Ottawa Area Birding: Fletcher Wildlife Garden to Snake Island Road with JC Birding

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.