Ottawa Area Birding: Pine Grove to Navan with JC Birding

November 15, 2023

Birding Report by Jane Burges

We met at the Pinegrove, Greenbelt Eastern Path at 8:00 and walked to where the Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers had been reported. We walked the path and found Evening Grosbeak, American Goldfinch, heard White-breasted Nuthatch and saw a Hairy Woodpecker. We did a lot of walking back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. About 2 hours later, the American Three-toed Woodpecker flew in, beautiful, gorgeous male, great view, just not long enough. It flew to a broken off tree -- for us the wrong side of the stump, just saw views of his head and we could see the yellow patch on his head (see Ken's photo). We had poor views of the female . The best view was the 3 or 4 seconds when we saw it first in the sunlight. We hung around a bit and finally we decided we would go to the vehicles to warm up. Ken stayed hoping the Three-toed or the Black-back would come in. Nope they did not. He did see a Pileated Woodpecker fly by.

Educational moment -- The American Three-toed Woodpecker’s small stature is deceptive. One study of its musculature and skeleton revealed that this woodpecker can deliver especially powerful blows. It’s been suggested this is due to the evolutionary loss of the fourth toe—an unusual trait shared only by the Eurasian Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers. With only three toes, these species may be able to lean farther away from the tree and thereby hit the tree harder than other woodpeckers, all of which have four toes.

We decided we would go to Dewberry Trail and see the Red-bellied Woodpecker. As we approached the parking lot, we noticed many cars parked alongside the road, oh, no, too many people looking at the birds? (only birders would think that) We saw a couple of large trucks. We got out of our vehicles, we then saw what looked like an insulated tent and a covered area with chairs almost like an eating area. They must be making a movie. Turns out that the children's television series "Makinum" was filming an episode. I googled it and found nothing. Never heard of the series. I asked one of the men walking around, what was the series about, his response, I don't know, I have not read the script.

The feeders were full hence with lots of Black-capped Chickadees, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers enjoying the seeds along with a very noisy Red Squirrel. Blue Jays, American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos were on the ground feeding. But where was that darn Red-bellied Woodpecker? Ken, Barb and I walked to the back and around the trail, hoping we would find it. Nope. But we did see a rabbit in transition, too many shrubs in the way for a photo. It looked kind of cool, with partial white ears and face. When we returned the Red-bellied Woodpecker was flying around, landing not very close to the feeders, perhaps our presence upset the bird. Several times it flew off and then returned. It finally landed near a suet feeder, but on the far side of the tree from me. My photo shows only its head, but at least I got that. Check out the photo of the White-breasted Nuthatch, look at its claws, I think it needs a pedicure (yes I know they need the claws long and sharp).

Where to next? We drove to the boardwalk on Ridge Road. The feeders are located quite close to the latrines and more feeders have been added since I was last there. Again Evening Grosbeaks, and not all that skittish. The sun was shining making photographs of the birds so much better. Lots of Black-capped Chickadees, two Mourning Doves together in the woods. But no Fox Sparrow, darn. Barbara had gone back to the vehicle to have her lunch, Bill joined her then I joined them. Ken went to his car. Barb C. stayed to watch, as she had nibbled at her lunch while driving. I looked up from my soup and I read on her lips FOX SPARROW. Bill, she has a Fox Sparrow. Barbara was the first out, then Bill, finally slow poke Jane. I knocked on Ken's window to say Fox Sparrow. Funny how lunch doesn't matter, when there is a good bird around. Well the stupid thing, oh bad karma, but it went into wherever, those skullers, but patience counts. Barb saw it again in the brambles, then it came into sight and decided to work in an area in the shade but visible for all. It was doing its thing, scratch, peck, scratch, peck, lift up the head, then repeat itself. Finally it decided to come into the sunlight, we were all so happy. Lots of photos. There was a second one, but not at all cooperative. Back to the vehicles to finish lunch. Fox Sparrows are chubby sparrows, but I think they are the best looking of all the sparrows. The ones in western Canada are not so colourful.

Barb decided to leave us at this point. We went to check out the Sandhill Cranes. My brother had called me to say they were still around, but for some reason they were fighting with each other. No, no, they are dancing. He argued, I finally said to him, Who is the birder anyway?? Point taken. We checkout Milton and Smith, no Cranes. We took Perreault to Trim, yes, there they were, but flying. We were happy to see them. Drove a tiny bit, because Ken could hear them, yes we saw about 20 or so. Ken had run out of steam by then so he left to go home. Bill Barbara and I went to check out Giroux Ponds. Good idea --Bufflehead, Black Duck, Mallard, Green-wing Teal, Northern Pintail (such a pretty bird), Hooded Merganser and a single Ring-billed Gull. On the other pond, we saw about 15 Common Mergansers, Common Golden-eye, more Hooded Mergansers and a Great Blue Heron. Ken called to say he had seen a Red-tailed Hawk -- we saw 5 Red-tailed Hawks during the course of the day.

Time to go home. It was probably the coldest birding day so far, Ken had dressed for it, the rest of us found our toes and fingers were cold. But as the day progressed, it warmed up a bit or we just got used to the cold. Winter is coming.

Another good day, the best bird by far was the American Three-toed Woodpecker.