Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca Raptors moving north, especially on the 14th. Geese, swans, and waterfowl everywhere wet. Grasslands birds such as bluebirds, meadowlarks and Killdeer all over agricultural areas. Greater White-fronted Goose (1) Mar 09, Diamondview Rd @ Rail Crossing, Kinburn, Ottawa. Trumpeter Swan (2) Mar 14, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa. Tundra Swan (20) Mar 11- 14, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. (36) Mar 10-14, Milton Rd x Bearbrook Creek, Ottawa. (6) Mar 14, Rideau River Provincial Park, Ottawa. (26) Mar 13, Cobb Lake Creek flood plain, Prescott and Russell. Blue-winged Teal (3) Mar 13, Parc Guillot & Marais Lamoureux, Gatineau. Northern Shoveler (2) Mar 09, 14, Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa. Gadwall (6) Mar 13, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. (2) Mar 12, Twin Elm Road Wetlands, Ottawa. Canvasback (1) Mar 12, Baie Noire, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Redhead (3) Mar 12-14, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Lesser Scaup (5-14) Mar 12-14, Britannia CA--Filtration Plant/Point, Ottawa. (3) Mar 12, Ottawa--Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. Barrow's Goldeneye (1) Mar 12-14, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. (2) Mar 11, Strathcona Park, Ottawa. Red-breasted Merganser (1) Mar 14, Shirley's Bay (boat launch), Ottawa. Lesser Black-backed Gull (1) Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. (2) Mar 03, Baie Simard, Gatineau. Golden Eagle (1) Mar 14, Milton Rd x Bearbrook Creek, Ottawa. (1) Mar 12, Champlain Marsh - North Side, Ottawa. (1) Mar 08, Chemin Springhill, Ottawa. (1) Mar 08, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa. Red-shouldered Hawk (3) - Reported Mar 10-14, Greenland Road Hawkwatch, Ottawa. (1) Mar 13, Landel Drive, Ottawa (1) Mar 13, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (1) Mar 10, Hurdman Woods (feeders), Ottawa. Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) 3rd Line Road South, Ottawa. (1) Mar 14, Youngs Pond Park, Ottawa. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1) Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. Chipping Sparrow (1) Mar 12, Reveler CA, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. (1) Mar 10, Connaught, Gatineau. Fox Sparrow (1) Mar 10, Birchgove Rd, Sarsfield, Ottawa. White-crowned Sparrow (1) Rue de la Loire, Gatineau. (1) Mar 14, Crystal beach, Ottawa. Western Tanager - Continuing, McCarthy Woods, Ottawa. Visitors are encouraged to bring suet or seed donations as the supply is getting low. With the milder weather, the bird has settled into a pattern where afternoon visits to the feeders are less common. Opportunities to see the bird are better in the morning. Please remember to stay a few metres south of the red cage feeder as the bird can and does visit all the feeders. eBird tip: Soaring temperatures and an early melt have led to an unprecedented wave of early migrants, particularly waterfowl which will opportunistically follow the weather north. Please note that the same does not apply for long distance neotropical migrants, which rely on non weather related migration cues. Most of these species are only just now venturing north of the tropics. For example, Broad-winged Hawks, which winter in South America, have only just arrived at the TexMex border and are several weeks away from arriving in Canada. Other early spring pitfalls in our region include Common Nighthawk, Swainson’s Thrush and Eastern Wood Pewee, all of which tend to arrive within a week or so of their expected dates. Early reports of these and other long distance migrants need to be exceptionally well documented, preferably with photos or audio recordings. Atlas note: Of late, Red Crossbills have been reported to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas in significant numbers across the Ottawa Atlas Region: an area that covers approximately 7500 km2 across most of Ottawa and parts of several adjoining counties including Prescott-Russell, Lanark, and Renfrew. If you are encountering some “late-winter birding doldrums” and are looking for an interesting way to contribute to the Atlas before peak-breeding season starts in May, then searching for crossbills is for you. Look for sizable woodlots with cone-bearing conifers – particularly white pines – and have a listen for their unmistakable “kip-kip-kip” calls. They can also be found on roadways enjoying grit. The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas welcomes your observations of Red Crossbills anywhere in Ontario, even if they are simply seen or even just heard. Be sure to take a few minutes to watch their behaviour: pairs have already been formed across our Region, and you may even be fortunate to come across nest building behaviour… a great way to enhance the breeding evidence. Your reports are valuable and will provide essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. Participation in the Atlas is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird. For more information, visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ or contact the Ottawa Region Atlas Coordinator at mailto:Ottawa@birdsontario.org