Rare visitors stir excitement on two coasts
Rare and unusual birds have not paid a visit to Ottawa this week, but observers far afield sighted two.
The first, a pink-footed goose, turned up in Newfoundland, a rare and casual visitor from Europe. Bruce Di Labio was there Jan. 1419 and captured the goose on film.
There was also a yellow-breasted chat, very rare in the winter, a yellow throat and a Lincoln’s sparrow. Tufted duck, Eurasian wigeon and common teal were seen, and two species of gulls, black-headed and common. Dovekies and black guillemots were observed along the rugged coast.
On his way home to Carp, Mr. Di Labio was able to see one of the
great grey owls that are visiting this area.
The second big excitement was out west in New Westminster, a suburb of Vancouver. My son Michael lives there and sent particulars of this tiny long-distance traveller. It was a female red-flanked
bluetail, apparently a first record for the whole of Canada. It is a flycatcher, much the same shape and size as a European robin, although slightly slimmer. Both sexes have the blue tail, males have a blue head and back, a blue like our bluebird, red flank and a white breast. It is a beautiful little bird. Females and juveniles have soft brown heads and backs, the same red flanks and white breasts.
These blue tails live in coniferous forests from Finland across Siberia to Japan. It has been a rare vagrant to western Europe, and the few records in North America are in Alaska. And now this one in Canada.
The very unpredictable weather here at home — rapid changes of temperature, high winds with blowing snow and thawing followed by a fast freeze — has resulted in reports of changes at the feeders. Faithful resident winter birds are there, but some of the small winter migrants like the red polls seem to be moving around and trying out different feeding places.
Conrad Laplante had an experience with a “feeding frenzy of goldfinches” on Jan. 18 in Ottawa on the edge of the Greenbelt. At least 40+ birds flitting in and out of the feeders, into the trees, all over the ground, pecking at the spillage.
Nick Haramis reports activit with a pair of downy woodpeckers coming every day to the nut bag in Ottawa South. Sometimes, regular visits from
Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks hunting the concentration of small birds and mourning doves at the feeders may result in the disappearance of these birds to safer places to feed, but the need for food often results in their return quite soon. Bryan Kallio noticed a northern shrike watching his feeders in Cumberland. This is a predator that also hunts small birds and frightens them away. It does not have the sharp talons of the hawks and its hunting method is quite different: It chases its victim until it is too tired to fly and can be pushed to the ground where the shrike can dispatch it with its strong, hooked bill.
Cooper’s hawks are more common in the Ottawa area now, hunting with the sharp-shinned ones in suburban areas. Len Bartlett reported one in Carlingwood and a second was seen by Emily Agar in Centretown.
Redpolls are still around in good numbers, often accompanying the goldfinches. A few of the very white
hoary red polls have been seen and photographed, one by Lucille O’Connor in Beacon Hill North.
A turkey story this week comes from Judy Orr down on the Seaway. She says, “A herd of turkeys and six deer all came for breakfast.” They all left except one tom turkey that spent some time banging on his reflection in her basement window, “all fluffed up and tail fanned.” He ran off when Orr appeared.
Cardinals are always welcome at the feeders. The males’ flamboyant scarlet feathering and the big orange bill show up beautifully against the snow and make great pictures. George Holland has one in Kanata. They are quite often accompanied by the quieter females as the pairs stay together over the winter.
Pileated woodpeckers are spectacular birds, too, “so big” with their flaring scarlet crests worn by both sexes. Males have a red moustache line on the face. The white wing linings show up against the black feathering when they fly.
Simon Audy found a small flock of snow buntings perched comfortably on a bale of hay in Luskville.
Thank you for all the reports, too many to get them all in the column. Enjoy the last week of January and the lengthening days, even if they are very cold.