Ottawa Area Birding: Richmond Area with JC Birding

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Richmond Area with JC Birding

June 30, 2021

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met at 7:00 at the Richmond Conservation Area (Richmond Lagoons), the sky was overcast and it looked like rain was imminent, so on went the rain gear. At the lagoons we saw four species of shorebirds - Least Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper (actually spotless) and Killdeer. We had several families of Mallard Ducks, oh the little ones were sooo cute. There were many many American Robins along the paths. At the back of the lagoon we saw Yellow Warblers, Chestnut Sided Warbler, Common Yellowthroat along with American Goldfinch and Baltimore Oriole. We walked along the road on the west side of the lagoons playing Black-billed Cuckoo, no luck. When visiting these lagoons you expect to see the ubiquitous Tree Swallow and we were not disappointed. Bill was hoping for a Green Heron, we had two fly over, but none close up and personal. As we were about to leave we heard a strange bird call, I can just describe the sound as a cat being squeezed, after watching the bush we eventually saw a young Red-eyed Vireo, guess Dad has not yet taught the 'official' Red-eyed Vireo song. We stayed at the lagoons for about 2 hours. Barb C and I were anxious to get back to our vehicle to take off our rain gear, it felt like we were walking around in a sauna. No rain, just humidity.

Off to Dobson Road, it is always very productive in the winter. Not so much in the summer, we found out - Eastern Meadowlark, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe and Black-capped Chickadees. We went to the other side of Dobson and heard White-throated Sparrow and a Veery and saw an Ovenbird. We checked out Goodstown and that got us zip.

As we turned on to Conley Road, a Northern Flicker was looking for food on the lawn. Then at the swampy area just down the road we saw Swamp Sparrow, American Redstart and a Baltimore Oriole (check the photo). Bill and Barbara said when they were doing the Munster area Christmas bird count they found a trail and we should go there. Bill hoped he could remember where exactly it was, he obviously had no memory problem since we drove directly there. We just started the trail when we heard a House Wren singing. Then high up on a dead tree was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. A bit up the trail a Red-shouldered Hawk was being pursued by a small bird, all I saw was the distinctive banded tail of the hawk. We walked around the trail seeing no new birds, but the area just cried out Eastern Towhee, but no. At the end of the trail, still wanting Towhee, Bill played the song, Barbara said there it is. Not a Towhee but a Field Sparrow that did not sing, but flew around us. Maybe it identified with the Towhee song, who knows.