Ottawa Area Birding: Dolman Ridge Road and Prescott-Russell Trail with JC Birding

May 6, 2021

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

I got to Dolman Ridge Road early and decided I would park in the parking lot and walk down to Anderson Road, since I had plenty of time before the meet up time. I got about a third of the way down, and remembered I had forgotten my mask. The bird I heard first was an Ovenbird, excellent first warbler on what I was hoping was a warbler day. I always think when hearing the Ovenbird, such a little bird with such a big voice. I saw Sami and Lynne and Sami was busy taking photos -- Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We saw lots of them. I heard one of Connie's favourite birds - White-throated Sparrow, just love their song. Barbara and I walked closer to where an Ovenbird was singing and yes I called it in. Ken asked "why is that bird called an Ovenbird?", Barb C had the answer because the shape of their nest is like an oven. Barb C. pointed out a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker doing its thing on a hydro post. Several Common Raven flew by singing their song. Sami told us an Eastern Phoebe was nesting on the north side of the latrine, for some reason it is quite common to see a phoebe nesting in that spot.

We walked toward the parking lot with only one warbler seen. It was a bit breezy. We were seven and six of us walked east past the gate, Ken wished to bring a second camera so he had a later start . Another sapsucker was seen, along with a Hairy Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch. It was pretty quiet, so Sami and Lynne bade goodbye and said they might head to Hilda for the Painted Bunting. We kept walking, now it was just for walking because we were seeing nothing. Oh wasn't that a Robin, Bill kept watching and said no it's a thrush. After finding it and looking and looking, we could not decide if it was a Thrush or a Veery. Thank goodness Bill had a camera and he later determined it to be a Hermit Thrush, Bill and Barbara said they wanted to turn around, so we did. Thank you Bill and Barbara because without that suggestion, we would not have seen the Baltimore Oriole fly across the road. Barb C. and I heard something and we listened and listened and we both came to the same conclusion Yellow Warbler, Bill was not so sure. It is so frustrating how you have to tune your ear every spring.

Ken suggested we should try the Prescott-Russell Trial which was less than a kilometre north of where we were. All of us parked in the small lot and got out of the cars, only to be greeted by a Broadwing Hawk. Barbara followed it and we watched her, when she turned looking toward us, sure enough the hawk had circled back giving the photographers another opportunity. We walked about 800 metres east down the trail and sure enough Northern Waterthrush were singing up a storm. I believe there were at least two pairs. Okay that is warbler #3. We decided to walk back to the cars, Bill and Barbara lagged back for better photos. Ken, Barb C and I decided we would sit in our cars and maybe have a snack. The snack turned into lunch. Ken said "isn't that a Black-throated Green singing oh it will stay while we eat". It did not stay and we were not 100% sure it was a Black-throated Green. But then another bird came in which we thought was a Tennessee but no, just another Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We walked west on the trail to find lots of Dark-eyed Junco. Barb C. and I saw another warbler like bird and thought it to be an Orange-crowned Warbler but we never got a good bead on it, so it will remain nameless. Bill and Barbara and Ken said it was time to go home. Barb C and I were not ready to leave so we headed to Mer Bleue.