Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca A big push of shorebirds and great migrants such as lots of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers, Blackpoll and Wilson Warblers, and a single Ruddy Turnstone. Some other amazing birds such as Laughing Gull, Red Knot, Hudsonian Godwit, Orchard Oriole and Pelicans! Many individuals and flocks were seen from both shores of the Ottawa River in what seemed like some great teamwork among birders. Redhead - Westbrook Rd., Ottawa From 22 birds on the 21st, the flock dwindled to a single bird, last reported May 24. Snow Goose - One at Riverain Park, Ottawa. A pair at the Centre touristique du Lac-Simon, Papineau. Trumpeter Swan - Singles reported: Marais des Laîches, Gatineau. Heaphy Road. Marlborough Forest, Ottawa. McTeer Road, Prescott and Russell Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Burnt Lands Road Ottawa. Watts Creek pathway, Ottawa. Sandhill Crane - Dolman Ridge Road, Ottawa. Hudsonian Godwit - May 26, Parc Brébeuf, Gatineau. Red Knot - A flock of 5-7 on May 26, Baie Simard, Gatineau. Also seen from Britannia Point, Ottawa. Wilson's Phalarope - May 17-27, Greenbelt Pathway West, Ottawa. May require patience and a scope. A great opportunity to see male and female plumage as a pair linger. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Britannia Point, and Moodie Quarry, Ottawa. Laughing Gull - May 21, Deschenes Rapides, Ottawa. Red-throated Loon - May 25, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa and Parc des Cèdres, Gatineau. American White Pelican - 4 seen flying east over the river on May 21. Possibly the same 4 were seen in Montreal the same day. Caspian Tern - Britannia CA, and Shirley's Bay (Boat launch), Ottawa. Arctic Tern - 4 photographed May 24, Rapides Deschênes, Gatineau. Red-headed Woodpecker - At least two adults continue in Constance Bay, Ottawa. Lac-McGregor, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Chemin de la Symphonie, Val-des-Monts, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Copeland Road, Ottawa. Carolina Wren - Continues at Frank Ryn & Elmhurst Parks, Ottawa. Wychwood, Gatineau. Evening Grosbeak - The last reports? May 23, Manotick, Ottawa. Rolston Way, Kanata, Ottawa. Dark-eyed Junco - May 24, Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa, singing. Rockcliffe Park & McKay Lake, Ottawa. Orchard Oriole - May 26-27. A first-year male at the Richmond CA (formerly Richmond Sewage Lagoons), Ottawa, singing and nest-building near the observation platform. Rusty Blackbird - Twin Elm Road Wetlands, Ottawa. Cerulean Warbler - Murphys Point Provincial Park, Lanark: Silver Queen Mine Trail, McParlan House Trail, and Lally Homestead Trail. Berry Side Road, Dunrobin. eBird tip from the local reviewers: Two species pairs pose problems for birders when it comes to heard only birds: Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers and Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos. These species pairs cannot be confidently separated by their vocalizations. Because Golden-winged Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo are the expected species of their sister species pairs in our region, we accept eBird records of these from heard only birds. However, if you want records of Blue-winged Warbler and Yellow-billed Cuckoo accepted for either eBird or the atlas, you need to actually see these birds. Golden-wings and hybrids routinely sing Blue-winged Warbler songs. Black-billed Cuckoos often sing Yellow-billed songs and often give perfect imitations. If you have a Yellow-bill that slips into Black-billed song briefly, it is almost certainly a Black bill. If it only sings like a Yellow-bill, you need to see it to confirm. The DND property at Shirley's Bay is now restricted to official business only. If this changes in the future, there will be an announcement.