December 19,2015 Pembroke CBC Black-throated Gray Warbler!

Hi Everyone

This morning while participating on the Pembroke CBC Ben and I discovered a Black-throated Gray Warbler on Morrison Island/Quebec side of the count circle, only 1 km from Ontario. This is yet another western species that has shown up in our region. Enjoy the CBCs over the next few weeks! Lots of possibilities on our Ontario counts.

Merry Christmas,

Bruce and Ben

Direction: If you require additional information please email me privately.

 

Unfortunately due to the height of the cedar trees and being very active warbler it was difficult to get a clear photo of the warbler.  

December 18,2015 Eastern Ontario rarities update

Hi Everyone

Since my son Ben has been away at university in New Brunswick this fall and missed all the excitement, I picked him up at the Ottawa airport at 7:50a.m. and we spent the day searching for the local goodies. Before leaving Ottawa for Fredericton, Ben’s Ottawa Life list was at 299. Our first stop was the female Mountain Bluebird, which was present along the fence line at the intersection of Century Road and Goodstown Road at 8:40a.m.

Our next stop, Pakenham, produced the Bullock’s Oriole along the old railway bed and it spent most of its time in the vegetation to the south. We did not see it visit its favorite tree.

The final destination was east of Casselman for the Pink-footed Goose. There were no geese along Lafleche Road so we worked our way towards Moose Creek and located a large concentration of Snow Geese along Eighth Road just north of Moose Creek. After a while of scanning the flock we spotted the Pink-footed Goose. There were 10,000 Snow Goose and more sizable flocks arriving. The best viewing location was north of 16182 Eighth Road. The mass of Snow Geese were visible from the road and viewing conditions were great.




Good luck,

Bruce and Ben


Directions: Mountain Bluebird: Take Hwy 416 south or north to Exit 57. West on Brophy to Eagleson and south on Eagleson/McCordick to Century Rd.. West on Century to intersection of Goodstown.


Directions: Bullock’s Oriole: From Ottawa take Hwy 417 west to Kinburn Side Road. After exiting turn left and follow to CR 29. Turn left and as you enter the village of Pakenham watch for Waba Road on your right.  Turn right and then left on Dalkeith St.


Directions: Pink-footed Goose: From Ottawa take Hwy 417 east past Casselman and exit at #58 south on Hwy 138. Follow south to Norman Dr. Turn right and continue west and Norman changes into Valley St. Follow to Eight Road and turn right continue to 16182 8th but watch for Snow Geese anywhere in the fields.

December 14,2015 Eastern Ontario Rarities update

Hi Ontbirders

The birding in Eastern Ontario continues to be unpredictable and exciting. It doesn’t appear to be slowing down too soon. The weather forecast for the next few days is above seasonal temperatures and no snow. All waterways are still ice free.
The Smew was observed at first light today along the St. Lawrence River just east of Long Sault along Hwy 2 at Fickes Road. The Smew flew west and disappeared. Fortunately for a few of us while scanning the river it was spotted flying back, landing briefly in the same location before taking flight again and heading west along the river. A number of us searched various areas but no luck. The bird may return at dusk and I’d check tomorrow at dawn.  
The Pink-footed Goose was observed at the sod farm off Laflèche Road late morning and was still present into the afternoon. There were no geese along Laflèche Road when we arrived but shortly after a small flock landed followed by 5-8 thousands and the PFGO was spotted. Lots of patience is required to find this goose.
The Mountain Bluebird was present this morning and early afternoon at the intersection of Century Road and Goodstown Road south of Richmond.
The Bullock’s Oriole was again observed in Pakenham and I observed it feeding in its favourite apple tree at the south west end of Dalkeith St. at 3:15p.m.
Good luck,
Bruce
http://brucedilabio.blogspot.ca/

SMEW directions:  Seen from Highway 2 between Cornwall and Long Sault Just west of Fickes Road, there is a short, open stretch of river that is viewable from the highway.  There is also a bike path here.  This is a busy stretch of road, so it may be best to park on Fickes Road and walk the short distance to the west.

Pink-footed Goose directions: Take Hwy 417 east from Ottawa past Casselman and take exit 58.
Turn right (south) on Hwy 138 towards Cornwall. Laflèche Road is the first road on the right.

Mountain Bluebird directions: Take Hwy 416 south or north to Exit 57. West on Brophy to Eagleson and south on Eagleson/McCordick to Century Rd.. West on Century to intersection of Goodstown.

Bullock’s Oriole directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 417 west to Kinburn Side Road. After exiting turn left and follow to CR 29. Turn left and as you enter the village of Pakenham watch for Waba Road on your right.  Turn right and then left on Dalkeith St.

The Smew was only seen briefly before flying west along the St. Lawrence River.  Smew photos courtesy of Jacques Bouvier. 

Only a few fortunate birders got to see the Smew before it disappeared near Long Sault.

Pink-footed Goose with Snow Geese. 

Mountain Bluebird spent much of its time feeding along the fence line and flying down to the ground to pick up grubs. 

The female Bullock's Oriole continues to favor one apple tree at the southwest end of Dalkeith St. 

December 13,2015 Smew near Cornwall,Ontario

Hi Everyone 
This afternoon at 3:30p.m. Jacob Bruxer discovered a Smew  on the St. Lawrence River about 5 km west of Cornwall.  He watched it for about 15 minutes feeding within about 50 m of shore and managed a few digiscoped photos.  The bird was loosely associating with a small group of Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneye.  It eventually flew out further into the river and joined a larger group of diving ducks.

