October 28, 2021
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
I met the Bowmans at their place
and we decided to bird a bit of the Ottawa River. First up, Andrew
Haydon Park, hoping to see the Black Scoter, no luck there, but we
did Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers, Wood Duck, American Robin and
lots of Canada Geese. There were Red-winged Blackbirds singing in the
reeds and I looked up at a couple of trees towards the marina, thinking
they were European Starlings, but no, all male Red-winged Blackbirds.
There were a couple of people looking for the Scoters as well, two
announced they were off to Ottawa Beach to see it there. We drove down
to Scrivens with the thought that if the Scoter was at Ottawa Beach we
could easily see it there. Well, we did not see it. We drove into the
parking lot at Ottawa Beach seeing no people there, we decided to go to
Shirley's Bay because a White-rumped Sandpiper was being seen there.
Yeah the bird had flown off to the dyke 5 minutes earlier. There were
about 6 to 8 people there, lots of talking, when Mike T. said bird
overhead. It kept on flying, there was a discussion about whether it
was a Horned Lark or a Snow Bunting. One person was adamant its song
was a Horned Lark. In comes the wanderer and asks Bill what is this
bird - a very clear undisputable Snow Bunting. She was questioned and
the group then decided the bird was a Snow Bunting.
During
this time we all talked about my scope's broken arm - Focus Scientific
is no more, call Pelee Wings, call Kowa, maybe Mike T would give you
his. Lots of teasing, but they did give me some good suggestions.
Where
next, let's go to Casselman to see the Snow Geese, if they are there???
Always a gamble to go so far and be disappointed. On the way we saw a
Red-tailed Hawk. Just as we were approaching the off ramp, oh so many
Snow Geese in the field near the dump. Happy smiling faces. We went
down to Lefleche Road but the geese were too far away, so we tried a
construction site just off 138 near the 417, but it was still too far
away. Well then lets try Moose Creek, approaching the lagoon we saw
Snow Geese, good thing there is a hole in the fence, we can get up
closer. The people who manage the lagoon had 'sewn' the hole up with
barbed wire. But there were Snow Geese landing in a nearby field, we
went to check that out and the geese decided flying was what they wished
to do, we did not scare them up since we were not close to the field
that they were in. But I have to say it was simply a glorious sight.
Barbara took a video of it and has shared it with us, it is
especially good for those who cannot get out and see this wonderful
site. Thank you Barbara for your thoughtfulness.
Bill
says what is next, the consensus was to try county roads 21, 20 and 19
and beyond for little birds. On Ste Rose we got our first and only
Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Harrier. Stopped for gas and continued on County road #9,
there is a pond just to the left, not a single bird on it however. We
turned onto County road 20 and there we saw the first Rough-legged Hawk,
so cooperative actually I think the bird was very focused on getting
something to eat. That gave us an idea, why not have lunch and watch
the show. Barbara videotaped the bird, then she said another one and
then there was another one. I have never seen three Rough-legged Hawks
hunting in the same field.
We went looking for
Bald Eagles since they are often seen in these fields particularly near
the chicken farms. But no luck today.
We drove
through St Isidore and turned onto County road #3. Bill says there are
lagoons near here, want to try them? My attitude is nothing ventured,
nothing gained. Oh it was so worth it, the lagoon was white with all
the Snow Geese, then they lifted up and churned about honking all the
while. Oh my, we all loved the moments.
A few roads later, we are at the Casselman lagoons. There we got Green Wing Teal, Black Duck and Ring-neck Duck.
On the way home, we all agreed that while the list was not long, the experience was wonderful. We had quality big time.
Thank you Bill and Barbara for driving and for your photos.
The
first thing I did when I got home was to phone Pelee Wings and tell
them of my tale of woe. They said Manfrotto had the part available and
they would order it. The next day they called to say still no luck at
getting a hold of Manfrotto, but the people at Pelee Wings had simply
never heard of the arm breaking and they were hopeful that I might just
get a replacement free because Manfrotto stands by their products. I
don't care if it is free, I just want it replaced. But in the meantime,
my husband simply took out the broken part and replaced it with the
longer part of the arm, the arm is now 4 inches shorter, but it still
works.
Ottawa River
Lafleche & Moose Creek
St. Isidore
Casselman
Videos
Moose Creek Snow Geese https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d_00gPsmh-Mmwd3aX-vnID8ecu3a4o3w/view?usp=sharing
St Isidore Rough-legged Hawk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZEvIMSB1dU6enX_FbTpWmAkWx4S9lYU3/view?usp=sharing
Species Noted
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-winged Blackbirds
- Hooded Merganser
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Canada Goose
- Wood Duck
- American Robin
- European Starling
- Ring-billed Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Northern Cardinal
- Lesser Scaup
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Mallard
- Snow Bunting
- Rock Pigeon
- Common Raven
- Red-tail Hawk
- American Crow
- Snow Goose
- Northern Harrier
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Blue Jay
- Green-wing Teal
- Black Duck
- Ring-necked Duck
- Gadwall
- Scaup not sure which type
