Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca As we enter the fall birding season, this is an opportune time to remind birders and photo-enthusiasts alike that we must always respect private property. The Ottawa Field Naturalists Club, the Ontario Field Ornithologists, and Birds Canada/American Birding Association all have long-standing Codes of Conduct that are quite clear regarding expected behaviour in the field: do not enter private property without the owner’s explicit permission. In many instances there are safety and/or liability issues at play and there are very good reasons – including personal danger – to heed signs and fence lines, and stay clear of a site. Remember that you are ambassadors for our pastime. Common Goldeneye (3) Aug 14, Carp River southeast of Carp, Ottawa. (1) Aug 14, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark. Lesser Scaup (1) Aug 13, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. (1) Aug 12, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. Lesser Black-backed Gull (3) Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. (1) Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Scope usually required. Whimbrel - Heavy rain on the 10th grounded Whimbrel in a couple of locations briefly, but they were soon migrating again. Least Bittern (1) Aug 15, Bruce Pit, Ottawa. (1) Aug 10, Ch Stonecrest, Ottawa. (1) Aug 09, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. (1) Aug 09, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark. Red-headed Woodpecker (2) Constance Bay, Ottawa. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1) Aug 12-14, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (1) Aug 14, Greenbelt Trail 51, Ottawa. (1) Aug 14, Richmond SE - Bowrin Rd, Ottawa. (1) Aug 14, Rockcliffe Airport Woods, Ottawa. (1) Aug 11, Stanley Park, Ottawa. (1) Aug 10, Dolman Ridge Road, Ottawa. Philadelphia Vireo - several early reports. Pine Siskin (1) Aug 12, Britannia CA--Britannia Ridge, Ottawa. Dark-eyed Junco (2) Aug 14, Petrie Island, Ottawa. (2) Aug 13, River Trail at Island Park Drive, Ottawa. (1) Aug 12, Equine Way, Ottawa. 4 of the 5 were immature birds. Orange-crowned Warbler (1) Aug 10, Britannia CA (general location), Ottawa. Record early. Any report of this species before mid September needs to be well documented (as this one was with a good photo). 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