Ottawa Area Birding: Hilda, Dunrobin, Arnprior & White Lake with JC Birding

January 4, 2021

Jane's Birding Report

When I arrived at Hilda feeder, Ken and Barb were already there. I am sure Ken wanted photos of the Red-bellied Woodpecker who did make several appearances, along with the ubiquitous Black-capped Chickadees, American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, Bluejays, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers and American Crow. Barb B. came walking up the street to tell us she and Bill hit a Ruffed Grouse or rather the Ruffed Grouse hit them. They were travelling very slowly on Lois when the Ruffed Grouse came out of nowhere and hit them. No injuries to anyone. The bird just was walking on the edge of the woods, then decided to roost on a lower limb. Barb B went in to investigate and the bird just stayed and Sami decided to join her, Sami for photos. Bill and I decided to go tell Ken since he was off photographing the Red-bellied Woodpecker, unfortunately it had disappeared just before he arrived.

We left Hilda feeder about 9:15, we wanted to get to Vances Side Road. We decided to take March Valley Road since a Rusty Blackbird was reported there, I did not hold up much hope in seeing the bird. There was a single dark bird in the tree, I stopped, raised my binoculars and low and behold there it was. On Sixth Line we saw a small flock of Ravens doing their thing with the garbage that had been put out at the side of the road.

We were interested in getting to Vances Side Road because Barb C had participated in the CBC in the area the day before. She either saw or heard from others about the presence of Northern Shrike, Great Horned Owls and Saw Whet Owls. We really gave it a good effort on Vances. Then Ken heard that there was a Great Horned Owls sighting on Thomas Dolan. No luck there. Back on Vances, we looked in the area Barb had travelled, no Shirkes. She was so sure we would get the Bluebirds, she asked me if I had brought my scope because they will be far away. Unfortunately they were so far away that they could not be seen anywhere.

We drove highway 17 to get to Arnprior, on that road we had a large flock and then a huge flock of European Starlings. As well on our travels we saw a good number of Rock Doves on the barn roofs. We headed to the Mcnamara Trail, for the Barred Owl that hangs out near the road in the woods. Nope not today.

There had to be birds somewhere, we drove to the other side of the water, finally Common Goldeneye, Mallards, and a single Common Merganser.

Next stop Antrim Truck stop - pit stop, but more importantly for the scones that the bakery makes, they are simply delicious. We tried to input the coordinates into our GPS for Anne's place, it only gave us McLachlin Lane. I decided to follow her directions instead. They live at an absolutely beautiful spot on the Madawaska River and they get to live there all year round. There we saw lots and lots of Mourning Doves, a couple of Brown Creepers, Common Redpolls, American Goldfinch, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. We went there for Evening Grosbeaks, Barry assured us they were there when we called, but zip now. We will return again but make their place the first stop.

On our return from Anne & Barry's we took the road beside Antrim Truck Stop because Ken thought it would be a good place for Snowy Owls, we did not see any. But atop of a tree I saw a Kestrel, did not stay long for the rest of the group to see it, it took off as soon as I stopped the car.

Home shortly after 5:00. Lots of driving and most of the target birds are still target birds.Throughout all the days, I kept thinking of what my friend Ann G. told me many many years ago, birds have wings, they fly. And fly they did, somewhere where we were not to find them.....

Remember those scones, they were calling to me, Richard & I split one about 5 minutes after I entered the house. Oh soooo good.

Thank you Sami, Bill & Barb and Ken for the photos. Bill mapped the route taken yesterday.

Connie's Update

I know many of you are wondering about how Connie is recovering from her last surgery, I asked her to write up a bit about her recovery.

It has now been just over 4 weeks since the third and hopefully last surgery on my knee. So far all looks good for being free of infection. The great improvements of the first two weeks of recovery have now slowed to a crawl but that is to be expected. For the next several months I am now settled into the routine of exercising and icing and a little time for backyard bird watching in between. Generally activity there has been slow, but Monday there were 10 species over about 90 minutes!

Connie

Species Seen