Ottawa Area Birding: Renfrew County with JC Birding

August 4, 2021

Text by Jane Burgess

The meet up time was 7:00 at the Renfrew Walmart parking lot, we were all keeners, we were on our way to Coben at 6:47. We stopped at the Cobden pond and of course there were hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds, a few Mallards and Wood Ducks. We decided we would check out the Cobden boat launch. I am so glad we did, we lucked in and saw a Belted Kingfisher family - family of 4. I have never seen a family of Kingfishers.

At the bridge on Snake Line Road, we had an excellent view of a Great Blue Heron, over the course of the day I think we saw at least 6. Barb B. (the wanderer) saw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, another one was seen at Lake Dore. When Barb was doing her wandering thing, she asked me what the 'walking head' was, Wild Turkey with poults, of course she did not see the poults, just the hen's head.

Ross Road yielded so many good birds. The Common Gallinule chicks are so cute at least 4 were seen either splashing around or foraging in the water, there was always a parent in close proximity. I somehow or other am looking up at the right time and direction, I got to see both American Bittern and Least Bittern flying over the marsh. The Least Bittern is a little less than 1/2 the size of an American Bittern and in my view a beautiful gold color. I did not hear either call but I just love the sound of the American Bittern.

We very clearly heard "Free Beer" many times, making the singer an Alder Flycatcher. I checked my photos with Merlin and it indicated Willow Flycatcher. But if one reads about both Willow and Alder, it states in the write ups, the two birds are best identified by their song. In a couple of photos the Alder Flycatcher is perched on a bush with white berries - Dogwood - thank you Guy.

I saw a duck fly up from the marsh which clearly had maybe 5 white feathers on either side of its tail. I described the tail to Bill, he said Gadwall. I have identified sitting Gadwalls as the duck with the black butt. I believe Bill, but went searching on the internet and after a bit, did find photos of Gadwalls taking off from the water and the photos clearly show those white feathers. Love birding because I am constantly learning.

We all wanted to see the Sedge Wren or at least hear it. Sedge Wrens need a lot of encouragement to sing, so the song was played and played. I went down to where we heard it two weeks ago, no response. I joined the others and they announced they heard it and saw it, but it was up and down in seconds so not photos, Darm I think, but happy they others saw it. There were many many Marsh Wrens flitting about, focusing on the little bird, trying to take a photo, then it was gone, makws it challenging to take photos, but I did finally get some photos.

We met some locals from Pembroke who are so fortunate to have such a good location a mere 15 minutes away. When we were leaving Ross Road marsh Barb C. pointed out the name of the marsh - Mud Lake / Mud Creek Conservation Reserve --mmm interesting given we in Ottawa hear Mud Lake, we think automatically of Britannia. We drove to two other locations on the other side of the marsh, not clearly as good, but good to know the location. There we saw a muskrat, Green Frog and a Bullfrog.

Driving to the dump, we turned onto 3rd line Stafford and we heard a House Wren, singing its little heart out, love those guys. A little disappointing at the dump, no Bald Eagles, but many Turkey Vultures, Ravens and Gulls.

Next was the Pembroke marina, there we saw two sitting Hooded Mergansers and a Yellow Warbler. We decided to have lunch under the trees, it seems we all bring chairs just in case they are needed, a page out of the Boy Scout manual , Be Prepared. Barb & Bill shared some Blueberry Scones they purchased at Antrim Truck Stop, like who would say No to scones from there. A big thank you for the yummy scones.

Bill and Barb indicated they would do one more stop and they would head home. Lake Dore was the unanimous decision. Good thing we had scopes, Bonaparte's Gull way out and lots of Common Loons. This year I have become aware of listening to Red-eyed Vireos because they might not be Red-eyed Vireos. I find the Yellow-throated and Red-eyed to be similar. I hear this song and say to Anne do you want to record that song, it is not a Red-eyed Vireo, turns out it was Philadelphia Vireo. Frig, why can't birding be easier, but then where would the challenge be. But I am now aware of listening more intently. Bill and Barb leave us and we continue to bird.