Nepean Sailing Club and Watt's Creek Trail

June 27, 2020

We planned a short hike on Watt's Creek trail, but first stopped at the sailing club to view the Purple Martins.  They will likely be doing banding soon, unless its cancelled due to Covid-19.

We parked across from Rifle Road and hiked up the trail.

We stopped at the little bridge and looked very hard for a Sedge Wren or Least Bittern, but it was not to be.  We carried on up to the junction without seeing much.  Bill hiked a short way east and heard some singing.  What was that - yes, Indigo Bunting.  Too bad, both of them flushed but towards Barbara and not too far.  We were able to get some shots, especially when one landed in a field nearby.

We noticed a couple of Great Crested Flycatchers in the tall dead trees.

Starting back, Barbara notice a Common Yellowhtroat close at hand.

We also got a couple of "regulars".

Time to get to the car before the storm hits.

Red-headed Woodpecker

June 26, 2020

Recent reports gave us hope of finding the woodpecker at Constance Bay after several unsuccessful tries last year.   We started well with a perched hawk on March Road. Look like a Broad-winged.

We drove straight to Constance Bay and when w turned onto Ritchie Street, we saw a couple of photographers.  We knew it was out luck day.  The Red-headed Woodpeckers were at a nest hole feeding young.  They would fly off for food and quickly return.

While the other guys were sticking around, we figured we could not improve over what we had.  Barbara wanted to check the beach, and Bill wanted to see what was at the creek.

We went down Vance's Side Road and stopped at the bridge.  Barbara got a Common Yellowthroat and Bill saw a distant cormorant and a family of Wood Ducks.  There were also distant young Pied-billed Grebes on both sides of the bridge.

We moved to the bridge at Thomas Dolan Parkway.  There was a young Osprey in the nest and several painted turtles on logs.  A few Common Terns were swooping in the back.

We went home via 5th Line and found one of the Blue Birds.

There was nothing on Berry, so we went back on Cameron Harvey Dr. where an adult Osprey was still on the nest.

A very satisfying day!

Full Loon Count & Pike Bay Surprises

June 23, 2020

It was overcast but calm in the morning, so we decided to go for it.

We found good number of loons including several pairs and one on the nest.

We also saw nesting Herring Gulls and Common Terns.

Later Bill went to Pike Bay to troll for pike.  No luck, but he did see a Belted Kingfisher and Great Blue Heron.

And back at the cottage, Barbara found yet another phoebe.  They sure are common this year.