August 12, 2012 More birding along the Ottawa Rivier.

Ben and I spent a couple of hours birding the Constance Bay area. The water level continues to rise along the Ottawa River but still lots of mudflats. It was interesting to see that nearly all the shorebirds that had been around the past few days were gone. The only remaining shorebirds this morning were 2 very tame juvenile Red-necked Phalarope. We also had an adult Caspian Tern and the Red-headed Woodpecker family is still present at the "old burn site".
The warbler migration continues and early this morning I observed Northern Waterthrush, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler all in our backyard. Over the next month 20+ warbler species will pass through the area. Last night at dusk 2 Common Nighthawks were flying over our house along with 12 Chimney Swifts.

Adult Caspian Tern resting with Ring-billed Gulls along the Ottawa River at Constance Bay.

Formerly a rare visitor to the Ottawa district the Caspian Tern has become more  regular duirng late summer and fall. Recently high counts of 17 and 16 have been recorded at Shirley's Bay and Deschenes Rapids.  

Two juvenile Red-necked Phalaropes feed along the shoreline at Constance Bay.

Unlikely other shorebird species the phalarope family spent most of there time swimming as they feed.

One of the adult Red-headed Woodpeckers is perched and ready for flycatching.

For the 11th season the Red-headed Woodpecker were successful producing young. 

A moulting male Cape May Warbler put in a brief appearance in our backyard in Carp.