Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Al Caughey at sightings@ofnc.ca Update for 2026.03.05 (season 1; episode 5) Did you get out to see the lunar eclipse on Tues Mar 3? For me, the clouds lifted just in time for the total part but unfortunately none of my pictures turned out. On the birding front, a total of 81 species were reported at least once within the 50km circle around Parliament Hill this week - including all of our long term visitors and typical winter birds. Hopefully, the warm weather and strong southerly winds this weekend will make next week's update a little more interesting. Notable Birds: Northern Pintail: one or two as recently as Mar 4 at several locations in Gatineau (where they are still considered to be rarities) and as many as three at several locations in Ottawa (where they are not) Ring-necked Duck: continuing at Watson's Mill in Manotick - multiple dates; most recently Mar 5 Greater Scaup: several reports at the Remic Rapids Lookout in Ottawa - last reported on Feb 28 Red-tailed Hawk (abieticola): one report at Cambrian Rd W in Nepean - last reported on Mar 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker: not reported this week at Domaine de la ferme Moore, Gatineau but is still being seen at several locations in Ottawa and Lanark Black-backed Woodpecker: continuing at the Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail) in Nepean - last reported on Mar 3 and the Old Quarry Trail in Kanata - last reported on Feb 27 Northern Flicker: several reports at the Grasshopper Hill Park in Ottawa - last reported on Feb 28. There have been no recent reports of the Flicker at Mud Lake. Tufted Titmouse: continuing at the feeders on Lewis St in Ottawa - most recently Mar 4 Hermit Thrush: many reports along Cassels St at the Mud Lake CA in Ottawa - most recently Mar 4. There were no reports this week from Fletchers Wildlife Gardens in Ottawa or Rue de Roquebrune in Gatineau Redpoll (rostrata/islandica): a single report at the Greenbelt Eastern Pathway in Ottawa - last reported on Mar 1 White-winged Crossbill: a single report at Greenbelt Eastern Pathway in Ottawa - last reported on Mar 1. There were no reports of Red Crossbills within the 50km circle but there have been a number of sightings just outside of it (including Mississippi Mills in Lanark and Limerick Forest in Leeds and Grenville) Pine Siskin: several reports in Ottawa and Gatineau - last reported on Mar 4 Lapland Longspur: several reports as recently as Mar 4 usually in mixed flocks with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks - including the Akins Rd area in Richmond; Huisman Rd in Ottawa and Mer Bleue Bog in Ottawa Fox Sparrow: continuing in the southwest corner of the Mud Lake CA in Ottawa - multiple dates; most recently Mar 5 White-crowned Sparrow: a number of reports at several locations - including the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa (last reported on Mar 5); continuing on Fernbank Rd in Kanata (last reported on Mar 4); Riverside South stormwater ponds in Ottawa (last reported on Feb 27) and Owl Valley Dr in Riverside South (last reported on Feb 27) Song Sparrow: continuing along Spring St in Almonte - multiple dates; most recently Mar 4 Swamp Sparrow: a single report at Stony Swamp (Chipmunk Trail) in Nepean` - last reported on Mar 1 And last but not least, Western Meadowlark: continuing at the same location on Panmure Rd - most recently Mar 5