Monday, December 13, 2010

December 14, 2010 Gulls and Finches

Spent a couple of hours birding in the Ottawa area today. Highlight was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Moodie Drive pond which is now frozen. There were around 300+ gulls including 3 Glaucous, 1 Iceland and 50+ Great black-backed Gull. Along Trail Road near the landfill site there were 100+ Common Redpoll feeding in a weedy field until a Northern Harrier flushed them. Nearby along Barnsdale Road there a Great Blue Heron was feeding in an open creek. The Pine Warbler is still making regular visits to 5718 William McEwen Drive and a Brown Thrasher was photographed today near Dunrobin. If you require additional information, please email me privately.
Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 417 west to Hwy 416. South on the 416 to exit 66 (Fallowfield Rd.) Right (west) on Fallowfield to Moodie Dr. Left (south) on Moodie, go past Trail Rd. on your left and Cambrian Rd. on your right until you come to a very large sand & gravel operation on the left (east) side of the road. ***PLEASE NOTE*** - do NOT cross the gate to the sand & gravel operation. This is private property, and most of the birds can be well-viewed from the road. The landfill site is located on Trail Road. There is no access but the gulls can be viewed from Trail Road just south of the main entrance.

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 416 south to exit #57 Bankfield Road. Turn right and take first left and follow to 5718 William McEwen Drive on your right. There is no parking on the road and limited parking in their laneway.





Prior to the late 1960's the Great black-backed Gull was rare visitor to the Ottawa district. There was a big increase during the 80's, 90's and into the 21st century. This fall/early winter there has been a noticeable decrease in numbers possibly due to a population crash and a major change in landfill site operations.


The Brown Thrasher is very rare during the winter months in eastern Ontario and most disappear, likely victims up the cold weather.

No comments: