July 14, 2011 Breeding success for Red-headed Woodpeckers again!

Hi Everyone
The Red-headed Woodpeckers at Constance Bay bred again for the 10th consecutive year raising at least 2 young. I visited the site late today and watched the 2 adults fly catching while the 2 juveniles were resting in an old dead popular. The area has changed a lot in the past decade with fewer trees for nesting. No sure what the future holds for the woodpeckers but it has shown the importance of fires to produce nesting habitat for these woodpeckers.

Good birding, Bruce

A juvenile Red-headed woodpecker at the Constance Bay "old burn site".

July 14, 2011 No White-faced Ibis today.

Hi Everyone
I checked at 6:00a.m. and the White-faced Ibis was back feeding along the Carp River. While watching it a Great Blue Heron flew in and flushed the ibis which than flew around for a minute before settling back to feeding. There were a number of very vocal Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs present too, so be careful approaching the area.
good birding, Bruce



Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Carp Road exit. and turn right (north) and follow Carp Road to the village of Carp. After crossing the bridge take the first right (east) on Rivington Street and follow to the end.



Both Ben and I checked right up till dusk and no White-faced Ibis. We will give it another check tomorrow morning.

July 13, 2011 White-faced Ibis still present.

Hi Everyone

I checked at 6:00a.m. and the White-faced Ibis was back feeding along the Carp River. While watching it a Great Blue Heron flew in and flushed the ibis which than flew around for a minute before settling back to feeding. There were a number of very vocal Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs present too, so be careful approaching the area. good birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Carp Road exit. and turn right (north) and follow Carp Road to the village of Carp. After crossing the bridge take the first right (east) on Rivington Street and follow to the end.

The White-faced Ibis was feeding on small fish, worms and leeches.

July 12, 2011 White-faced Ibis back in Carp!

After last being seen on Friday, July 8th the White-faced Ibis was looked for both July 9th and 10th with no luck. Didn't have a chance on July 11th but this afternoon it was there. There was a report early today of a dark ibis observed near Deschenes Rapids, likely the same bird.


Hi Ontbirders,

The White-faced Ibis is back at the Carp River flood plains in Carp as of 4:30p.m. My dad just phoned and informed me of this sighting.

Good birding, Ben Di Labio


Hi Everyone

The White-faced Ibis was present again in Carp until 6:54p.m. feeding and preening. 3 lucky observers got to see it before I watched it take flight and slowly drift southeast in large circles before loosing sight if it. I'll check tomorrow morning and post if it returns.

Good birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Carp Road exit. and turn right (north) and follow Carp Road to the village of Carp. After crossing the bridge take the first right (east) on Rivington Street and follow to the end.

The White-faced Ibis was rediscovered along the Carp river this afternoon. It spent most of its time feeding, catching a number of small fish and some what appeared to be worms.

The White-faced Ibis was last observed at 6:54p.m. circling and drifting southeast.

July 12, 2011 Chris R. Michener 1949-2011

Hello Everyone,


It is with tremendous sadness that I announce the passing of Chris Michener of Golden Lake on June 25th, 2011 after a short battle with cancer. In Renfrew County, Chris was an avid birder, naturalist and environmentalist. He was a founding and life member of the Pembroke and Area Field Naturalist Club (1983) and was the club's newsletter publisher and record keeper for 28 years. He lead many of the club’s annual excursions, including the Lake Dore fall outing, the two Butterfly counts, and the very popular ‘Owl Prowl’ held in March.

Chris also founded both the Eganville (1992) and Killaloe (1996) Christmas Bird Count and was compiler (Eganville) for most of its 18 years. He was a regular on the Pembroke CBC and participated on the Dunrobin and Renfrew CBC'c too. He took part in both Ontario Breeding Bird Atlases and was regional coordinator on the second. Chris also had a keen interest in butterflies and dragonflies and conducted many local counts. Throughout his career, he used his knowledge of these areas to conduct important environmental surveys and studies for the Ministry of Natural Resources and for other conservation groups. Prior to his passing, Chris was working on the Renfrew County Biodatabase.


Eastern Ontario birders are going to miss his generosity. During the early 80's, Jacques Bouvier introduced me to the Pembroke birders which included Chris Michener, Manson Fluegel and Ken Hooles. It was through this connection that Chris introduced me to birding Lake Dore and Westmeath Provincial Park in the late 80's and early 90's. He will be remembered for bringing the birding community together with finding many great birds on Lake Dore such as the Razorbill and Ivory Gull. Other notable sightings by Chris included both Pomarine Jaeger and Red Phalarope, a male Garganey and an adult Slaty-backed Gull near Pembroke.

Slaty-backed Gull found by Chris Michener on November 20, 2007 near Pembroke, Ontario.
Photographed on November 27, 2007 by Bruce Di Labio

He will also be remembered for his unique style of pelagic birding with Manson on Lake Dore, locally known as "popcorn pelagic" (chumming for rare gulls with stale popcorn) which helped net Sabine's, Little and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Nothing made Chris happier than sharing a find and spending time with birding colleagues. He will be greatly missed by all. Condolences should be sent to Jean Brereton, his lifelong partner, at jbrereton@hughes.net.



Bruce Di Labio

In memory of Chris, 2007 Texas trip.

July 6-8, 2011 White-faced Ibis still present in Carp.

Hi Everyone
The White-faced Ibis continues to feed along the Carp River floodplain today, July 8th. It flew in around 6:00a.m. from its roosting area and was still present at 8:20a.m.



Good birding, Bruce and Ben



Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Carp Road exit. and turn right and follow Carp Road to the village of Carp. After crossing the bridge take the first right, Rivington St. and follow to the end.

A series of close up views showing reddish eye colour and pinkish facial skin of the White-faced Ibis.

July 4 & 5, 2011 White-faced Ibis in Carp, Ontario!

Definitely a major highlight for birders in eastern Ontario this year was the discovery of a White-faced Ibis along the Carp River during the morning on July 4th. My son Ben was checking out one of his local birding haunts and found a dark ibis feeding in the Carp River flood plain. He cycled home which is close by and phone me. I had just finished getting the oil changed at Frisby Tire and headed to the site shortly after the call. I arrived to find Ben and his scope set up with the ibis in view. Due to the distance and lighting it was difficult to get good views of the soft part colours; legs, facial skin, and eye colour. During the early afternoon an alert was put out for a probable Glossy Ibis but there was still some uncertainty. The following morning the ibis was again reported and Ben and I tried a few times but keep missing it. Finally around 1:30p.m. the ibis flew in while I was standing near the edge of the field and landed close by. I was able to take a number photos and then headed back home. Ben and I check the photos and could clearly see the colour of the facial skin, legs and we weren't 100% sure about the eye colour. I fired the images off to Alan Wormington near Point Pelee National Park and he felt it was a White-faced Ibis. The next local alert went out on a White-faced Ibis, first record for the Ottawa-Gatineau District. Great find Ben! Both birders/photographers started to show up and haven't stopped yet!

White-faced Ibis along the Carp River floodplain.

Another view of the White-faced Ibis.