Wide variety of birds to see on the wing during the fall
The variety of fall birds continues to change with each passing week bringing a few new species to our area as they migrant southward.
The first flock of Brant were reported on Sept. 30 along the Ottawa River at Andrew Haydon Park.
The Brant or Brant Goose breed in the arctic and winter along the east coast from the New England states to the Carolinas. Numerous species of birds staging in James Bay are migrant over Eastern Ontario during both spring and fall migration.
Other recent arrivals include Rough-legged Hawk, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Orange-crowned Warbler and Snow Bunting.
With the changing season and unsettled weather including cooler temperatures, rain, and strong winds, anything is possible in the bird world.
On the Bruce Peninsula on Oct. 3 a Eurasian Dotterel, a plover-like shorebird, was photographed near Oliphant. This represents the first record for Ontario and only the second record for Canada.
The feeder watcher report continues to improve with a small influx of Purple Finch. Also there were more reports of Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows and American Goldfinches. Other feeder species reported this past week include Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Reports of window strikes continued this week, including White-throated Sparrow, Redeyed Vireo and a late Ovenbird. Fortunately they all recovered after a short period of time. Remember large picture windows are deadly for birds as they likely see the reflection of the surrounding vegetation but not the window.
For bird enthusiasts, we are getting into another exciting season. During October and November, before the cold temperatures set in for the winter, watch for rarities in your backyard or at your feeders. Over the years in Eastern Ontario many oddities have shown up including Rufous Hummingbird, Summer Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellowthroated Warbler and Varied Thrush to name a few.
Anything is possible in the bird world, so keep your cameras ready and feeders filled.
If you are a new feeder watcher remember to put your feeder up in an area that is easily visible from the comfort of your home. Also make sure it isn’t in a high traffic area but close to trees or hedges where birds can take cover.
I’ve had a number of inquiries regarding a suet recipe. Here is a very good one that Elizabeth Le Geyt recommends.
Mix one cup melted suet, lard or dripping from roasts, one cup of chunky peanut butter, three cups of instant oats and three cups cornmeal. Heat the fat and peanut butter until melted and hot. Add the oats and stir and then the cornmeal. You can add raisins, berries, chopped peanuts, wild bird seed or nuts to the mix. This mix can be put into a log that has had holes drilled in it.
The holes should be widely spaced and staggered so that the birds do not rub their feathers on the mix.
It can be put into an empty half coconut shell or stuffed into a very large cone and hung in a tree or bush.
The Hairy Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker along with Black-capped Chickadee, Whitebreasted Nuthatch and Redbreasted Nuthatch will enjoy this treat. I’d like to thank all birders, photographers and feeder watchers that sent reports and/or photographs during the past week. Please email bird observations and/or photographs to: 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. The birding Code of Ethics and guidelines of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club can be found at www.ofnc.ca/birding/ Code-of-Conduct.pdf . To reach the Wild Bird Care Centre for orphaned and injured birds call 613-828-2849. Report bird bands to www.pwrc. usgs.gov/BBL/ bblretrv/. Access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway is restricted. You must obtain permission from the Range Control Office before entering the area. Please call 613-991-5740 for permission.