Ottawa Area Birding: Mud Lake - Carleton Place - Almonte

February 15, 2022

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met at Mud Lake at 8:30, with the hope of seeing the Hermit Thrush. We checked the open water closer to the parking lot, we saw Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, but no Thrush. We walked the edge of the water and ended up east of the Water Treatment Plant, a little open water, 2 American Robins (wrong Thrush) wanted to have a drink and a couple of Black-capped Chickadees demanding food but no Hermit Thrush. We walked back to the cars, Barbara and I wanted to warm up in our vehicles, Bill said he would check the water on the other side of the ridge. He came back to report no Hermit Thrush. But a woman had left a walker to go to the edge of the ice to photograph the Common Goldeneye with no one to help her if she got in trouble... no comment on that. Tony Beck drove up and Bill went to talk to him, Tony's response was the Thrush could be anywhere, he was at Mud Lake to photograph birds on the wing with his new camera.

We decided to carpool since we were headed to Carleton Pace. First we would check out Cope Drive, a Northern Harrier was reported there. Well if there was one, we did not see it. Next stop was 6808 Fernbank (last year she had a Boreal Chickadee, but not this year) because she has an amazing number of feeders, surely we would see birds. Of course we did, Blue Jay, White & Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Junco, lots of American Tree Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch along with Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers. As I was checking out the birds, for some reason I looked up and what do I see? A Bald Eagle, I guess the universe was calling me! We heard Common Raven, just love their call. The homeowner told us every evening she hears a Saw Whet Owl - lucky her.

We drove down Stonewater Bay, Carleton Place to find an access to the Mississippi Riverwalk Trail. At number 82 we found an access, we were looking for the Trumpeter Swans that had been reported. We walked and walked and walked, well it is called a Riverwalk, and finally Barbara and I thought it was time to turn around. Bill said he would go down to the river to check, he yelled back "Swans". Well thank you Bill. Four Trumpeter Swan cygnets, no adults in sight, but the four of them were very busy eating and paid absolutely no attention to us. On the way back, we decided this place had potential and we should return. Walking up the access path I noticed a Great Blue Heron garden ornament (see photo). I enjoy looking at the various garden ornamentations that people put up. Bill said Pigeons -- there were lots of them on the roof of one of the houses.

Now let's find a place where we can have lunch. We were in Almonte before we found a place so we drove to where the Tundra Swan had been reported. We made our way to the open water, yeah no swan. Oh but it is further up the river in a very small patch of open water. We were all hungry by then, so we had our lunch first and look at the swan later. While eating lunch Barbara remarks that there is a bi-plane in the sky, no it's an ultralight plane. Well it lands on the ice and taxis by us. Mmm probably scared the swan. Then the plane takes off, we were all thinking my goodness being in the plane must be very cold. We get out and walk to the pathway. I was first and just walked to the area where the swan was, "was" is the operative word, it flew. Damn. Oh let's check with my bins at the original place, yep it's there. I turn around, no Bill, no Barbara, mm wonder where they went. Bill had turned around because Barbara had fallen, oh oh Bill was on his hands and knees, Barbara on her back. The shortcut to the path had a raised concrete pad and then just snow. But everything was covered in snow and Barbara, unbeknown to her, fell where the pad and the earth met. She and Bill were back on their feet when I told them the swan had flown back to the original open water. Back we went, Barbara suggested we should go to the church. In the church parking lot, we see we have to go down a rather steep hill of undisturbed snow to get decent photos. Bill started down and I eventually followed. Barbara said she was not taking any chances at falling. Lots of photos later of the Tundra Swan and its friend the Canada Goose. Ultralight plane makes another appearance, this time just over the swan, so it flew, but not far. We made it up the hill and again I noticed an something -- this time it was an interesting weathervane - a copper whale, sort of out of place in Almonte. I don't think whales are found in the area, but the weathervane is kind of pretty. Where is our wanderer, one of the locals indicated where she went. She was photographing the swan and its friend the Canada Goose from the other side of the church.

We then made our way to the Fine Estates, where the homeowners have excellent bird feeders in the backyard. Bill knocks on the door and asks permission to see his backyard, he gives Bill the latest information re: the white throated sparrow. Lots of American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadees and American Tree Sparrows, with a couple of House/ Purple Finch. I simply have difficulty identifying those birds. Bill told me the females are easier to distinguish while the males are a bit more challenging. (From our photos, we determine we saw Purple Finch and Bill is correct the females are easier to tell apart). We never did see the White-throated Sparrow.

Bill says well I have worn out all my ideas, oh lets try for the Bluebirds and Red-bellied Woodpecker. Driving to Dunrobin, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker flying. We did not get the Bluebirds or the Woodpecker, we did get a Red-tailed Hawk and on the sixth line we saw a small flock of Snow Buntings. We have never seen Snow Buntings in that area before.

Last stop was Hilda feeder, which did not yield anything new. Barbara was encouraging us to get 30 species, but no, we reached 28. I was hoping I would add House Sparrows to make it 29, but that was a no as well.

Thanks Bill for driving and thank you Bill and Barbara fr your photographs.