Harlequin Duck on the Rideau at Strathcona Park

Nov 27, 2014

This bird has been reported several times on ebird.  I decided to check it out, since I was downtown on another mission.  The parking at the east end of Somerset Street  is closed due to work on the new pedestrian bridge.  But I was able to find a spot on the street not too far away.

I got it right away.  It was by itself fairly close to the shore.  The only other ducks I saw were Common Goldeneyes and Mallards.

A Late-season Cottage Visit

November 14,15 2014

We had one more weekend to finish our work.  At this time of year we often see migrants that are never present during the normal season.  This year it was Hooded Mergansers.  We saw a few at Alwyn on the Gatineau River ,and a few more at Cedar Lake, all females.

A Late Fall Work Weekend at the Cottage

Nov 8-11, 2014

The feeders were very active with the jays and both nuthatches storing seeds for the winter.  And out on the lake, tantalizing views of diving ducks.  It was hard to concentrate on the work!

Dow's Lake

Nov 6, 2014

Lots of waterfowl on Dow's Lake during autumn migration.  There was a pair of Redheads, tons of Hooded Mergansers, several Common Mergansers, a few Common Goldeneyes, a Double-breasted Cormorant and various other common ducks.

Andrew Haydon Park

Nov 2, 2014

Another quick outing with Craig with the possibility of a Canvasback Duck - you guessed it; we missed it.

But, we got a lifer for Craig, the Brant.  And good views of a Red-necked Grebe and a female Bufflehead uncharacteristically perched on a log.

Jack Pine Trail

Nov 1, 2014

Son Craig was here for a short visit following a business trip to Ottawa.  We decided to go for a hike at Jack Pine Trail.  Who knows?  We might have seen a Black-backed Woodpecker! (of course, we did not).

We had fun hand-feeding the local birds.  I have seen Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches and even Downy Woodpeckers come to the hand, but I believe that this was the first time for a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Ottawa River with Jane & Connie

Oct 29, 2014

There were just the three of us today.  We met at Andrew Haydon Park east lot where there was a dearth of birds.  So we moved to the west lot, where we picked up the Brant, Red-necked Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser.

We made a brief stop at Dick Bell, but there was nothing of note.  So we moved on to Shirley's Bat boat launch where we noted 3 or 4 Snow Buntings on the rocks, but they flew off before we could photograph them.

Connie called the Range Control officer who granted us permission to go out on the dyke.  Here we had a bonanza of many species of ducks.

We went to Hilda feeders to have our lunch while birding.  Among the regular visitors was an American Tree Sparrow.

At my suggestion, we went to Britannia Pier, but the wind was howling and no birds were seen.

Bird List

1. Ring-billed Gull
2. Mallard
3. Brant
4. Lesser Scaup
5. Red-necked Grebe
6. Red-breasted Merganser
7. Common Goldeneye
8. Canada Goose
9. Snow Bunting
10. American Robin
11. Rusty Blackbird
12. Pileated Woodpecker
13. Downy Woodpecker
14. White-breasted Nuthatch
15. Bufflehead
16. Greater Scaup
17. Long-tailed Duck
18. White-winged Scoter
19. Black Scoter
20. White-throated Sparow
21. Fox Sparrow
22. Hairy Woodpecker
23. Black-capped Chickadee
24. Blue Jay
25. American Tree Sparrow