Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Greg Zbitnew at k_zbitnew2@bell.net or sightings@ofnc.ca May 26, 2016 The bird of the week was YELLOW-THROATED VIREO in Britannia, very cooperative all morning on the 22nd. Another was in Gatineau Park on the 21st. Aside from this, the week was a poor one for migration. Although summer-like weather prevailed during the entire week, persistent northerly winds, no rain and almost nothing in the way of weather systems were not conditions conducive to any bird fallout. Despite this, birds continued to flow in, variety is plentiful for the most part, and we are now in the late stages of migration. The only things notable in the way of waterbirds were a few late ones here and there. Up to 8 REDHEAD were at the Moodie drive ponds most of the week, HORNED GREBE was at Shirley’s Bay on the 24th, BUFFLEHEAD was near Chelsea on the 22nd, and GREATER and LESSER SCAUP were at Andrew Haydon on the 24th. There were still a few SNOW GEESE here and there in the eastern part of the region. The first ARCTIC TERNS arrived at Shirley’s bay on the 23rd. They will be around in small numbers for about a week. The first LEAST BITTERN was in the Stoney Swamp area on the 25th, and this species is its elusive self. The first BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were at the Moody Drive ponds on the 23rd. 15 WHIMBREL were at Shirley’s Bay on the 21st, but otherwise the SHOREBIRD supply is desperately thin on the ground. The first OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was in Gatineau Park on the 20th, and there were a number of other sightings in the area this week. 8 COMMON NIGHTHAWK were on the Carp Ridge on the 25th. Up to 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen or heard in their traditional spot in Constance Bay starting on the 19th. Songbirds are pretty much all here. The late WARBLERS like BAY-BREASTED and especially BLACKPOLL WARBLER have become fairly common this week, but in any case all 25 regular WARBLERS have been seen in the region this week, and there is still a good variety in the migrant traps and major nesting grounds most days. Of the more local birds, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER is back on Thomas Dolan parkway area, and MOURNING WARBLER is heard and sometimes seen on the Pinegrove trail area on either side of Conroy road. The OFNC's Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the Internet. We will continue to encourage the reporting of owls to sightings@ofnc.ca for the purpose of maintaining local records. Thanks to everyone who contributed bird observations. Good birding.