Ottawa/Gatineau: recent sightings to Apr 17, 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 Goose season slides into gull season and lots of birds are just south of us. Greater White-fronted Goose (1) Apr 13, PN de Plaisance--Tête de la Baie, Papineau. Mute Swan (1) Apr 14, Baie Lochaber, Papineau. (2) Apr 13, Marais des Laîches, Gatineau. Trumpeter Swan (1) Apr 12-15, Marais des Laîches, Gatineau. (1) Apr 15, Richmond SE - Harnett Rd N of Paden, Ottawa. (10) Apr 13, PN de Plaisance--Baie Noire (Est & Ouest), Papineau. (2) Apr 13, Marlborough Forest--E4 entrance, Ottawa. (1) Apr 12, Greenland Road between Vance side and TAD PW, Ottawa. (10) Apr 11, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. Tundra Swan (1) Apr 13, Harbison Rd, Ottawa. Redhead (10) Apr 14, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. (1) Apr 14, Steen Ln, Ottawa. Harlequin Duck (1) Apr 12-16, Chemin Mill, Wakefield, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. In the rapids. Barrow's Goldeneye (1) Apr 09-13, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. (1) Apr14, Adàwe Crossing, Ottawa. Spotted Sandpiper (1) Apr 16, Summerside West stormwater pond, Ottawa. Common Gallinule (1) Apr 11-13, Carleton Place--Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark. Bonaparte's Gull (13) Apr 12, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. Glaucous Gull (1) Apr 17, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Iceland Gull (1) Apr 14, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. (3) Apr 11-12, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Golden Eagle (1) Apr 12, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Britannia, Ottawa. (1) Stony Swamp (Chipmunk Trail), Ottawa. (1) Apr 14, Seguinbourg Rd, The Nation, Prescott and Russell. (1) Apr 13, Ch Vaillancourt, Val-des-Monts, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Red-headed Woodpecker (1) Constance Bay, Ottawa. Bohemian Waxwing - Not precisely rare, but uncommon this winter, a flock of 2000+ was reported from the Shirley's Bay area on April 12. Northern Shrike (2) Apr 17, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (1) Apr 16, Summerside West stormwater pond, Ottawa. Pine Grosbeak (1) Apr 12, Parc de la Gatineau--Vallée Meech, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Snow Bunting (4) Apr 13, NCC Greenbelt P16, Ottawa. White-crowned Sparrow (1) Apr 13, Beryl Gaffney Park, Ottawa. Atlas notes: What do Eastern Screech Owls, American Woodcocks, and Mourning Doves have in common? They are a few of the handful of local species – along with Trumpeter Swans, Ruffed Grouse, and three other types of owls – that breed here in Eastern Ontario in April. Have you heard or seen these species at this time of year? If so, you can easily join the 250 other Ottawa-area birders who are participating in one of Ontario’s largest community science efforts: the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. Your breeding bird observations 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 in this once-in-a-generation opportunity is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org