Ottawa Area Birding: Eardley-Masham Road and Steele Line with JC Birding

February 8, 2022

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met at Bate Island and along with the Common Goldeneye we also saw two Bufflehead. Driving up to Therrien, the only birds we saw were American Crows and a single Wild Turkey.

On Therrien we saw nothing, the visibility was terrible and it was snowing, but we did search.

I asked Bill to turn left at the highway to see if there was anything at the feeders on Chemin Parker, unfortunately the feeders were not filled, hence no birds.

We turned onto Eardley Masham and a whole lot of Blue Jays greeted us along with some Mourning Doves. We heard a Common Raven. Driving up to the 'tree', we hoped our luck would be better than the last time we were there. It was! First we saw Pine Grosbeak (one of the target birds for day), a single American Tree Sparrow, and American Goldfinch.

We turned right onto Bradley again seeing nothing. Back onto Eardley Masham, we stopped to check the foothills for Eagles. Bill and I have 8x bins, while Ken has 10x bins, he said I see a Bald Eagle and pointed in the direction. I got my scope out and said I think it is a juvenile Bald Eagle, no Ken says white head, no white head that is a branch with snow. Ken looks again and says I think I see a pin head, it's a Turkey Vulture. No Turkey Vultures at this time, now he gets really silly and suggests a California Condor - so that is how the day is going to be. We checked the tree again from different angles and we could not find the eagle. It had flown, going away from us, oh well. Ken suggested we follow it, but we did not. He wanted it to be a Golden Eagle, well really we all did, but it is listed as a Bald Eagle juvenile, gut feeling.

Driving Eardley Masham we came upon a flock of Common Redpolls and Red Crossbills feeding on road grit. Out we got and they flew but came back to the road just a bit further up. One became two and two became three, then ten. Yes good photo op, a car comes by and of course they all fly. Ken drew our attention to the birds in the trees, so more pix. Ken decides to take a walk in the woods, does he want to get lost again. Ken, Ken. Bill, Barbara and I continue watching and photographing the ones that are on or near the road. Ken emerged from the forest, no worries he didn't get lost, but really all he had to do was follow his footprints in the snow back to the road!! We drive a bit and Bill sees a single Wild Turkey, none of us see it. Then Barbara says I see something large in a tree. I had difficulty finding it and suggested it might be a Chachalaca. Bill says no more like a Hoatzin. Both of these birds are found in South America. Yes it was the Wild Turkey Bill had seen and it had flown up to the tree branch.

Ken sees some larger birds on his side of the car, and tells us to forget the Wild Turkey, his birds were more interesting. He was correct, and they turned out to be Evening Grosbeaks. More pix. We drive a bit further and more Wild Turkeys. I want Bill to stop so I can take a photo, a very loud horn sounds. Bill says we have to go, the snow plough is coming. We turn around and drive down to the end of Sincennes. We decided we should have lunch as the time is around noon. Ken remarked that we once had lunch here with Susan G. and she pointed to a Ruffed Grouse in the tree. None there today.

Going back, on Eardley Masham, there are no birds on the road feasting on grit, guess they got their fill in the morning. We turned west on Bradley, stopped a few times, but saw nothing new. On Steel, Ken decides he should check what has been seen in the area. We are smack in the middle of the area where Golden Eagles had been sighted, I think it was 5 and 20 days ago. So we scanned the escarpment, turned around and rescanned the area. Nope nothing. Barbara says she sees a bird on the top of the tree, Northern Shrikes love to be on top of the trees, but no, as we grew closer, the bird turned out to be a Blue Jay. While driving slowly Barbara says she had just seen a Downy Woodpecker in the fence area. Bill backs up, sure enough Barbara is 100% correct, a little Downy Woodpecker. Wish he had been on our side of the fence, but they go where they think the food is, not where we want them to be.

On Swamp Road, we spot a Red-tail Hawk, as we slow down, it flies from his perch. We proceed to Lac des Loups and North Onslow. There are so many sand pits on this road, we checked out one, but zip, no birds. We were driving not all that fast when Bill has to move over for an oncoming truck that was taking up more than half of the road. Well unfortunately Bill's front tire hit the soft snow and it just pulled us in, Bill tried hard to stop the vehicle from going in, but it seemed it had a mind of its own. So we are in the ditch, level headed Barbara starts digging around in her purse to get her CAA card, Bill is out checking the problem. He calls and it will be at least an hour and half. The car was quite deep in the passenger side. Barbara and I found it a bit challenging to get out of the car. Bill had to give me his hand and pull me out of the driver side.

Once out and we all agree it could have been worse, the car could have turned over, the day could be very cold and windy. etc, etc. Barbara and I decided to go for a walk, no birds , but we found a dump. She decides to go back to be with Bill and Ken joins me as we walk to the dump. Looking at trees, hoping that we might see an owl, but no. We did not even hear squirrels. Upon our return, Bill told us pretty much every car that drove by, enquired if he had a tow truck coming or just to enquire how he was. One car driver even suggested they could get in their car to warm up. All the people were quite nice, one guy said he was going to get his friend then go to Parliament Hill to support the truckers on the Parliament hill. No comment on that from me.... Eventually the tow truck driver calls to say he would be there in 20 minutes. He arrived and he knew what he was doing. Pulling the car out in maybe 10 minutes. And we were on our way. Birding was done for the day. While walking the road, we saw a few birds, a small number of Black-capped Chickadees, two Common Ravens and one Blue Jay at the dump. so you will see lots of the Bowman's vehicle in the ditch photos.

Last species we saw was European Starling at Quyon. On the highway the car felt a little rough. So the boys started talking , could your tires be out of alignment, could it, could it??? I could see from Bill's face, he was worried. Ken suggested that we stop at a good place and the guys would get out and do their thing. While Ken was checking whatever, Bill busied himself by kicking off all the snow on the tires and wherever else. Ken said to drive forward and he would check whatever. Okay he could see nothing. Back on the road, the vehicle seemed to drive a lot smoother, must have been all the snow we picked up when the car thought it was a snowmobile.... Bill let out a sigh and his face was definitely more relaxed. I think we all felt aa relief.

We said our goodbyes to Ken at Bate Island. Wow, were there ever a lot of vehicles going east on the Parkway wanting to take the bridge. Guess a few bridge closures will do that.

Home at 6:00.