Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 10 May 2012 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario,W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Bob Cermak robertcermak9@hotmail.com or sightings@ofnc.ca It was a truly enjoyable week in Ottawa-Gatineau, with good birding weather, lots of spring migrants, and even a couple of rarities. On May 4th a 1st-summer male SUMMER TANAGER visited a feeder on County Rd. #18 south of Kemptville, and from May 3rd - 5th a breeding plumage male WESTERN TANAGER was at a feeder near Lascelles west of Alcove, Quebec. Both were subsequently looked for but have so far not been reported again. Waterfowl migration has thinned out, but later migrants such as Brant have yet to be reported. A few RED-NECKED GREBES were still on the Ottawa River on the 8th and 9th. Recent reports of GREAT EGRETS (April 26 - 29th) came from the Quebec side of the river in the marshes between Masson and Thurso, and from the Ontario side (May 8th) between Island Park Dr. and the Ottawa River Parkway. Adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS continue to be seen on Mud Lake in Britannia and environs. Raptor reports included BALD EAGLE, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN and PEREGRINE FALCON. VIRGINIA and SORA rails were reported from several local marshes. A SANDHILL CRANE appeared briefly in field south of the international airport on the 8th. Shorebirds reported in the past week were GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WILSON'S SNIPE and WILSON'S PHALAROPE. COMMON TERNS continue to be seen in the Britannia area (the pond and the river) and also at Shirley's Bay. The 1st local report of EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL came from the Marlborough forest on the evening of the 7th, and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have been seen in several locations since the 7th. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, LEAST FLYCATCHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, and 5 species of VIREOS including YELLOW-THROATED, PHILDELPHIA and RED-EYED were all heard or seen over the past week. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were heard flying over on the night of the 8th, and the following day a couple were reported from wooded areas along the Ottawa River. VEERY and WOOD THRUSH were in the Shirley's Bay woods on the 7th, and GRAY CATBIRDS are back on territory. AMERICAN PIPITS were first reported on the 3rd and at least 40 were seen in fields near Embrun on the 9th. A couple of late flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS totalling approx. 70 birds were seen in Carleton Place on the 5th. The local WARBLER count is now up to 18 species. Since May 3rd, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, CAPE MAY, NORTHERN PARULA, MAGNOLIA, BLACKBURNIAN, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACKPOLL and BLACK-THROATED BLUE have been observed in addition to the earlier arrivals which continue in the mix. All of our breeding species of SPARROWS are now back on territory - CLAY-COLOURED, GRASSHOPPER and LINCOLN'S were the most recent arrivals, and an influx of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS was noted all week. The first INDIGO BUNTING report this spring came in on the 10th. SCARLET TANAGERS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and BOBOLINKS are now present in good numbers, a few RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were still moving through as of the 7th, and PINE SISKINS were still being heard on both the Ontario and Quebec sides during the past week. Thanks to all who contributed their observations - Good Birding!