[Ontbirds] Red-breasted Merganser, Harlequin, Barrow's, etc. - Ottawa

[Tony Beck]

Hello Ontbirders and Ottawa Winter Listers.

It seems that waterfowl continue to shuffle about on our river systems.

Today, at Remic Rapid's, the female Harlequin Duck was with the  
goldeneye, actively feeding in the rapids close to the Ontario side.
Also present were the male Barrow's and a female Red-breasted  
Merganser (a good winter bird for Ottawa).
Directions courtesy Neily World: http://ca.geocities.com/ 
larry.neily at rogers.com/orwo6.htm
Note: because of winter barricade, we parked at Tunney's Pature and  
walked over to the rapids lookout.

 From Bate Island, we found the female Barrow's Goldeneye and the  
male hybrid Barrow's X Common Goldeneye.
Also present was an adult Cooper's Hawk and a second winter Glaucous  
Gull.
Others reported seeing the female Long-tailed Duck from the bridge.
Directions courtesy Neily World: http://ca.geocities.com/ 
larry.neily at rogers.com/orwo7.htm

 From the Britannia Yacht Club, and also from the ridge, we found one  
adult male and one female Buffelheads.
They were very close to the Quebec side.
Directions courtesy Neily World: http://ca.geocities.com/ 
larry.neily at rogers.com/orwo10.htm

At the Arboretum, just north of the Traffic Circle, there were in  
excess of 50 Pine Grosbeaks feeding on crabapple.
Also present was an American Robin.
Directions courtesy Neily World: http://ca.geocities.com/ 
larry.neily at rogers.com/rideauw7.htm

And, to top off the day, we easily found the Townsend's Solitaire  
feeding on juniper berries at the corner of the house (#7 Millbrook Cr.)
Directions courtesy of Neily World's 2008 Rare Bird Alerts page:
 From Fletcher Wildlife Gardens, take Prince of Wales Drive south to  
Meadowlands Drive. Turn right (west) on Meadowlands and continue to  
Deer Park Road (one block past Fisher Avenue). Turn right on Deer  
Park Road. Steve MacLean/Long Park is on the corner of Meadowlands  
and Deer Park. Millbrook Crescent is 0.5 km north on Deer Park.

Tony Beck
http://www.tonybeck.ca
Always An Adventure