Ottawa Area Birding: Mud Lake & Crazy Horse Trail with JC Birding

May 12, 2021

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Barb C and I arrived just before 7:00 and as we got out of the car, the Warbling Vireo was singing its little heart out, what a lovely way to be greeted. We were surprised at the number of cars that were at Mud Lake, I thought yeah this place will be a zoo by 9:00. We walked over to the path that leads to the water. First bird seen was a Yellow-rumped Warbler, so bright and vibrant, full breeding plumage, very pretty. We walked to the edge of the water and we noticed two Common Mergansers on a tall tree stump. I did not realize they were cavity nesters. That is one of the many things about birding, one is constantly learning. I had indicated the meet up time was 7:30 but I was going to try and arrive by 7:00. Barb and I walked back to the big pines and Bill and Barbara, and Sami and Lynne were busy photographing that Warbling Vireo. I spotted one of Barb C. favourite birds - Brown Creeper. Looking up at the pines a Palm Warbler and Red-breasted Nuthatch were seen. The Yellow Warbler never stopped singing, such a loud song for a little bird (check out Sami's pix). A Great-crested Flycatcher flew in and stayed around so people could photograph him and then disappeared.

We walked along and we noticed a group of people with cameras a clicking, wondering what have they got? Barb C. and I used our knowledge from the night before Sarah Rupert's talk on Warbler Identification (it is on the Point Pelee site for the coupe days). The warbler was on the ground with his tail wagging back and forth mmmm must be a Palm Warbler. We walked to the water near the filtration plant and Barb C pointed out a Great Blue Heron and then she said has anyone seen a Great Egret and there it was on the island on the Quebec side with all the Gulls.

Sami warned everyone of tics as we were walking behind the filtration plant. At the edge of the water another photographer told us there were two Pied-billed Grebes near the Canada Geese to our right - love those little guys. Another Great Egret was just standing on the edge opposite us. Walking back to the cars a flotilla of Wood Ducks came into view.

Sami and Lynne said their goodbyes and the rest of us decided to go up on the ridge, Initially only Red-wing Blackbirds and Black-capped Chickadees, we met up with some birders we knew, Rick, Richard and Paul and they pointed out a Northern Parula, beauty, things are looking up. As there were far too many people there who were not social distancing or wearing masks, I left to bird on the road. When Bill and Barbara and Barb C. met up with me they reported seeing Golden-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird and White-throated Sparrow. We walked back d to the cars for some sustenance and for some to take off a layer of clothing. The temperature was about 7 degrees when we arrived and had made it up to about 13 or 14. I did not feel the need to shed any layers, just left my gloves in the car.

Off we go down the trail into the woods. Bill remarked there were not too many birds or people. I had suggested going there to get the Pine Warbler and we got it. At a certain point on the trail Barb B had turned to point out where they had seen the Northern Flickers, one flew in and then another, guessing they were a nesting pair. When we were on the wooden viewing platform we saw two Black-crowned Night-herons. Very close to them were a large snapping turtle and several Midland painted turtles and something else. Then something else was a muskrat who decided to swim toward us and under the platform. Walking a bit further I said to Bill that sounds like 1/2 of a Yellow's song. There is another song that sounds so similar, yes he said an American Redstart. I told him I mix the two songs up on a regular basis. So I played American Redstart, more to see why I get confused. Well never mind solving that, guess what an American Redstart flew in, bringing our count of warbler to 6.

We left Mud Lake at 11:00 with 41 species seen. We drove to Dick Bell to see the Purple Martins, those birds have such a happy bubbly song, makes one smile. There was one lone House Sparrow in the purple martin apartment building.

Off to Hilda, not too much there, Mourning Dove and Red-wing Blackbirds. Driving to Shirley's Bay, we heard and then saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker doing its thing on the hydro pole. We decided to have lunch at Shirley's Bay, we were all pointed in slightly different directions. Just as we were finishing our lunch, Barb C says i see some black and white ducks on the water. Time to pack up and get the scopes out -- Greater Scaup. As we were going to the cars we heard this familiar bird song. We tried to find it and then decide to call a House Wren, yes. I always think of my friend Ann G. when I see House Wrens, she calls those little beauties Jenny Wrens. Should ask her why, cause I don't know.

Around 1 or so we headed to Crazy Horse Trail. A new one for Barb C and me, but not Bill and Barbara. We sprayed insect repellant since Bill said tics were plentiful. This trail is natural one, with lots of up and down, mud, roots, not to mention the many 2 board wide board walks with no hand rails - not complaining just letting you know. It was quiet, but I saw a Red-shouldered Hawk with the help of Bill knowledge, I had clearly seen 3 black and white bands on the tail. Then we heard a song, was it a Robin, it turned out to be a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, in fact several of them. Bill showed us the tree when the Crossbills were seen in the winter, in fact my friend Paul L told me he had seen Crossbills there maybe a couple of weeks ago. We did a lot of walking and we said hey no turtles, and then yes we saw a turtle. Bill and Barbara had had a Blanding's Turtle there, but not today. When we got out of the woods, we checked for tics, none. Bill and Barbara said their goodbyes, but the good year bunnies stayed for more birding.