Jane & Connie’s trip to Chaffey’s Lock

July 10, 2009

We met at 6:30 am at Jane’s. Besides Jane & Connie, there was Barb C., Marc, Rick and myself.

We carpooled to Chaffey’s Lock via Franktown Road & Smith’s Falls on what turned out to be a beautiful day. Along the way, we saw many common species as well as Eastern Meadowlark and American Bittern.

We stopped on Chaffey’s Lock Road for nice views of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds.

We proceeded to the lock station for a bathroom break, then on to Indian Lake Road and the Cataraqui Trail. Highlights were a Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and several species of butterfly and dragon fly.
From there we went down the Queen’s University Biological Station Road and found the first of many Indigo Buntings and Pine Warblers. We spoke to a couple of profs and got directions to the best warbler hot spots. We had out picnic lunch there, enjoying the outdoors and singing birds.
After lunch, we proceeded down the Opinicon Road and stopped to try and coax out a Cerulean Warbler. We could hear at least one, maybe more. It was difficult with the darn Indigo Bunting singing constantly!We did get a brief glimpse, but it would not pop out for us. We briefly saw a Red-shouldered Hawk and had good views of a Broad-winged Hawk.

We hiked the trail for Golden-winged Warblers, but were not successful. We did see a couple more Indigo Buntings, a Black-and-white Warbler and a flock of Wild Turkeys. Rick and I had to get back, but the others stayed on. Here is Jane’s day list:

1. Mourning Dove
2. European Starling
3. American Robin
4. Red Wing Blackbird
5. American Crow
6. American Bittern fly by
7. Eastern Meadowlark
8. Mallard
9. Tree Swallow
10. Great Blue Heron
11. American Goldfinch
12. Common Grackle
13. Ring Bill Gull
14. Osprey
Chaffey's Lock area
15. Wilson Snipe(h)
16. Common Yellowthroat
17. Gray Catbird
18. Song Sparrow
19. King Bird
20. Ruby throated Hummingbird
21. Chipping Sparrow
22. Blue Jay
23. Eastern Blue Bird
24. Sapsucker
25. Yellow Warbler
26. Brown headed Cowbird
27. Barn Swallow
28. Common Loon
29. Scarlet Tanager
30. Black capped Chickadee
31. Red eyed Vireo
32. Cedar Waxwing
33. Oven Bird (h)
34. Indigo Bunting
35. Eastern Phoebe
36. Pine Warbler
37. Red Shouldered Hawk
38. Cerulean Warbler
39. Great Crested Flycatcher
40. Wild Turkey
41. White breasted Nuthatch
42. Black & White Warbler
43. Downy Woodpecker
44. Broad winged Hawk
45.Yellow billed Cuckoo
46. Golden Wing warbler (h)
47. Rock Pigeon
The Narrows
48. Green Heron
49. Belted Kingfisher
50. Canada Goose
Perth - Tim Horton's
51. Chimney Swifts