August 31, 2012 Great shorebirding today between Shirley's Bay and Britannia Pier.

The shorebirding along the Ottawa river continues to be impressive with a number of good sightings today. At Shirley's Bay 2 Red-necked Phalarope were present along with 2 Baird's Sandpiper, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper , Spotted Sandpiper, and Semipalmated Plover.  The birds were very nervous taking flight numerous times due to a Northern Harrier. At 10:25am a Whimbrel was observed at Andrew Haydon Park (Ottawa Beach) and the very cooperative juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper was feeding on the mudflats west of Britannia Pier near the end of Scrivens Road. Two juvenile black-bellied Plover were observed resting on the exposed shoal near the pier.

Good birding,Bruce

 

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. There is lots of POISON IVY along the causeway.

**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEY'S BAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the causeway area for birding.Directions: Britannia Pier: Most easily accessed via Britannia Beach; from the 417W, turn right onto Greenbank Road and follow to the end, going straight at the intersection with Carling Avenue. Continue straight and park at Britannia Beach. The mudflats can be accessed through several small pathways to the left or west of the beach.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is a very rare fall migrant in the Ottawa district.

Most sightings are only for a few hours or a day but this individual has been present since August 29th.

Usually associated with plow fields or sod farms this bird has been feeding out on mudflats searching for aquatic insects.

A juvenile Semipalmated Plover.

August 31, 2012 Thick-billed Kingbird Update

The Thick-billed Kingbird is still being seen (as of 10:00 a.m.) this morning at Presqu'ile, although it is becoming much harder to see, staying out of sight and inactive for 30 minutes at a time. Today it is frequenting the Calf Pasture Cove, spending most of its time on the actual Calf Pasture Point (the spit of land that forms the northern shore of the cove). It has been flying out over the water catching bugs then returning to trees on the point. The mowed grass area by  the parking lot is the best vantage to see the bird, especially when  it flies out over the water. There is a strong west wind which may be  influencing its behaviour and perching sites. It has not been seen  near the cottage at 44 Bayshore Rd. where it had spent the first day  and a half, but it was along the hydro line earlier in the morning, so  accessing it via the Calf Pasture parking area is still the best option.

Cheers,

Doug McRae

Directions: Presqu'ile is south of Brighton on the north shore of Lake Ontario.   The park is well signed from Hwy 401. Because Bayshore Road is narrow  with few good parking spots, please access it from Presqu'ile  Provincial Park at the Calf Pasture day use area. Take the park road  (instead of bayshore) and follow it; when it becomes a one way loop,  follow it around past the lighthouse and in about 3 km, go right on  Atkins Lane to the Calf Pasture Day Use parking area. You can pick up  a park newspaper at the gate which has a map.

The Thick-billed Kingbird was last seen late August 31st at Calf Pasture. There were no reports on September 1st.

August 30, 2012 Thick-billed Kingbird update

The Thick-billed Kingbird that has been at Presqu’ile Provincial Park since Tuesday and had not been seen for most of today was re-discovered at 17:20h. this afternoon. It was in a large dead tree overlooking the cove at the north end of Atkins Lane. The tree is on a narrow peninsula immediately to the east of the viewing platform at the calf pasture parking lot. That is very near to where it has been apparently roosting for the past two nights. Thanks to Eleanor Beagan for re-locating the bird and good luck to those few who have up to now been unsuccessful in finding it.

Update courtesy of Fred Helleiner


Presqu’ile is at the south-west corner of Brighton. Further directions courtesy of Doug McRae:
Because Bayshore Road is narrow with few good parking spots, please access it from Presqu'ile Provincial Park at the Calf Pasture day use area. Take the park road (instead of bayshore) and follow it; when it becomes a one way loop, follow it around past the lighthouse and in about 3 km, go right on Atkins Lane to the Calf Pasture Day Use parking area. When you go through the underpass, the bird is roughly 100m E of this point or 150m from the parking lot. You can pick up a park newspaper at the gate which has a map.

August 30, 2012 Thick-billed Kingbird still present!

The Thick-billed Kingbird is still present today at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. After going to roost in the same group of trees it reappeared on schedule this morning to the delight of many birders. The kingbird appears to be agian staying the the same general area along Bayshore Drive around #44. Please respect the private property along the road.

 

Directions: (Courtesy Doug McRae) Because Bayshore Road is narrow with few good parking spots, please  access it from Presqu'ile Provincial Park at the Calf Pasture day use  area. Take the park road (instead of Bayshore) and follow it; when it  becomes a one way loop, follow it around past the lighthouse and in  about 3 km, go right on Atkins Lane to the Calf Pasture Day Use  parking area. When you go through the underpass, the bird is roughly  100m E of this point or 150m from the parking lot. You can pick up a  park newspaper at the gate which has a map.

Thick-billed Kingbird. All photos from August 29, 2012.

It has been very successful flycatching wasps. Below are a couple more flight shots.



Thick-billed Kingbird

Thick-billed Kingbird

Waiting for its next snack.

