Ottawa/Gatineau: recent sightings to Mar 20, 2025 Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca The Spring migration wild goose chase season opened this week. Distant swans swam the flooded fields. Golden Eagles soared through on their way North, sometimes putting up huge flocks of geese. Ross's Goose (1) Mar 18, Embrun, Prescott and Russell. (1) Mar 20, RCMP horse farm, near Pakenham, Lanark. Greater White-fronted Goose (1) Mar 20, Ch Anderson, Ottawa. (1) Mar 20, John Shaw Rd, Ottawa. Pink-footed Goose (1) Mar 16-18, Third Line Rd S, Ottawa. Also seen at Fourth Line Rd and Callendor Rd flooded fields. Seen on the 15th on Lockhead Rd W, Ottawa. Trumpeter Swan (3) Mar 20, Carp River southeast of Carp, Ottawa. (1) Mar 19, John Shaw south of Kinburn Side, Ottawa. Tundra Swan (11) Mar 19-20, Milton Rd near bridge, Ottawa. (2) Mar 19-20, Fourth Line Road, Ottawa. Gadwall (3) Mar 14-15, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Greater Scaup (1) Mar 15, Britannia CA--Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. Barrow's Goldeneye (1) Mar 19, Remic Rapids Lookout, Ottawa. (1) Mar 19, Riverain Park, Ottawa. (1) Mar 19, Stanley Park, Ottawa. Blue-winged Teal(1) Mar 18-19, Third Line Rd S, Ottawa. Also Fourth Line Rd and Callendor Rd flooded fields. (2) Mar 17, Huntley Rd., Ottawa. Northern Shoveler (1) Nepean Creek Trail, Ottawa. Red-breasted Merganser (1) Mar 17, Cardinal Creek Karst Path, Ottawa. Horned Grebe (1) Mar 12-15, Bate Island, Ottawa. Golden Eagle (1) Mar 19, Milton Road, Ottawa. (1) Mar 16, 18 Frank Kenny Road (bridge), Ottawa. (4) Mar 15, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa. (3) Mar 15, Stonecrest Rd, Ottawa. (4) Mar 15, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa. (1) Mar 15, Cameron Harvey Drive, Ottawa. Tree Swallow (3) Mar 19, Dunrobin (Constance Creek), Ottawa. Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Ch. Steele, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. (1) Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail), Ottawa. (1) Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (1) Mar 18, Ch Vaillancourt, Val-des-Monts, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. (1) Mar 18, 3rd Line Road South, Ottawa. Northern House Wren (1) Mar 18, Quartier de la Terrasse Lakeview, Gatineau. Varied Thrush (1) Feb 12-Mar 15 (at least), Stonecrest @ Galetta SR, Ottawa. A fair amount of patience or luck may be required. Chipping Sparrow (1) Richland Dr, Ottawa. (1) Mar 18, Plover Lane, Ottawa. Fox Sparrow (1) Richland Dr, Ottawa. Canada Jay (1) Last reported Mar 15, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa. eBirder reviewer note: Heard a Nighthawk in March? Think again; American Woodcock have a very similar call and are a frequent early spring pitfall. On a similar note, while the first few Red-shouldered Hawks are trickling in, beware cheap imitations: Blue Jays do a great job at that and are also accomplished mimics of Broad-winged Hawk (which only arrive in our region in mid April). Atlas notes: The final year of the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas is now underway. As a direct result of the impressive effort of hundreds of volunteers across the province over the past four years, the Third Atlas is already a rich source of information on Ontario's bird life. Atlassing has been an exciting time of discovery: not only of breeding birds, but of bird behaviour. It has been a great opportunity to explore local patches and beyond. And for many participants, they have embraced the challenge of atlassing as an opportunity to refresh or improve their birding skills including birding-by-ear and the importance of recognizing habitat. There is still time to join in one of Ontario’s most ambitious and community science efforts here in Eastern Ontario. Though peak breeding season is still a few short months away, the Atlas welcomes all reports of both Crossbill species in suitable habitat at any time of year, and we are already into the breeding season for both Eastern Screech Owls and Great Horned Owls. Common Ravens have also been noted doing their mating rituals. Your observations – whether these species are seen or heard – are valuable and will provide essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. Participation is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird using the Nature Counts app. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org