knowing there would be no big day made it colder. There were 
two Purple Sandpipers flying downriver, which is interesting 
because the same thing happened "the day after" last year. 
(Also note that Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen the day after a 
cold front. We guess that some shorebirds take their time.) 
The weather was dynamic on November 14th, and an eider - 
almost certainly a King Eider - was observed flying downriver 
from Stillwater. 
Fall migration started to wind down slowly after that. 
A total of 150 Great Black-backed Gulls were counted along 
the river on November 22nd, and this would indicate that there 
were hundreds of this species in the area. Some were seen even 
at Constance Bay, which would have been unheard of a few years 
ago. As many as 60 persisted into January. 
An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen at Ottawa Beach 
on November 23rd and 29th. 
Late November and early December were unseasonably cold, 
and birds moved out en masse. 
On December 11th, a Gyrfalcon flew by Britannia Point. 
Very mild weather followed for several weeks (thank you, El 
Nino) and many of the gulls that had left returned, and late 
migrating waterfowl put in an appearance. 
The highlight of the fall was an adult Common Black-headed 
Gull. It was found on the Ottawa-Hull Bird Count on December 
21st as it came into roost below the Deschenes Rapids with the 
rest of the gulls. This bird was most cooperative as it linger¬ 
ed into January and put in appearances at the Nepean and Carp 
Dumps as well as on the river. This is the second record for 
this species in the Ottawa District. The first one was found on 
September 30, 1975. 
On December 22nd, a Canvasback and a late Greater Scaup 
appeared at Deschenes. Both birds made it into January, and 
with the mild weather. White-winged Scoter and Red-necked Grebe 
also appeared early in January. In addition to these, there 
were two Lesser Scaup and a Ring-necked Duck, a number of Bar¬ 
row's Goldeneyes, and one or two Ring-billed Gulls (and Herring, 
Great Black-backed, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls) still present 
early in January. 
As we write, the mild weather continues, which means we 
will continue to check the Ottawa River. 
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