Directions:  Seen from Highway 2 between Cornwall and Long Sault. Just west of Fickes Road, there is a short, open stretch of river that is viewable from the highway.  There is also a bike path here.  This is a busy stretch of road, so it may be best to park on Fickes Road and walk the short distance to the west.

Smew along the St.Lawrence River near Cornwall. 

December 12,2015 birding Ottawa and Renfrew County: Barrow's Goldeneyes and late lingerers.

Hi Everyone 

Since conditions are still mild and all waterways are ice free I started the day at Shirley’s Bay and had a male Barrow’s Goldeneye in a flock of 300+ Common Goldeneye on the west side of the causeway. Other water birds included 60 Lesser Scaup, 12 Ring-necked Ducks, one male Canvasback, one Long-tailed Duck, two White-winged Scoters and one Common Loon. A Snowy Owl was perched on Aylmer Island in Lake Deschenes. 

At Muskrat Lake at Cobden there were four Common Loons and one Long-tailed Duck. My next stop was Lake Dore and there was still a good variety of late lingering water birds. Normally at this time of year most lakes are frozen and the ground snow covered. 

Highlights included a male Barrow’s Goldeneye off the Township Park along Hwy 41, 9 Horned Grebes, 12 Red-necked Grebes, 33 Hooded Mergansers, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Common Loons, and two very late Bonaparte’s Gulls.

A brief stop at the Madawaska Head Pond at Arnprior produced three late lingering Double-crested Cormorants. 

Good birding,

Bruce

Directions: Directions: Shirley's Bay: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Moodie Drive exit and turn north (right) on Moodie Drive and continue to Carling Ave. Turn left at Carling Ave. and follow Carling to Rifle Road. Turn right (north) on Rifle Rd. Park at the lot at the end (boat launch). Walk back to the road, and continue through the gate on the Department of National Defense property. There is a trail on your right (clearly marked with vehicle "No Entry" signs) which heads into the woods, and, eventually to the causeway.  

**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL

OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEY'S BAY CAUSEWAY AREA -- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the causeway area for birding.

Male Barrow's Goldeneye at Shirley's Bay 

The male Barrow's Goldeneye is distinguished from the male Common Goldeneye by it large crescent facial mark, black spur and checkered scapulars. Head shape is also important, steep forehead. 

Male Barrow's on left side of flock of Common Goldeneye. 

Lake Dore classic male Barrow's Goldeneye off Township Park. 

Another view of the male Barrow's Goldeneye at Lake Dore. 

December 11,2015 Bullock's Oriole continues and Mountain Bluebird rediscovered south of Richmond.

Hi Everyone 

The Bullock's Oriole continues to be reported from Pakenham and was seen this morning in the apple tree at the southwest end of Dalkeith. This has been its favorite tree since first discovered on November 29. The Mountain Bluebird first observed on November 29 and last observed on November 30 was rediscovered this morning south of Richmond at the intersection of Century Road and Goodstown Road. The bluebird spent much of its time feeding along the fence line and picking up grubs.

Unfortunately no further sightings of yesterdays Northern Fulmar. 

Good birding

Bruce

 

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird 

December 10,2015 Northern Fulmar at Ottawa!

Hi Everyone 

After an incredible fall of rarities....it continues. Today a Northern Fulmar, was discovered early afternoon on Lake Deschenes off Andrew Haydon Park by Jon Ruddy. After finding the bird Jon put out an alert immediately and the chase was on. Fortunately I was close by in Carp and was able to get there quickly and within an hour 30+ birders were on the fulmar. The bird spent most of its time resting on the water but did take flight a couple of times. To see any tubenose inland is amazing! These birds are from the Atlantic Ocean and a very rare sight inland. After watching the fulmar for a while it finally took flight and was wandering around Lake Deschenes before finally drifting east and we lost sight of it as it passed over Deschenes Rapids at around 3:20 p.m. and went out of sight. It was seen down river later off Mousette Beach in Hull, Quebec. Amazingly there are 3 previous records of Northern Fulmar for Ottawa. On November 12, 1984,  Richard Brouillet, Don MacKinnon and I watched in amazement as a Northern Fulmar flew over a cornfield in Woodlawn as it headed east. On December 14, 1994,  there was a small flight of fulmars inland from the Gulf of St.Lawrence and numerous fulmars were found between Quebec City and Ottawa.  One individual landed on a lawn in Limoges, Ontario and was finally caught on December 16 and sent to a rehab center before being released in Nova Scotia. During this time I found two Northern Fulmars at the Cornwall Power Dam on December 14. 

The late Richard Poulin of Ottawa observed a Northern Fulmar flying over Hwy 417 near the Carling exit on December 7,1995. 

Below are a number of distant photos I took today of the Northern Fulmar found by Jon Ruddy this afternoon. Congratulations Jon! and a lifer for Jon too! 

The Northern Fulmar is resting on the water to the left. Note the very white head and dark mantle. 

The Northern Fulmar is a seabird and has a distinctive flap and guide flight with wings stiff like shearwaters and other pelagic species. 

This individual is a light morph which is common on the Atlantic Ocean. 

Northern Fulmar in flight.