Ottawa Area Birding: April 2023

Friday, April 28, 2023

First Chute on the Bonnechere & Ross Road

April 28, 2023

Having read "A Driving Tour of the Bonnechere River Watershed", we realized that we had never been to the mouth of the river and the nearby First Chute on Thomson Road near Castleford.

The river was in flood, so the falls were as impressive as they get.

Where to go next? We decided to follow the Ottawa River northwards along River and Storyland Roads. When we reach Chenaux Road, we decided to go to Ross Road near Snake Line Road. But first we stopped at the Cobden boat launch where there was a large group of Algonquin College Outdoor Ed student birders with their teachers from Pembroke. We looked at the distant Lesser Scaup before moving on.

Along the way, we saw some Savannah Sparrows, Wild Turkeys and a few American Kestrels.

At several places, we could hear Eastern Meadowlarks singing, and we finally saw one perched on a rock.

At Ross Road marsh, we saw 2 Trumpeter Swans and several Blue-winged Teals.

An American Bittern called a couple of times, but failed to show. Common Gallinules were singing all over the place, and finally, one swam into the open. There were Ring-necked Ducks too.

The Algonquin students showed up here too. Their teacher, Mark, told us about a pair of Northern Shovellers on Waterview Road, so we went that way on the way home.

We stopped a second time at the boat launch in Cobden to try for the Red-breasted Mergansers the student had seen. But they had left; but there was still a large group of Buffleheads.

We took a long way home through Renfrew, Burnstown and White Lake. This led us right to the Antrim Truck Stop, where we stopped to get some of their delicious scones. It was a lovely tour.

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Bruce Pit and West Ottawa Ski Trail

April 27, 2023

We have seen several Trumpeter Swans this spring, but a report of 3 right in our back yard at Bruce Pit was too much to resist. We took the car to Hobart to minimize the amount of walking. Not only did we get the swans, but several other goodies too. A good trip!

We then headed over to the West Ottawa ski trail, as Northern Waterthrushes had been reported singing. Well, no luck there, but we had a few other good sightings in the pond area to make up for it.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Panmure Road and Packenham with JC Birding

April 25, 2023

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Well the outing started earlier for some than others. I had mistakenly indicated to Barbara and Bill we would meet up at 6:30, while Barb C and I were thinking 7:30. Bill and Barbara were very good and did not throw anything at me. Sorry for the big error.

We drove directly to Panmure, Barbara said she saw an Eastern Bluebird, we did not stop. We wanted to see one of our target birds--Upland Sandpiper. As we were parking Barbara, who claims she is not a birder, says I see an Upland Sandpiper directly in front of us. We all get out of the vehicle and spot the Sandpiper, great that the target bird is found, like it was absolutely no problem finding it. Seven had been reported in the area, but one never knows if they will be there because a friend of mine told me years ago Birds have Wings, they fly!!! The Eastern Meadowlarks (target bird #2) were singing "Spring of the Year", so many of them, a wonderful sign of spring. Barb C went for a short walk and noted lots of Savannah Sparrows. I then went for a walk and when I returned told them I had spotted another Upland Sandpiper, this time a bit closer than the first. After that we decided we would take the turn to the left and see if there were any Eastern Meadowlarks closer and more photographable. Another Upland Sandpiper was spotted. Great, we got three of them. Okay we got our two target birds within the first hour of birding.

Driving a bit further down Panmure, we stopped to hear a familiar song, but could not place it. Merlin indicated Warbling Vireo, my, my goodness, has it been that long since I heard it last. We heard House Finch singing. We saw Bluebird boxes and saw the second of I think four sightings of Eastern Bluebirds. A Kestrel was spotted on the hydro line and of course as soon as we stopped it flew just a bit further. I think we saw 5 Kestrels during the day. While we were stopped Bill said he heard a Field Sparrow, oh they come in when called. So we called it in, and we heard many Field Sparrows during the day. While we were out of the vehicle two Chipping Sparrows were chasing each other, the two became three and then four and at one point all four were on the road no more than a foot ahead of me. Courtship behaviour, if there was mating, I must have blinked my eyes. While we were driving, Barbara spotted a large bird in the sky that was not a Great Blue Heron but it was a Sandhill Crane. A bonus bird. We turn down a road that backs onto the Burnt Lands and we see three more Sandhill Cranes.

This was a car birding day, so again in the vehicle while we were driving we saw a female Northern Harrier (we saw 2 or 3). The morning was just hopping, so many birds everywhere. Where to next?

In the early afternoon we did a lot of driving, but we were too early for the birds (they have not returned yet, I think we want it to be May not April), so it was an unproductive drive. Barb suggests the lagoons, so we actually get out of the vehicle and walk to the lagoons. There we see Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Canada Geese, and Bufflehead. While scanning the lagoon Barb says I see something over there that is black. First we thought it was a beaver, I got my scope on it and it was eating a waterfowl of some type. Do Beavers eat mea? No we didn't think so, we scoped it again and this time it was getting out of the water, seeing the tail, indicated River Otter.

Off we went again to check out the Burnt Lands, we heard in the distance a Clay-colored Sparrow. And we saw a Kestrel at the top of a tree, but it was a very quiet place. We drove Burnt Land Road and we had stopped and Bill said Broadwing Hawk flyover the road. Come on guys we need to get our numbers up, birding had slowed down in the afternoon, just the opposite to what we experienced in the morning. Luckily Bill and Barbara saw a Mallard in the ditch. Lets go and see the baby Common Raven in the nest at Canadian Tire Place. Yes, 4 little heads were showing nicely. Just for interest's sake Ravens start building their nest in late February, incubation is three weeks and nestlings leave the nest about six weeks later. While driving back to the 417, we see a Great Egret in a pond.

Well we won't make 50, we will just look at Bill and Barbara's backyard feeders. No birds there, then all of a sudden this bird flew low and fast through the backyard. What was that, Merlin, last bird of the day and a good bird to get. We almost made it to 50.

A good day, getting our target birds within the first hour.

Thank you Bill for the frog song identification -- Chorus and Springer Peepers.

Thank you Bill, Barbara and Barb for the photos.