Ottawa Area Birding: Mud Lake to Dunrobin with JC Birding

April 12, 2022

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met up at Mud Lake at 7:30. On Mud Lake there were Canada Geese, Mallard, Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser. Lots of Red-winged Blackbirds singing as we walked to the Ottawa River, around the filtration plant then up onto the ridge where we saw Double-crested Cormorant and Common Goldeneye. We took the path around Mud Lake, it was relatively quiet. We checked out the pines for the owl, and were rewarded with our first warbler - Pine Warbler. At the bridge we stopped to check out the water, when this lady came walking with what appeared to be a backpack on. She was carrying her 9 month old cat, she took off the backpack and opened it up and out popped the cat's head, I was fearful it would jump out, oh no she had it securely fastened. The cat seemed to enjoy the outing (see photos). Then we walked toward the fence where Bill took the lead and he walked us right to the sleeping Screech Owl. Seeing the Eastern Screech Owl was such a treat, I think we all had smiles on our faces.

We drove to Ottawa Beach and walked the path east because there had been an ebird report of Redheads. Barb C. was fretting about not seeing woodpeckers on the list - well we got both Downy and Hairy Woodpecker on that walk. We took a path down to the river and saw Greater Scaup but no Redheads. Okay we will drive to Andrew Haydon Park to see if they were there. Unfortunately the barricades were still up. We were hungry so we drove directly to Shirley's Bay. Nothing there, but good company and great conversation. Where to next - mmm Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Meadowlark would be great.

We drove down Carling avenue, I noticed the driving range was full up with people hitting balls, the temperature at this point was about 16, encouraging golfers to enjoy the outdoors. We wanted to carpool and we had decided to park at the Metro store opposite Tim Horton's There is a short street from Carling to those stores, well they have it barricaded off, change of plans we will park at the Sobey's store and drive to Dunrobin road then take Cameron Harvey Drive. The first Osprey's nest is active but the one at the corner of Cameron Harvey and Sixth Line -- not yet occupied. We turned right on Berry Side Road and Barb and I got out of the car and started to play Eastern Bluebird, no response, we walked past Sixth Line about a 1/3 of the way down and two birds flew in. I said King birds, No Blue birds. Barb called Bill as he, Barbara and Anne had wanted to photograph the Ospreys, so they drove ahead of us. We saw at least two pairs, Barb and I continued to walk this time playing Eastern Meadowlark and yes a response. I think we saw 3 of them. The four others were busy taking photos of the Bluebirds so we beckoned them and they drove down. We continued to walk towards Constance Lake, the others drove to the Osprey's nest. Ken came back to pick us up, Barb wanted to continue walking and I joined Ken. Once near the Osprey's nest I played Swamp Sparrow, no response, I played Wilson's Snipe, no response.

Once Barb joined us, she immediately commented on the frogs we were hearing. Bill, the frog expert told us who they were

Spring Peeper - Scientific Name Pseudacris crucifer, Western/Striped Chorus Frog - Scientific Name Pseudacris triseriata and Wood Frog - Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica. The Wood Frog sounds like a duck

Back in the cars on Fifth Line, Ken spotted a Pileated Woodpecker fast at work making a nest. It was interesting watching it go into the nest (on a hydro pole), hammer a bit and out comes his body and it lets go of the sawdust and then back to work. It called and the 2nd one flew in, and the original one flew off. The 2nd one continued the work of digging out a nest hole. Lots of photographs. I walked on to the old abandoned barn and saw one Kestrel, the vehicles arrived and discovered a 2nd Kestrel on a fallen tree. A vehicle stops and the man tells Ken there is a hoovering Eagle at the corner, he says thank you and did not rush off, we strongly suspected it was a hoovering Osprey. Barb checks ebird and tells us what Always an Adventure had seen at the Thomas Dolan bridge. There we saw lots of Tree Swallows and Ring-neck Ducks. Nothing new at Dunrobin lake. At this point Bill, Barbara and Anne leave as it is about 3:30ish.

Bill & Barbara went home via the CT Centre to check on the ravens at the nest. An adult was bringing food, but we could not actually see a young.