Ottawa/Gatineau: recent sightings to Aug 08, 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 It's flycatcher season! There are small numbers of yellow-bellied and olive-sided in the region, and the next 3-4 weeks are the best chance to see them for the year. Philadelphia Vireos have arrived and the migrant Black-billed Cuckoos are still around. Trumpeter Swan (1) Aug 03, Stonecrest rail trail, Ottawa. Common Goldeneye (1), Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. Lesser Black-backed Gull (up to 6) Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Various ages. (2) Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Scope usually required. Least Bittern (1) Aug 04, Didsbury Road Scrape - Carp Watershed Restoration Area, Ottawa. Red-headed Woodpecker (5) Constance Bay, Ottawa. (1) Up to Jul 04 at least, Ottawa Valley Rail Recreational Trail near Almonte., Lanark. Between Smart St. and CR #29. Olive-sided Flycatcher (1) Aug 04-06, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (1) Aug 05-06, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (1) Aug 02, Former rail trail west of Stonecrest Road, Ottawa. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1) Aug 03, 6-08, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (1) Aug 02, 06-08, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (1) Aug 02, Ottawa--Nortel Marsh, Ottawa. Yellow-throated Vireo (1) Aug 06, Stittsville Ottawa. Philadelphia Vireo (1-3) Aug 04-08, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (1) Aug 03, 06-08, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (1) Aug 04, Greenbelt Trail 10, Ottawa. Sedge Wren (1) Stittsville--Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa. Continuing close to the platform. eBird tip: At this time of year birds will sing variations on their normal songs making it all the more important to be cautious of voice identifications including suggestions offered by Merlin; visual confirmations are recommended for out of season migrants. Atlas notes: Though peak bird breeding period in Southern Ontario is wrapping up for this year, there is still plenty of evidence to be seen – and heard – in support of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. Please consider converting your eBird reports or those outings to capture incredible bird photographs into valuable data that will help shape conservation efforts for years to come. As the summer progresses, it doesn’t matter if you are walking the dog at home, visiting your friend’s cottage, or enjoying a break in a favourite Provincial Park: almost every bird you encounter can be easily added to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, a once in a generation province-wide community-science effort. For more information on how to be a part of the community of more than 230 Ottawa Region observers who are contributing their observations to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, please visit www.birdsontario.org or contact the Ottawa Regional Coordinator at Ottawa@birdsontario.org