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Ottawa Bean Goose update (November 10)

MV
Mike V.A. Burrell
Tue, Nov 10, 2020 10:14 PM

For those of you considering looking for the Bean Goose outside of Ottawa,
I thought I'd summarize some information that is scattered around in other
places online (mostly the Ontario Birds Discord server:
https://discord.gg/EXJ5S9e). If you're lucky enough to see it, please share
your sightings with others that may be looking.

Sightings to date:
November 8: The bird was initially found in Quebec at the Masson Settling
Ponds. This is just across the Ottawa River from Cumberland, Ontario. At
3:30 pm, the bird flew south into Ontario and was found shortly after
feeding in a farm field on the east side of Dunning Road, just south of
Cumberland. Shortly after 5pm, the bird flew north, presumably to roost for
the night

November 9: The bird was found just before 8 am in the same general area as
the previous afternoon feeding in a farm field off Dunning Road, south of
Cumberland with Canada Geese. At about 8:45, the bird was relocated
slightly southeast in a farm field off Sarsfield Rd, again with Canada
Geese. It was last seen about 1010 flying over quarry ponds on Giroux Road
near Navan, slightly further south. From about 10 am onwards, all geese in
the area were roosting on nearby water bodies. Geese began to head back to
fields to feed around 3:30 pm but it was not relocated.

November 10: The bird was seen briefly at the Giroux Road quarry pond at
about 1:45 pm but flew south out of sight.

Places to check:
Most of the geese seem to be following a predictable daily pattern: roost
overnight on water, head out to fields to feed at dawn, return to water
around 10 am, and then head back to fields to feed at about 3:30 until
dark. If you're looking during the middle part of the day, you are likely
best to focus on potential water roosts:

Masson Settling Ponds (in Quebec): https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L2825964

Ottawa River: birds may roost anywhere along here but about 1000 geese have
been present just east of Cumberland ferry.

Giroux Road quarry ponds: https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L1497745. You
can view both main ponds from Giroux Road, but there is also a third pond
further south that is not accessible. Based on the sightings yesterday and
today, this seems like a very likely spot the bird may be roosting.

Nolan Quarry pond: https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L7935337. A large
number of geese regularly roost here.

There are two other ponds to the west which may be worth checking:
https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L2187801 and
https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L676815

During "feeding time" (dawn and dusk) the best strategy is to probably
start south of Cumberland and check as many flocks of field-feeding geese
as possible in the short time window. If you have the ability, splitting up
to cover more ground is likely best. Checking fields near the Giroux Road
quarry ponds (or standing on the road watching geese leave the roost) may
also be a good strategy. There is probably only about an hour or two window
twice a day.

Identification:
The specific identification (Taiga vs Tundra Bean Goose) is still being
debated but both species are incredibly rare in Ontario and indeed in North
America. If you have ANY photos, please submit them to the Ontario Bird
Records Committee (obrcsecretary@gmail.com) for archiving and for reaching
out to goose experts for formal feedback.

Good luck!

Mike Burrell

For those of you considering looking for the Bean Goose outside of Ottawa, I thought I'd summarize some information that is scattered around in other places online (mostly the Ontario Birds Discord server: https://discord.gg/EXJ5S9e). If you're lucky enough to see it, please share your sightings with others that may be looking. Sightings to date: November 8: The bird was initially found in Quebec at the Masson Settling Ponds. This is just across the Ottawa River from Cumberland, Ontario. At 3:30 pm, the bird flew south into Ontario and was found shortly after feeding in a farm field on the east side of Dunning Road, just south of Cumberland. Shortly after 5pm, the bird flew north, presumably to roost for the night November 9: The bird was found just before 8 am in the same general area as the previous afternoon feeding in a farm field off Dunning Road, south of Cumberland with Canada Geese. At about 8:45, the bird was relocated slightly southeast in a farm field off Sarsfield Rd, again with Canada Geese. It was last seen about 1010 flying over quarry ponds on Giroux Road near Navan, slightly further south. From about 10 am onwards, all geese in the area were roosting on nearby water bodies. Geese began to head back to fields to feed around 3:30 pm but it was not relocated. November 10: The bird was seen briefly at the Giroux Road quarry pond at about 1:45 pm but flew south out of sight. Places to check: Most of the geese seem to be following a predictable daily pattern: roost overnight on water, head out to fields to feed at dawn, return to water around 10 am, and then head back to fields to feed at about 3:30 until dark. If you're looking during the middle part of the day, you are likely best to focus on potential water roosts: Masson Settling Ponds (in Quebec): https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L2825964 Ottawa River: birds may roost anywhere along here but about 1000 geese have been present just east of Cumberland ferry. Giroux Road quarry ponds: https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L1497745. You can view both main ponds from Giroux Road, but there is also a third pond further south that is not accessible. Based on the sightings yesterday and today, this seems like a very likely spot the bird may be roosting. Nolan Quarry pond: https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L7935337. A large number of geese regularly roost here. There are two other ponds to the west which may be worth checking: https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L2187801 and https://ebird.org/canada/hotspot/L676815 During "feeding time" (dawn and dusk) the best strategy is to probably start south of Cumberland and check as many flocks of field-feeding geese as possible in the short time window. If you have the ability, splitting up to cover more ground is likely best. Checking fields near the Giroux Road quarry ponds (or standing on the road watching geese leave the roost) may also be a good strategy. There is probably only about an hour or two window twice a day. Identification: The specific identification (Taiga vs Tundra Bean Goose) is still being debated but both species are incredibly rare in Ontario and indeed in North America. If you have **ANY** photos, please submit them to the Ontario Bird Records Committee (obrcsecretary@gmail.com) for archiving and for reaching out to goose experts for formal feedback. Good luck! Mike Burrell