January 25, 2022
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
We met at Fletcher Wildlife Garden
at 9:00, I got there a bit earlier hoping that there would be some
Northern Cardinals, I am always looking for a photo suitable for next
year's Christmas card. Yep there were 4 of them flying about, but I
have to meet some criteria to make the Christmas card suitable. Well I
will wait and see if any qualify.
Ken comes
whistling into the backyard garden, guess he did not want to come in
quietly and scare me. Then Bill and Barbara arrive. At the feeders -
Northern Cardinal, Hairy and Downy Woodpecker and Black-capped
Chickadees. Ken, Bill, and I decided we should check the coniferous
trees near the barn for an owl, oh where is our wanderer. Bill decides
he will go and look for her while Ken and I check the trees. We saw a
few happy Black-capped Chickadees, a good indication that there are no
owls or they had not located it yet. We did not find any owls. We met
up with Bill and Barbara who told us they had Mourning Doves and House
Finches at the feeders. Darn I wanted to see House Finches.
We
proceed over to the back feeder and this dog running loose wants to
play with me, dropping his toy in front of me - he did this at least 6
times, while his owner called and called. I did not realize that the
Fletchers was a dog park where dogs roamed free (according to the signs
dogs should be on lease, but.... I guess I am being picky) We check the
feeder and just Black-capped Chickadees, then we check the tall
coniferous trees, no owl. We ran into Mike T. and told him no owls he
asked what about Red-breasted Nuthatch, no.
We
decided to walk down to the canal with the hope the fruit trees would
attack good birds. Barbara sights three House Finch far away, but we
make our way closer but they are high up in the trees. Well the good
birds turned out to be American Robins and a single European Starling.
Desperate for something to photograph, we all take lots of photos of the
Robins.
Walking back we saw a single Mallard
in the open water creek. Check out the photos, the poor thing has lost
feathers from his neck. We get back to the feeder and as luck would
have it, some House Finches closer to us.
Where
to next, well let's check out the arboretum. When we got there, we
used the facilities and did not bother to check the trees. I spoke to a
guy who was doing snow removal and asked if he had seen any owls. Only
at the weather station and not often. We then drove over to the
experimental farm behind where Jeff S. works and the big find there was
House Sparrow. Okay let's check the fields near the weather station,
oh even a better find there -- Rock Pigeon.
AfterKen
referred to ebird, we decided we would go to the Manotick area, on the
way we would check the open water at Black Rapids. Someone very nicely
had blown the snow making a good path to the water. Bill and Barbara
went to the water after they finished their lunch. Ken and I were deep
in conversation and eating our lunch took more time. Bill and Barbara
came back and reported they had seen Common Goldeneye and a mink (sadly
no photos of the mink).
Driving down Rideau
Valley Drive, a Red-tailed Hawk was spotted, then of course it flew to
the other side of the river and landed on the top of a tall pine tree.
Barbara took photos, all I could see from my vehicle was a red tail. We
parked at Watson's Mill. Walking to the lookout was interesting, the
snow was up past my knees, but the view looking at the river was quite
pretty. All the ducks were on the west side of the bridge. A whole
lot of Mallards with a couple of Black Ducks, but Ken found the best
bird of the day at that point -- Northern Pintails. They are one
beautiful looking duck.
Ken checked ebird again
to find where the hot spots were in the Manotick area -- Kelly's
Landing. We drove there and the only birds we saw was a small flock of
Blue Jays -- maybe 3 or 4. There had been a hawk reported on Snake
Island Road, we did not see it. We did stop at a feeder - American
Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow. Thank goodness for
feeders.
We drove more roads without seeing any
birds. It was about 3 ish when we decided to go our separate ways. We
all reported back to each other after we arrived home. Ken went to
Dewberry Trail as a Saw Whet Owl was reported - he did not get it, but
he got a Northern Shrike, now that is a good bird. Bill and Barbara saw
a Red-tail Hawk and a Merlin on Moodie Drive. I checked out Goodstown
road, nothing, then Richland Road, nothing, goodness all that driving
for nothing. So I checked out Akins Road and I noticed a parked car
with a man inside. I looked and looked - nothing. I drove to the end
of the road and turned around, the man had gotten out of the car and had
a big camera. I slowly drove to his car and checked the fence lines,
well ahead of the guy walking, I saw a Snowy Owl. No, I did not get out
and follow him. Shortly after I saw a single Snow Bunting, I thought
it unusual, because generally you see them in flocks.
Species Noted
- American Crow
- Northern Cardinal
- House Finch
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- American Robin
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- European Starling
- Mourning Dove
- Mallard
- House Sparrow
- Rock Pigeon
- Common Goldeneye
- Red-tail Hawk (3)
- Black Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Blue Jay
- American Goldfinch
- Dark-eyed Junco
- American Tree Sparrow
- Snowy Owl
- Snow Buntings
- Merlin
- Northern Shrike
- Wild Turkey
