titmouse seems to prefer the feeders with the red pole.