Birding Adventure with Grandsons

 

Monday, February 28, 2022

 

It was the first day of Quebec’s “March Break”. Papa dropped the boys off at The Mill and they joined Grandpa, Barbara and Uncle Grant at 7:45 for a birding/hiking adventure.

 

Here is the plan we followed...

 STOP 1:

Vanier Road, Gatineau

What birds are at and around the Vanier Road feeder?  Check out the river as far as the foot bridge and the ruins at the rapids.
Birds Seen: Northern Cardinal, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, House Finch, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, American Goldfinch, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Common Goldeneye, Mallard, Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch. 

STOP 2:

Houle Road, Gatineau

What birds are at and around the Houle Road feeder and ruins?  Check out the river at the boat launch.
Birds Seen: Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, European Starling, Black-caped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch.

 

 

STOP 3:

Mud Lake, Ottawa

Hike the trail along the river opposite Mud Lake, below the ridge.  Continue behind the fence all the way to the creek outflow from Mud Lake.  What birds do you see?  What is the large building for?

Birds Seen: Common Raven, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Screech Owl.
Large building is the Britannia Water Filtration Plant.

 

STOP 4: 

Jack Pine Trail. 

Hike as far as the bird feeder.  What birds and mammals do you see?
Birds Seen: Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Tree Sparrow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco.

Mammals Seen: Red Squirrel, Grey Squirrel (both black and grey morphs).

STOP 5: 

Trail Road Dump. 

What birds do you see in the vicinity of the dump? Watch for raptors.
Birds Seen: American Crow, Red-tailed Hawk, European Starling.
A total of 4 Red-tailed Hawks seen.

 

A stop for lunch at Twin Elm Road near the Jock River.

 

STOP 6: 

Richmond roads. 

What small birds eat grit along the roads?  Do you see a Snowy Owl?  Where is it perched?
Birds Seen: House Sparrow, Snow Bunting.
Snow Buntings eat grit on the road.  No Snowy Owls seen.

STOP 7: 

6808 Fernbank Road.

What birds are at the house feeders on Fernbank Road?  Check surrounding areas too.
Birds Seen: Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Tree Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Wild Turkey.

 

STOP 8: 

Canadian Tire Centre

Are there any Common Ravens nesting at the Canadian Tire Centre?  Whereabouts?
Birds Seen: Common Raven, Rock Pigeon
One Common Raven seen on a nest on the south side of the CT Centre, leftmost opening.  A second raven came and fed the one on the nest.

 

Then mid-afternoon REST and GAMES at 9 Lambert. The boys were attentive throughout the adventure but were also pleased to end with some games time on their tablets…