98 



REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL BRANCH FOR THE 



YEAR 188G-87. 



-To t\e Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists Club : 



In making up the Report of the proceedings and researches of this 

 branch during the past season the leaders are able to report three addi- 

 tions to the already large list of birds found in this locality. The first 

 was the finding of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites suhruficollis, 

 a remarkably interesting little bird with a peculiar aspect. It can at 

 once be recognized by the very small and short bill, and by the unique 

 coloration of the primaries, which are gray or white on the inner webs 

 and beautifully mottled with fine black tracery. Two sj)ecimens were 

 shot and six were seen. 



The second addition was a fine specimen of the Red Phalarope, 

 Chrymoiihilus fulicarius. This is an important addition as it is par- 

 ticulaily a maritime bird aad the finding of this bird following so soon 

 after the discovery of the Purple Sandpiper and the Great Black-backed. 

 Gull found last year would lead one to suppose that some of the coast 

 birds are in the habit of following the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers on 

 their way south. To the former we have to add the Blue Goose, Chen 

 ccerulescens. Three fine specimens were shot within a few miles of the 

 city, two geese and a gander. The peculiar marking of the bill and 

 feet of these specimens are worthy of special mention. Dr. E. Coues 

 in his valuable work states that the bill and feet are lake red, whereas 

 those shot have the bill and feet black. The markings, however, agree 

 in every other ]:)articular with Dr. Coues' description and there can be 

 no question as to the Ri)ecimens taken being Blue Geese. The capture 

 of a pair of the very pretty, but rather scarce Mourning Warbler, is 

 very encouraging. We have also been informed of the shooting of two 

 specimens of the Shoveller Duck, by Mr. W. P. Lett ; one at Richmond 

 and the other at Brigham's Creek. This species is very scarce in this 

 district, only some half dozen specimens being reported as having been 

 killed in the vicinity of Ottawa. We have also to report the capture 

 of a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, shot on 17th April, 1886, with 

 the top of the head blue-black instead of scarlet. Appended is a list 

 of the dates of ari'ival and departure of our summer birds. 



