Ottawa Area Birding: Champlain Bridge, Andrew Haydon Park, Kemptville & Birchgrove Road with JC Birding

December 5, 2022

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met up at the parking lot, Ottawa side of the Champlain Bridge. Barb was already there and had seen the duck before we got there. The bird was mixed in with some Common Goldeneye, not that easy to see but one could see it between dives and waves. We then drove to Dick Bell hoping we would see the Black Scoter. We walked to the tip and saw a Common Loon, but we saw interesting ducks at Andrew Hayden so we walked over there. While we were looking for the Black Scoter, something caught Bill's eye over in the empty boat docking area - a mink, an excellent sighting on Bill's behalf. While we passed the boat ramp at the Sailing Club we saw Common Mergansers and maybe 10 Mallards.

At Andrew Hayden, there were Red-breasted Mergansers and Bufflehead. A lady asked if we had seen the Long-tailed Duck, no where is it? Her reply was over at the bridge, Bill wandered over and yes it was still there. I was turned around to speak to the lady and all of a sudden this small raptor flew over -- Merlin, another good bird. When Barb and I made our way to the vehicles, we also saw the female Long-tailed Duck, another good bird.

Where to next and where to park Barb's vehicle. We decided on a safe place to park and off we went to 2440 Fairmile Road, near Kemptville, hoping we would see the Tufted Titmouse. On the 416 we saw a Red-tailed Hawk. On our arrival, we parked near the house and we were asked to move the vehicle because the homeowners had requested birders to do so. There were people staking the area out and told us it had been heard earlier this morning but not yet seen. A pair of Pine Siskin were at the feeders -- first for us for this season. Also Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinch, Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal. We hung around for over an hour, but no Tufted Titmouse. Well do we leave or do we stay.

We decided we should go to the Boreal Chickadee sight - I think it was 45 minutes away at 3613 Magladry, well east of Navan. We stopped at a Tim Horton's and had a bite to eat. On the way to the Boreal Chickadee sight, a Pileated Woodpecker flew by, so easy to identify. Then Bill got a Rare bird alert - the Tufted Titmouse was seen, about 30 minutes after we left and at a slightly different location.

We got to Magladry and watched the incorrect house while we were eating our lunch. At that house we saw lots more American Goldfinch, a Downy Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch. We heard a Common Raven. Mmmm some cars are parked over on the other side of the Birchgrove. More cars and we use our bins to see who they are, we recognize John Ruddy. His group is looking at the feeders at the corner of Magladry and Birchgrove. We join the group, talk about mega luck. As I join the group, someone points out the Boreal Chickadee, then Bill and Barb join the group and they see it as well. Unfortunately the bird went from one tree to another and then it was gone. We hung around for at least an hour, John heard its song, can't say I heard it. John pointed out American Tree Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch and an immature Herring Gull. John's group left individually, John left, until only a gentleman was left, I spoke with him at length and invited him to join our group. So perhaps we will see him sometime on our weekly outings.

On the way home, our big find was a small flock of Mourning Doves!!! I teased Bill, 'we can't go home until we see some Wild Turkeys', Bill just smiled. On my way from Bill's house, on Greenbank Road, I saw one lone Wild Turkey that had not gone to roost yet.

Good outing - Common Loon, Mink, Long Tail Duck, Pine Siskin and a Boreal Chickadee. Can't complain, yes it would have been good to see a Black Scoter and a Tufted Titmouse, but they will be seen on another day.