Ottawa Area Birding: East End Ottawa with JC Birding

March 22, 2022

Note: Avenza mapping app failed to record the track west of Frank Kenny; some of the missing locations shown on the Google map.

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Bill, Barbara and I met Ken at Petrie Island. The timing was perfect, Ken followed us down the road to where we were to meet. Once out of the cars, we saw many Red-wing Blackbirds, Grackles and Ring-billed Gulls. We decided that it really would not be purposeful to check out Petrie Island and that we should try for the Tundra Swans on Frank Kenny, off we went following Ken. No swans where they were the day before, but we kept our eyes open looking for them. As usual Ken had put in all the information into his GPS, we went to check out the geese at the bridge. Lots and lots of Canada Geese, no swans or ducks. We checked out McFadden, Ken told us individual Sandhill Cranes have been seen, we did not see any. Then to Perrault and Milton, Smith to Navan arena. Since there were just the four of us we decided we would carpool in one vehicle, leaving Ken's vehicle at the arena.

On Monday, Ken had wonderful looks at Grey Partridge, well no brainer where we were headed -- over Birchgrove. A Snowy Owl was spotted just after we turned onto the road, great. We continued down the road to the 'spot' where Ken had seen the partridges. Oh no, a grader, hopefully it did not scare off the partridges. No partridges, we drove a bit down the road and turned around, still nothing. The owl was still in the same spot.

We drove over Colonial and stopped because Ken saw a Red-tailed Hawk. We got out of the vehicle for better shots and to stretch our legs . While walking about, we saw both Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, a White-breasted Nuthatch and heard both a Song Sparrow and a Blue Jay. The one Hairy Woodpecker was fast at work, working a hole that his head disappeared into. (see pix).

We turned around on Birchgrove Road and when Bill said what was that? What was what I asked. A bird flew across the road, left to right or right to left? Right to left he answers. In the field we saw a Northern Harrier hunting, thanks to Bill's sharp eyes. We drove Lamours to Canaan to du Gulf then Nolan. On Nolan, Ken (he is the youngest) climbed up the steep hill (Bill offered poles and the offer was declined) to check out the water on the other side, no birds. I think it was easier going up the steep incline than coming down. Glad it was him and not me. This was the area where the Bean Goose was seen a couple of years ago.

We checked out Rockdale and Ken's sharp eyes picked out a duck in the flock of Canada Geese. Neither Bill nor I could spot it. Bill turned the vehicle around to the other side of the road where there was more of a shoulder. Out came the scope, still could not spot the duck. Ken says yes he had it again, it pointed to the area where he was seeing it. I looked and looked and looked, finally yes, was it a scaup and ring-neck. Ken checked it out, then Bill, definitely a Ring-necked Duck. We decided we would have lunch outside at the side of the road. Got to say, it was a bit cold for me, there was a wind that I could have done without. After lunch we tried to relocate the Ring-neck Duck, no luck.

We went back to Birchgrove, the owl was not there. When we came close to the spot, we played the partridge's song - no response. So we dipped on Gray Partridge.

We then tried Huisman and Frank Kenny but nothing new. Back to the Navan area where we said good-byes to Ken. Back home at the Bowman's our last species of the day - House Finch.

I received an ebird alert, indicating the Tundra Swans were seen on Petrie Island, oh well.