Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca Christmas Bird Count season has started up, and they are finding shrikes everywhere (too many to list). Other winter birds are more scattered. Wood Duck - Dec 17, Constance Bay, Ottawa. Northern Pintail - 34 on Dec 17, Constance Bay Rd, Ottawa. Virginia Rail - A real surprise at Nortel Marsh, Ottawa, Dec 23. Purple Sandpiper - Dec 18, Britannia Park (pier), Ottawa. Glaucous Gull - Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa. Double-crested Cormorant - Dec 18, Bren-Maur Rd, Ottawa. Great Blue Heron - Dec 19, Musée canadien de la nature, Gatineau. Northern Harrier - Dec 23, Janka Pvt, (Stittsville), Ottawa. Dec 18, Perth Wildlife Reserve, Lanark. Also one on Dec 19th on Conroy Road at Davidson, Ottawa. Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk - For the hawk lovers, not the listers. Hanging around for a while, most recently reported from Algonquin College on Dec 21. Red-bellied Woodpecker - Dec 22, Manotick, Ottawa. Red-headed Woodpecker - At least 2 continue, Constance Bay, Ottawa: Len Purcell Dr, Ritchie Ave, etc. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Dec 19, Sentier du corridor Champlain, Gatineau. Carolina Wren - The pair at Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa, continues. Dec 19, Rivermill Cres, Ottawa. Winter Wren - Dec 18, Britannia CA, Ottawa, just east of the filtration plant. Hermit Thrush - Begonia Ave, Polanyi Rd, and Britannia CA (around the ridge), Ottawa. Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau, and Sentier du Ruisseau-de-la-Brasserie, Gatineau. Eastern Bluebird - 9 on Dec 22, Osgoode Trail. Also seen on McCaffrey Trail, on the Jock trail, and onGaletta Side Rd, all Ottawa. A pair at the Perth Wildlife Reserve, Lanark Gray Catbird - Hanging tough off Laderoute Ave, Ottawa, at least until Dec 23. Dec 22 Balena Park, Ottawa. Another in the Hurdman Woods near the 417. Evening Grosbeaks - At least one lingered at the Mer Bleue Bog feeder, Ottawa, until Dec 18. White-winged Crossbill - A flyover on Dec 21 along the Kerwin Rd Trail, Ottawa. Red Crossbill - Single birds counted on CBCs, one in Stony Swamp on the 18th (on NCC 27 near post D), and another near Mer Bleue. Chipping Sparrow - Dec 21, Viewbank Rd, Ottawa. Red-winged Blackbird - Dec 23, Manotick, Ottawa. A flock of 25 at the Tim Hortons on Perth Street Ottawa on Dec 18. Common Grackle - 70 flocking with the Red-winged Blackbirds at the same Tim Hortons. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dec 19, Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau. A second individual nearby on the Sentier des Voyageurs near the Pont Champlain.