Sparrows, Kinglets and Early Warblers - Ottawa West with Tony Beck

Tuesday May 3, 7:30am

We met at Jack pine Trail - Tony, Nina, Bob, Heather, Peter, Janet, Michael, Helena, myself and a visiting birder from England, John Turner.

While gathering in the parking lot, Tony heard an Ovenbird.  We moved over towards the sound and I spied a rather large Bullfrog sitting there in the swamp.  While debating whether it might be a large Green Frog, it jumped off leaving the question unanswered.

We started down the trail and saw some Dark-eyed Juncos.  Tony called in the Ovenbird, and we all got good looks. 

We heard a White-throated Sparrow and a Blue Jay flew across.  Tony heard Swamp Sparrows calling back in the swamp, and I heard a Northern Flicker call too.  Ahead on the trail,we could see more Juncos and White-throated Sparrows.

About six Yellow-rumped Warblers came in, all males.  We went out onto the boardwalk and heard both Swamp Sparrows and Song Sparrows calling, then saw both.  Two Virginia Rails came in, but did not show for photos.  A female Red-winged Blackbird did accommodate the photographers. 

We moved on into the woods and saw a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a Downy Woodpecker.  A Snowshoe Hare played hide and seek.

 

On the next section of boardwalk we got more Juncos, Whitethroats and another Swamp Sparrow. 

 

We turned left and soon Tony heard a Pine Warbler.  He called it in really close and we all had great looks. 

 

We heard then spotted a Great-crested Flycatcher, but it could not be enticed to come closer.  Bob spotted a Black and White Warbler and the Pine Warbler came in again along with a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and a White-breasted Nuthatch.  Heather got us a Blue-headed Vireo.

We moved into the open area at the back and heard a Field Sparrow calling.  Anoher birder was there, so we decided to move on.

Along the back, we saw a Common Raven chased by an American Crow.  Swamp Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows were calling.  And we heard American Goldfinches too.  The swamp was full of Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds.

We could hear rather distant Virginia Rails, then a Sora, but neither came in.  Tony could hear a Purple Finch singing and we saw a Belted Kingfisher and Chipping Sparrow.  Back at the feeder area, we saw what appeared to be a female Purple Finch, but it was singing.  A Hairy Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker also both showed up.

We moved to Burnside pit.  We could see Common Mergansers, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead and four kinds of Swallows - Tree, Barn, Northern Rough-wing and Bank.  Then a couple of really close Purple Martins came by.

We moved to the dead end on Twin Elm, and saw the resident Osprey, lots of Rusty Blackbirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Warbling Vireos and a White-breasted Nuthatch. 

 

At the edge of the flooded field we had Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and a Dunlin.  John and I returned via Steeple Hill to check the other Osprey platform, but they were not home.