Late Spring Birds - Ottawa West with Tony Beck

Tuesday, May 24, 7:30am

We met at Andrew Haydon Park East.  Today there were Rick, Peter, Bob, Heather, me, Nina and Tony.  From the parking lot we had a Hairy Woodpecker and a Warbling Vireo, and heard a Great Crested Flycatcher.

We decided to forgo Shirley's Bay, and went straight to March Valley Road.  We saw an Osprey flying in the distance and a Spotted Sandpiper across the road at the edge of the pond.  Bob saw a Northern Harrier and a Turkey Vulture on the other side.

We moved to Berry Side Road where we saw an Eastern Kingbird, Yellow Warbler, a drake Blue-winged Teal, another Warbling Vireo, Cedar Waxwings and Green Frogs.  Nina saw a Great Blue Heron in flight.  Ospreys were on the nest. 

We had a Hooded Merganser fly past and heard American Goldfinches and Purple Finches.  Bob and Peter saw a male Wild Turkey displaying.  We saw an empid flycatcher which called to tell us that he was an Alder.  We got a Red-eyed Vireo and a Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Brown Thrasher (spotted by Peter), Swamp Sparrow, and heard an Ovenbird.  A Common Loon could be heard doing it's flight call.

On 5th Line Road, we heard Bobolinks and an Eastern Meadowlark, then saw a couple of Bobolinks.  Rick spotted a female Kestrel in the distance.  We checked out the Tree Swallows and an Eastern Bluebird.

We checked out Constance Creek.  Tony tried for Least Bittern and Common Moorhen, but we got neither.  An American Bittern did fly quickly past.  We went to the Heart and Soul for coffee, then proceeded to Torbolton Ridge Road.  We saw more Bobolinks, then stopped at a Sedge Marsh to try to call in Sedge Wrens.  Tony played the call several time with no effect, then Rick thought he saw one show briefly.  Suddenly one appeared right under our feet and we all got photographs. 

While waiting for a work crew, a Ruffed Grouse crossed the road.  On Kilmaurs Road, we saw an Osprey fly over.  We watched a number of Tree Swallows, picking out a few Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows among them.  We called for Upland Sandpiper, but did not get it.