Ottawa/Gatineau: recent sightings to June 13, 2024 Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca Hot Gull Summer continues with surprise visits from 3 Franklins' Gulls. Trumpeter Swan (2) Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. (1) Jun 10, Marais des Laîches, Gatineau. Mute Swan (2) Jun 10, - Baie de Lochaber, Papineau. Red-breasted Merganser (1) Jun 13, Richmond--Fox Run stormwater ponds, Ottawa. (11) Jun 09, Champlain Park Woods-Remic Rapids Loop, Ottawa. Female with 10 ducklings. Lesser Scaup (1) Jun 09, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1) Jun 09, Ch Carnochan, Chelsea, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Semipalmated Plover (1) Jun 11, Mer Bleue Bog at Anderson Road, Ottawa. (2) Jun 11, Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau. (1) Jun 09, Fourth Line Rd and Callendor Rd flooded fields, Ottawa. White-rumped Sandpiper (1) Jun 11, Mer Bleue Bog at Anderson Road, Ottawa. (1) Jun 11, Carleton Place--Hwy 7 Storm Pond, Lanark. (1) Jun 10, Petrie Island, Ottawa. (1) Jun 08, Holland's Marsh, Ottawa. Semipalmated Sandpiper (2) Jun 12, Mer Bleue Bog at Anderson Road, Ottawa. (13) Jun 11, Wall Road, Ottawa. (1) Jun 10, Petrie Island, Ottawa. Bonaparte's Gull (16) Rapides Deschênes, often visible from either side of the river, sitting on rocks or hawking below the rapids. Franklin's Gull (2) Jun 11 - 12. Rapides Deschênes, often visible from either side of the river, best chance with a scope. First year birds with partial hoods. (1) Jun 11 Mer Bleue Bog at Anderson Road, Ottawa. Adult with full hood. So at least 3 distinct birds on the 11th. Lesser Black-backed Gull (1) Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Caspian Tern (3) Jun 13, Ottawa--Moodie Drive Quarry. (3) Jun 13, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (1) Jun 10, Fourth Line Rd and Callendor Rd flooded fields, Ottawa. Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Goodin St, Ottawa. Yellow-throated Vireo (1) Sheila McKee Park, Ottawa. Northern Mockingbird (1), Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa. Blue-winged Warbler (1) Burnt Lands Provincial Park, Ottawa. (1) Jun 11, Extrémité Ch. de l'Hôtel de Ville, Luskville, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Brewster's Warbler (F1 hybrid) (1) Jun 12, Extrémité Ch. de l'Hôtel de Ville, Luskville, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. White-winged Crossbill (4) Jun 10, Elmvale Acres, Ottawa. Atlas note: Peak bird breeding period in Southern Ontario continues until 10 July. If you are out and about, remember that almost every bird you encounter can be added to the Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: a once in a generation province-wide community-science effort to provide data that will help shape conservation efforts for years to come. Every observation is welcome and valued: whether a bird seen or heard in appropriate habitat (possible breeding) through to a bird carrying nesting material or food (confirmed breeding). Many observers have now switched their bird reporting from the eBird app to the Nature Counts atlassing app. It is a simple and efficient way to add your sightings to the Atlas project and it can be configured to automatically and seamlessly share your Atlas observations with your eBird account. For more information on the Atlas, please visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org