Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca This week the Western Tanager shared the spotlight with an Eurasian Tree Sparrow near Bourget. This the first record for Ottawa and eastern Ontario! Redpolls are beginning to move into the region. Ring-necked Duck (2) - Bate Island, Ottawa. Lesser Scaup (4) Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Barrow's Goldeneye - Rideau River between Strathcona park and the 417, Ottawa. 3 BAGO (2 male, 1 female) Gray Partridge - McFadden Road, Ottawa. Lesser Black-backed Gull 1- Jan 15, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa. Iceland Gull (Thayer's) Jan 19, Trail Road Landfill, Ottawa - for the subspecies chaser. Great Blue Heron - Sawmill Creek Elementary School, Ottawa. Jan 23, North Dilbery, Ottawa. Northern Harrier - Jan 25, Russell Road at Frank Kenny, Ottawa. Jan 23, Brownlee Rd, Ottawa. Belted Kingfisher - Jan 21, Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau. Jan 18, Parc de la Gatineau--Vallée Meech, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. Jan 25, Devine Rd, Ottawa. Red-bellied Woodpecker - Chemin Steele, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Parc de la Gatineau--Relais Shilly-Shallly, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Jan 15, Queenscourt Crescent, Ottawa. Northern Flicker - Jan 24, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Richland Dr, Ottawa. Jan 21, McCarthy Woods/Meadow, Ottawa. Jan 19, Caprice Court, Ottawa, Ottawa. Brown Thrasher - Continuing Hilson Ave and neighbourhood, Ottawa. Winter Wren - Britannia CA, Ottawa. Hermit Thrush - Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Parc du Lac-Leamy, Gatineau. Jan 20, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. Wood Thrush - Jan 19, Champlain Park Woods-Remic Rapids Loop, Ottawa. Chipping Sparrow - Continuing Florizel Ave, Ottawa. Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Jan 24-25, Bouvier Road, Prescott and Russell. For tips on seeing this bird, check out the Ontario Bird Alert discord server https://discord.com/channels/651555203572563988/1199810845438386226 White-crowned Sparrow - Jan 23, Rue de la Loire, Gatineau. Eastern Towhee - Continuing, Stony Swamp (Sarsaparilla Trail), Ottawa. Brown-headed Cowbird - Jan 23, Huismans Rd, Ottawa Western Tanager - McCarthy Woods, Ottawa. Atlas note: Even with winter upon us, there are several bird species that breed here in the Ottawa area. In addition to the ubiquitous Feral Rock Pigeon, Great Horned Owls and Eastern Screech Owls are paired and breeding at this time of year. We should also keep a lookout for both White-winged and Red Crossbills as they can breed at any time of year. The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas welcomes your observations of these species, even if they are simply seen or even just heard. 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 Ottawa@birdsontario.org