Ottawa Area Birding: Richmond to Munster to 6th line with JC Birding

February 1, 2022

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

When I woke up, I remembered that I was to let Anne know where we were birding today. So around 7:00 a.m. I texted her and to my surprise she answered right away. Yes she would meet us in Richmond for 8:30. Then I received a text saying she was off to Timmies, well to make sure she had the correct meet up place I texted her back with exactly where we were to meet and the time. She said yes. Well I guess Anne and I have a lot in common, she was not sure where Timmies is in Richmond, but she got there, then she reread my text and drove to where we were meeting.

Today we were going in hunt of the Great Grey Owl that is supposed to be somewhere between Richmond and Munster. Bill's strategy was to divide and conquer, so he and Barbara took the roads north of Richmond Road and Anne and I took the roads south of Richmond Road. First species we saw were American Robins and that was after driving several roads. Then a Blue Jay and a Cardinal. Driving back from Kettles (big find there Black-capped Chickadees) on Munster Road, Anne said stop and back up would you. Her sharp eyes found a Barred Owl on a nest (we believe). Barred Owls nest at this time of the year and their incubation period is 28 to 33 days. So we will go back in several weeks and check it out. I called Bill and he said he was nearly finished with his roads, we had one more to do. How is it going, lots of birds, he said. I said we have a Barred Owl, oh we will be there.. According to Barbara the owl trumped what they saw.

We wanted to see some of the birds Bill and Barbara saw, so off we went to see Snow Buntings, I think we saw at least three flocks. As we were following Bill, a Wild Turkey flew across the road, Bill stopped and in the distance there was a flock of Wild Turkeys. Once again Anne says Jane stop! sharp eyes spotted a Cooper's Hawk this time.

There is a snowmobile path at Huntley Road at Brownlee Road so we decided to stretch our legs a bit. Last year Bill and Barbara had a Long-eared Owl there (none this year). It was good getting some fresh air and we did see birds - Snow Buntings, Downy Woodpecker and Black-capped Chickadees. On the corner there is a house with some feeders, Bill spotted a female House Finch amongst the Dark-eyed Juncos. Well since we are in the area, we might as well look for Snowy Owls - we did not see any. But we did see more Snow Buntings and met a very nice man walking his dog. He lives at the house where all the Snow Buntings were chowing down the bird seed, he said he loves watching them out the bedroom windows.

We went back to Richmond to get Anne's car and have lunch. Well Eastern Bluebirds and a Red-bellied Woodpecker have been seen on 5 and 7 Line as well as Berry Side Road. Well today was not our day because we did not see them, we did see a small group of Cedar Waxwings. In our search we were turning onto Tomas Dolan and I spotted a raptor on the hydro line, I went to investigate, Red-tail Hawk and of course when I turned the darn bird flew.

Anne left us and we decided to call it a day. Driving down Cameron Harvey Road, I spotted a bird on top of a tree. Could it be a Northern Shrike? I stopped, got out and looked back at the bird. No, an American Robin acting like a Northern Shrike. Well maybe we should check out Hilda , first we checked the tree hole where a Eastern Screech owl was in the fall -- no. Hildra feeder had Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker and a single male Northern Cardinal.

Time to really go home.

I just received an email from Anne, I did not realize what a dedicated birder she was - she left her place at sunrise and returned at sunset -- see photos.