WARM DAYS BOOST SIGHTINGS
Several species range northward
There was lots of exciting birding across Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais this past week. The warm southerly flow of air overnight on May 14-15 pushed a number of species north of their normal range including Chuck-wills-widow, White-eyed Vireo, and Hooded Warbler.
On May 15, I found a Whiteeyed Vireo singing at Shirley’s Bay. This species is a very rare spring visitor to Eastern Ontario with most records during the fall.
At dusk, on May 17, a Chuck-wills-widow was heard calling in the Shirley’s Bay area by Jake Walker. A first for the Ottawa-Gatineau district, the Chuck is a very rare visitor to Eastern Ontario. Another one was heard calling pre-dawn on May 19 by Michael Runtz and Geoff Burbidge in Prince Edward County. Interestingly last year a Chuck-wills-widow was heard singing on May 18 and May 19 near Prince Edward Point. Like its cousin the Whip-poor-will, these birds are nocturnal and easier to hear at dusk or at night but difficult to find during the daylight hours as they roost.
On May 17, a male Hooded Warbler was observed by Frederic Bedard in Gatineau as it sang and foraged.
At the same time last week, between Toronto and Oshawa there were numerous southern species found along the lakeshore including Prothonotary Warbler and Summer Tanager. At Prince Edward Point, a number of southern warblers were found, including Kentucky, Wormeating, Hooded and Blue-winged Warbler. Lots of great birds!
The Britannia Conservation Area/Mud Lake continues to be one of best locations to view warblers in the Ottawa area. On May 14, more than 20 species were found, including Orangecrowned, Northern Parula, Canada, Wilson’s, Cape May and more than 350 Yellow-rumped Warblers. There was a Northern Mockingbird observed along the bike path and as well as a couple of Philadelphia Vireo. There were a number of Black-crowned Night-Heron, two Green Heron and one Great Blue Heron feeding along the edge of Mud Lake.
In spite of the high water levels along the Ottawa River, the birding continues to be good. On May 18, a flock of nine Little Gulls were observed off Britannia Pier as they fed with a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls. The Little Gull was first recorded in the Ottawa- Gatineau district in June 1975 when one was found at Deschenes Rapids. Over the past four decades, there have been more than 40 records, mainly during May and June, along the Ottawa River between Deschenes Rapids and Shirley’s Bay.
The same day, 24 White-winged Scoters were resting on Lake Deschenes along with two Common Loon.
The nesting Bald Eagles along the Ottawa River are doing well with both nest sites having two young eagles. This species was first found nesting in our area in 2012.
While birding at Chaffeys Lock on May 17, I observed a female Black-throated Green Warbler carrying nesting material. This species is one of the earlier migrant warblers and they don’t waste any time.
The breeding season for many Ottawa areas species is now in full swing.
The local breeding Great Horned Owls have successfully fledged young, numerous Common Ravens young have been observed, while European Starling, American Robins, Eastern Phoebes, Eastern Bluebirds, and Northern Cardinals have young in the nest. Remember to leave your robin nests intact after the young have fledged.
The amount of feeder activity continues to increase as Rubythroated Hummingbird, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Baltimore Oriole take advantage of the handouts.
Remember to keep your feeders well stocked as many species will visit during the late spring and into the summer months.
I’d like to thank everyone who sent reports and/or photographs during the past week. Please email bird observations and/or photographs to my new email: dilabiobirding@gmail.com Subject line: Ottawa Citizen Birds. For photos, please provide date, location, and photographer’s name and for bird reports, observer, date and location.