Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at sightings@ofnc.ca January 9, 2020 The only big change from last week was a HORNED GREBE that was seen on the 7th and 8th between Bate Island and Parc Moussette. A scope is recommended to see this bird. The small flock of GRAY PARTRIDGE South of Hazeldean continued to delight and/or frustrate birders until at least Jan 7. These stealthy birds went mostly unreported from April until December. It can take patience to see them. Other notable sightings: The female GEEN-WINGED TEAL continues at the Arboretum. The male BARROWS GOLDENEYE continues near the Hurdman foot bridge. The pair of WOOD DUCKs continues at Billings Bridge, and the male is in brilliant breeding plumage. At least one GOLDEN EAGLE still hunts the Eardley Escarpment. Not surprisingly, the extra attention from the pursuit of the partridge family led to other good winter birds such as NORTHERN HARRIER and NORTHERN FLICKER at the same spot. Several flickers remain in the circle. Both a CAROLINA and a WINTER WREN skulk around the fallen trees at Britannia Conservation Area. 14 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were counted in the Dunrobin CBC on the 4th. Like their bluebird cousins, a couple of HERMIT THRUSH are hanging tough at Parc du Lac-Leamy and Shirley's Brook Park. The reliable NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in Gatineau continues. Check every flock of starlings carefully, as there are scattered reports of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS around the region this week. Finches continue to tantalize with 4 RED CROSSBILLS at Baie Noire but more just Northeast of the circle, and 5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on Kinburn Side Road on the 4th. Finally, not countable but interesting, is an all-white leucistic songbird with a yellow bill coming to a feeder in Aylmer. If anyone happens to get a photo that would allow us to id the bird, please send it to sightings@ofnc.ca. Thanks to everyone who contributed bird observations. We encourage everyone to report their bird sightings on eBird for the benefit of the entire birding community. Special thanks to Gregory Zbitnew for maintaining this report for five years! Good birding.