Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 20 April 2010 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Rare bird alerts are now included in the introductory message Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis hagenius@primus.ca Lots of activity over the past week, and many reasons to get out there and enjoy life! A GREAT EGRET discovered at Shirley's Bay on the 18th was not record early, but a treat to see nonetheless. Eleven species of waterfowl were seen at Shirley's Bay on the 18th as well as two HORNED GREBES and a RED-NECKED GREBE, and a flight of raptors over the bay was a surprise considering the cool northwest winds. ** Please remember to call the DND Range Control Office (613-991-5740) for permission to access the causeway.** Visits to other waterfowl magnets such as the Ottawa River, the large quarry pond along Moodie Dr. as well as the eastern sewage lagoons were also productive, with at least 20 species reported since last week. Several WILD TURKEYS were spotted from Milton & Smith Rds. southwest of Navan on the 17th and another one of those independent types was flying and running around in the Carlington area on the 15th. As previously mentioned, a flight of raptors occurred on the 18th (many were likely local breeders) and included TURKEY VULTURE, OSPREY, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL and MERLIN. An AMERICAN COOT was spotted at the Moodie Dr. pond on the 16th, VIRGINIA RAILS were vocal at Petrie Island, and several SANDHILL CRANES calling and displaying in the Milton / Smith Rd. area were crowd-pleasers for an OFO excursion on the 17th. The only "new" shorebird reported recently was a single LESSER YELLOWLEGS at the Embrun lagoons the same day. A PURPLE MARTIN was heard flying over Shirley's Bay on the 18th, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and BARN SWALLOWS are also back in town. A major influx of songbirds has occurred. Many sightings from widespread locations included multiple WINTER WRENS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, HERMIT THRUSHES, BROWN THRASHERS, YELLOW-RUMPED and PINE WARBLERS, CHIPPING, FIELD, VESPER, SAVANNAH, FOX and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and PURPLE FINCHES. An observation of a small mixed flock of BOHEMIAN and CEDAR WAXWINGS was interesting at Shirley's Bay on the 18th, as was a fly-over of a single PINE SISKIN at Britannia the same day. Good numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at feeders near the Larose forest and in Pakenham on the weekend. Thank you - Good Birding!