Sparrows are Migrating through Ottawa

 April 29, 2024

A few White-crowned and many White-throated Sparrows were seen in our front and back yards along with many juncos.

OFO Prince Edward County South Shore IBA field trip

 April 28, 2024

Birding Report by Mike Burrell

On April 28, Rick Szabo and Mike Burrell led a group of 20 OFO members and
guests for the annual late April OFO trip to the Prince Edward County South
Shore IBA.

We started the day at Picton and then headed straight for Prince Edward
Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO) (Kaiser Crossroad, where we normally stop
en route, was dry this year). We had a quick banding demonstration from the
PEPtBO staff and then walked Traverse Lane to the lighthouse and back. We
encountered good numbers of late April migrants like White-throated
Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets with smaller
numbers of Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler,
Black-and-white Warbler & House Wren. When we arrived back at the banding
lab we enjoyed a snack and a few more banded birds including Nashville
Warbler and Brown Thrasher.

The group then headed to Traverse Woods where we had good looks at an adult
male Orchard Oriole and lesser views of a Palm Warbler along with more
typical late April migrants. A chance to view the lake here yielded
hundreds of White-winged Scoters with some (eventually) excellent views of
Surf Scoters.

On the way back to Picton via Babylon Rd we managed to add a number of
grassland birds including a winnowing Wilson's Snipe, several Eastern
Meadowlarks and a couple members of the group heard the call of the
recently returned Upland Sandpiper.

After finishing up the trip in Picton a small group continued on to Wesley
Acres Rd where a flooded field was hosting waterfowl and shorebirds. We
added many ducks to our list for the day and an early Least Sandpiper.

On the way home, one car found a Long-billed Dowitcher in Morganston, north
of Brighton. The final tally for the day between all participants was 103
species - an excellent day of birding in late April!

Thanks to everyone who came and especially to the Volunteers & Staff at the
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory and to Rick Szabo as co-leader!

For full list of birds, see our trip report:

https://ebird.org/tripreport/227924