Mud Lake

 February 27, 2023

Nothing unexpected today.  Lots of Mallards.

Trail 24

 February 26, 2023

We finally got around to exploring this trail starting from Florizel Park in Westcliffe. We ran into Richard W and Paul L who were looking for a Black-backed Woodpecker (so were we!) But none of us found it, but we had an amazing viewing of 26 American Robins in the same place.  Other than that, it was a pleasant day for a hike on a new-to-us trail.  Looks like it may be worth a visit in the spring.

American Three-toed Woodpecker and Barred Owl

 February 25, 2023

After a few fresh reports, we headed out to the Jack Pine Trail for the umpteenth time.  But this time it was there!   Richard W, Paul L and Penny were all there to show us the spot.  The woodpecker seemed to be resting and did not tap at all.  Suddenly, it flew off and we could not re-find it.  But we had our shots.

We also saw a Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers.

Penny told us that she had seen a Barred Owl at Sarsaparilla Trail, so without furtherer ado, we headed right over.

The day was a great success!

Jack Pine Trail

 February 24, 2023

We repeated the same scenario several times. American Three-toed Woodpecker is reported the previous day, and we go out and come up empty.  Oh well, we are not the only ones.  This time we found a flock of 4 or 5 Cedar Waxwings eating fruit by Post D.  And also some common expected birds...

Giroux Road

 February 22, 2023

We got another email from Wilson via Nadine/Jane with the idea that the NHOW may be on Appleford Street Beacon Hill.  A Google search showed that the habitat was not suitable. Then we got a FB post from Paul L with photos of Gray Partridges at Giroux.  So we thought, why not checkout Appleford, then proceed to Giroux.

Well Appleford was indeed a bust; we also checked out the nearby CSIS lands.  

But as we approached Giroux, we saw a flock of Snow Buntings at the corner which flew up to the hydro line.

Further east on Giroux, there were some small flocks of Horned Larks.

And the farmer's silo was topped with starlings.

Not wanting to take Hwy 417 during afternoon rush our, we took Navan Road to Renaud and Anderson.  So why not stop at Dewberry?  The rarer birds did not show, but we had a nice selection of feeder birds to finish our day.

 

Search for Northern Hawk Owl

 February 21, 2023

We got a hot tip from Jane in Columbia, who got it from Nadine, who got it from Wilson, that a Northern Hawk Owl was somewhere along the Sir-George-Etienne-Cartier Parkway.  So, we met Eleanor and Terry at the north end of Shefford Road and began our seach.

There were NO PARKING signs on Shefford, so we relocated to P7 on the parkway.  Terry shared some fantastic muffins from McCafé.  We hiked west, but the day was cold and the wind chill was barely tolerable.  Plus the habitat seemed all wrong.  

So we decided to drive to Fairwinds Terrace on the east side of Green's Creek, where one had been seen last year,  and try there.  We fared no better, and after talking to a skier, we decided to try Canotek Road.

But we were unable to locate the "PD" from the map, so we gave it up and headed for Fletcher Wildlife Garden.

The expected White-throated Sparrow did not show while we were there, so it was not our day.

The eBird checklists are Eleanor's, for which we thank her.

2043–2045 Sir George-Etienne Cartier Pky, Ottawa CA-ON 45.46370, -75.61109, Ottawa, Ontario, CA
Feb 21, 2023 8:27 AM - 8:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.7 kilometer(s)
2 species

American Crow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S129348506

Ottawa--Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa, Ontario, CA
Feb 21, 2023 11:06 AM - 11:23 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Back yard garden feeder
4 species

Downy Woodpecker  1
American Crow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  10
Northern Cardinal  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S129348466