Rare sightings as young birds begin to take flight

The breeding season continues to dominate the local bird activity with numerous reports of recently fledged birds.

I’ve received numerous reports including Virginia Rails near Carp on June 14, a family of Hooded Mergansers at Britannia Conservation Area on June 13, a Killdeer family in Ottawa on June 14, Mallard families everywhere, Spotted Sandpiper family on June 15 near Constance Bay and Red-shouldered Hawks with young near Chaffey’s Lock. At Deschênes Rapids along the Ottawa River the nesting Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night-Herons are doing well while the Ring-billed Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants at Deschênes Rapids and Lemieux Island are growing fast. The Osprey population is again doing very well in Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais region with numerous reports of young from Portland, Dunrobin, Arnprior, Kingston and Smiths Falls.

The highlight of the past week was a sighting of eight American White Pelicans along the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall. Interestingly, there was an earlier observation of nine on June 4 along the Ottawa River west of Arnprior. This may be the same flock moving around Eastern Ontario. Unfortunately, these pelicans haven’t been relocated, but they could still be in the area. These unmistakable birds are a very rare visitor to our region and most records are during the summer months.

There have been a few reports of Prairie Warblers near Kaladar including a few singing males at Sheffield Conservation Area. For the third consecutive summer a Chuck-wills-widow has been on territory and heard singing at dusk south of Picton in Prince Edward County. This southern cousin to the Whip-poor-will is a very rare visitor to Eastern Ontario.

With all the fledged young out you will hear many different little chip notes or begging calls coming out of cedar hedges or deciduous trees. These youngsters will keep pestering the parent birds until they’re finally fully fledged. Our resident Black-capped Chickadees have returned to the feeders with their new family of four fledged young and Downy Woodpeckers have arrived with a couple of young to feed at the sunflower feeder.

I received a few reports of “bald” birds this past week, including Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay. Fear not, this is normal during the summer months and varies from bird to bird. Some individuals gradually lose their head feathers while a small percentage lose them all simultaneously. There is no external cause; it is just the way that a particular bird moults. Their head feathers will be replaced over a couple of weeks.

There were still a few northbound migrants being reported last week, including a few Arctic Terns at Deschênes Rapids, one group of three on June 12 and two on June 13. Other species included a Semipalmated Plover at Shirley’s Bay on June 13, Black-bellied Plovers on June 9 at Presqu’ile Provincial Park along with two White-rumped sandpipers on June 11.

If you’re looking for a new area to search for marsh birds, try Ramsayville Marsh along Anderson Road, Constance Creek along Thomas Dolan Parkway, and Black Bay east of Thurso along the Ottawa River. Remember, it’s best to watch for these waders at dawn or dusk.

The first session for banding Purple Martins will take place on July 9 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Nepean Sailing Club, 3259 Carling Ave. Join Peter Huszcz for this interactive and educational experience, especially for youngsters. On June 14, the total egg count was 147, so hopefully it will be a very successful breeding season. I’d like to thank all birders, photographers and feeder watchers who 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 Shirley’s Bay is restricted. You must obtain permission from the Range Control Office before entering the area. Please call 613-991-5740 for permission.

VIRGINIA McEWEN Juvenile Blue Jays enjoy a bird bath. This species is a regular breeder in our region.

JUDITH GUSTAFSSON The Cedar Waxwing is our summer waxwing and breeds later in the season than most other species.

AL PASCAL Mute Swan families have been reported along the St. Lawrence River near Thousand Islands and Lake Ontario near Presqu’ile.

BRIAN MORIN The Upland Sandpiper is a scarce breeder in our region and occurs in grasslands, agriculture areas and airports. Formerly called Upland Plover and Bartram’s Sandpiper, this species has declined over much of its range since the mid-19th century due to...

EMILY BURTON A female Red-winged Blackbird has a beak full of insects for her young. Many species of birds eat insects during the summer months.