August 28 and 29,2012 Thick-billed Kingbird at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario

 The first record of Thick-billed Kingbird for Ontario was discovered last night, August 28th by Bill Gilmour at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario. While biking along Bayshore Drive during the early evening, he headed to the bridge at Calf Pasture to look for Common Nighthawk. As he cycled along the road he heard an unfamiliar call and stopped to investigate. To his  astonishment, there was a large billed kingbird sitting on top of tree, a THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD!  After numerous phone calls, a small group of local birders were fortunate to see this spectacle and obtain photos, videos and record the call as the light faded. That evening, the alert went out and all were hoping the kingbird would stay at the roost site.  Early on August 29th, the Thick-billed Kingbird was observed at the roost area and spent most of the day feeding in the the area. At least 150+ birders came to view the kingbird as it fed in the open and was very cooperative for everyone.  This sighting is a first record for Ontario and a second for Canada. The first sighting in Canada was in British Columbia in 1974 at Qualicum Beach from October 20-November 11. Unfortunately, it was found dead on November 12.

The Thick-billed Kingbird having breakfast.

The Thick-billed Kingbird keeps close to its overnight roosting site.

The kingbird spent some time preening during the early only of the morning.

 

It was very successful in fly catching.

One of its early morning perches.

This was its favorite perch.

During the early morning hours it spent time preening.

It was very active feeding during the day.

August 27, 2012 Shorebird watching along the Ottawa River.

Shorebird watching along the Ottawa River continues to be good with 14 species between Shirley's Bay and Andrew Haydon Park.  Highlights at Shirley's Bay included the adult moulting Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 juvenile Stilt Sandpiper, 14 juv. Semipalmated Plover, 3 juv. Solitary Sandpiper, 1 juv. Baird's Sandpiper and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper along with 100+ Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers. Both adult and juvenile Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs were present too. At least 12 Great Egrets and  6 Caspian Tern were feeding while  1 Bald Eagle, 1 Merlin and 1 immature Cooper's Hawk flushed many of the shorebirds and other waterfowl.

At Andrew Haydon Park there was a flock of  12 juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher that were feeding at the west end of the park for a while before flying east to the Ottawa Beach are of the park. Also a flock of 6 adult Back-bellied Plover were observed flying south over the area.

 

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. There is lots of POISON IVY along the causeway.

**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEY'S BAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the causeway area for birding.

Juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers.

The Short-billed Dowitchers were very active feeding along the shoreline in their probbing style of feeding.

In flight the dowitcher shows a distinctive white wedge from the tail to the middle of the back.  

August 23, 2012 Long-billed Dowitcher at Shirley's Bay.

Hi Ontbirders

Today August 23, I was at Shirley's Bay. The moulting adult Long-billed Dowitcher was still present today. It was first observed and photographed yesterday. This is the 3rd or 4th Long-billed in the area this August, which is very unusual. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was present this morning but then disappeared. Also present were 1 Stilt Sandpiper, 10 Lesser Yellowlegs, 15 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 7 Least Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Semipalmated Plover, and 3 Killdeer.

Good Birding, Ben

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. There is lots of POISON
IVY along the causeway.


**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEY'S BAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740and request
permission to visit the causeway area for birding.
      

The Long-billed Dowitcher is a rare fall migrant in eastern Ontario. Most records are of juvenile plumage birds from early September to late October.

August 23, 2012 Birding Presqu'ile Provincial Park.





Hi Ontbirders,

Bruce DiLabio and I spent a few hours on Owen Pt. and the natural
beach. Some shorebird and waterfowl highlights included:

15 juv. Baird's S/p
2 juv. Sanderling
150+ Semi Sandpiper (all juv)
10 Least Sandpiper (all juv)
6 juv Semi Plover
2 juv L Yellowlegs
1 juv Spotted S/p
10 Killdeer
1 female Bufflehead
1 female Com. Goldeneye
28 Redhead
2 Lesser Scaup
1 Greater Scaup
1 Merlin
some warblers at the Park Store Parking lot included 1 Phil. Vireo, 1
ad male Bay-breasted Warbler in heavy moult (no tail), Magnolia, Black-
and-white, BT Green, Blackburnian, Yellow-rumped

 

Cheers,
Doug McRae


Directions: To reach Presqu’ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: FHELLEINER@TRENTU.CA.
 

Two juvenile Baird's Sandpiper with a juv. Semipalmated Sandpiper in the middle.

A juv. Baird's Sandpiper feeds along the shoreline off one of the lookouts along Owen Point Trail.

The Owen Point viewing area can be great for sorebird watching. Please remember to stay within the ropped off area. There is no access to Gull Island or the gravel point between March 10 and September 10 due to the breeding colonies.

One of the first  juvenile Sanderlings of the fall was observed off Owen Point.

August 22, 2012 Shirley's Bay shorebird watching, Buff-breasted Sandpiper continues...

Hi Everyone
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present this morning at Shirley's Bay. The bird spent most of its time feeding along the dry vegetated area closer to cattails. A total of 14 species of shorebirds were observed including 1 juvenile Stilt Sandpiper, and 1 juv. Baird's Sandpiper. There was a Merlin and Northern Harrier flushing the shorebirds up ever once in a while and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper disappeared a couple of times. Also 12 Great Egret, 5 Caspian Tern, and 3 Ring-necked duck were observed.
Good birding, Bruce

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. There is lots of POISON IVY along the causeway.

**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEY'S BAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the causeway area for birding.
 

Juvenile Stilt Sandpiper at Shirley's Bay



The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present this morning at Shirley's Bay.

August 21, 2012 Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Shirley's Bay

Hi Everyone,
Today at 8:25, my son Ben and I found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Shirley's Bay. It is on the mudflats walking through the vegetation near the large rock.
Good birding, Bruce and Ben
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. There is lots of POISON IVY along the causeway.

**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEY'S BAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740and request permission to visit the causeway area for birding.

August 20, 2012 Birding Shirley's Bay: Baird's Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope



The birding at Shirley's Bay was good today with 7 juvenile Baird's Sandpiper and 2 juv. Red-necked Phalarope. The water levels along the Ottawa River are up but still lots of suitable habitat. Also present were 15+ Spotted Sandpiper, 7 juv. Lesser Yellowlegs, 11 juv. Semipalmated Sandpiper, 4 juv. Least Sandpiper and 1 Killdeer. In the back bay area I observed 3 Caspian Tern, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 4 Osprey, 3 Great Egret, 1 Northern Harrier and a Merlin. A high count of 122 Wood Ducks was noteable. Lots of land bird activity along the causeway including Yellow-rumped Warbler , Cape May Warbler,Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Song Sparrow and Gray Catbird.

At Andrew Haydon Park (Ottawa Beach) 3 juvenile Bonaparte's Gulls were resting in a flock of Ring-billed Gulls but no shorebirds were found. Lots of activity at Deschenes Rapids including 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 8 Caspian Tern, 40+ Common Tern, 120+ Double-crested Cormorant, 7 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 2 Baird's Sandpiper, and 17 Great Egret.



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. There is lots of POISON IVY along the causeway.

**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEYS BAY CAUSEWAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the area for birding.



A female Deer with 3 young. Triplets are very unusual but do occur.

Red-necked Phalaropes feeding at Shirley's Bay.

 

A female Downy Woodpecker sits for a moment.

After a few minutes of pecking, the Downy Woodpecker extracts an insect.



An immature male Common Yellowthroat was one of many species of warblers observed today at Shirley's Bay.

Cape May Warblers have been reported from numerous locations in the Ottawa district this fall.

A male American Redstart was still in full song.

This juvenile orange variant, Cedar Waxing, has a orange tail band instead of a yellow.

The Red-eyed Vireo is the most common vireo in eastern Ontario

Bird activity at our feeders is picking up and we now have Purple Finch and House Finch along with American Goldfinch and a few Pine Siskin.

August 16, 2012 More backyard birding.

Another great morning in the backyard! Lots of activity in the trees and overhead. Many Bobolinks flying over and a few Turkey Vultures soaring by. Another 10 species of warblers, 2 vireos, Red-eyed and Warbling, both Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers along with Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The feeders added White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird and Pine Siskin.  With a change in the forecast for tomorrow, maybe I'll head to the river and see if there are any new arrivals in the shorebirds.




An adult Bay-breasted Warbler.

Formerly called the Myrtle Warbler, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is one of our most common warblers that migrate through the Ottawa district.

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The White-throated Sparrow is another very common migrant during the fall. These individuals are likely local birds from the Carp Ridge.

A female Purple Finch puts in a brief visit to the sunflower feeder.

This young House Wren was very agitated while the rest of the family group foraged in a brush pile.

August 15, 2012 Local birding

Fall migration if definitely happening locally with many species of land birds on the move south!  When I can see 10+ of warblers in my back yard I know there are many moving through the region. Yesterday morning Ben and I observed Black and White Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow-rumped Warbler, along with Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Not bad for a back yard!  

Today, August 15th there was another wave of warblers including Canada Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Blackburian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Tenneessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush and Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Other species observed included House Wren, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, Eastern Phoebe, and a Ruby-throated hummingbird visiting the garden! 

Up to 10+ Caspian Terns have been present at Deschenes Rapids resting/loofing on the exposed rocks due to the low water levels.

The first nesting record of Great Egret for the Ottawa-Gatineau district has been sucessfull. At least 3 nests with almost fledged young can be seen from Britannia Point. The nests are on a small island on the Quebec side of the Deschenes Rapids. The young should be out any day now.

A juvenile Stilt sandpiper was present at Shirley's Bay on the evening of August 14th. This distant photo shows the shape of the STSA with its long slightly drooped bill, long legs, and very buffy feather edgings. With practise, many species of shorebirds can be identified by shape alone.

A Black and White Warbler was one of numerous species of warblers on the move south this week.

A surprise find in our backyard was a Canada Warbler.



An adult Greater Yellowlegs moulting from breeding plumage to fall plumage.

A juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs feeds along the shoreline at Constance Bay.

The Osprey patrols the river in search of fish. Over the past 2 decades there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Ospreys nesting in the Ottawa district.

Note the overall size difference between the Lesser Yellowlegs on the left and the Greater Yellowlegs on the right.