April 13, 2023
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
Ian,
Ken, Eleanor and I met at Elmvale Acres after some discussion we all
carpooled with Eleanor. First stop was Dolman Ridge Road, just as we
turned off Anderson Road, we stopped because we heard and saw activity.
Ken saw a small bird climbing up a tree, when he got a better look, he
said Brown Creeper, always a good bird. It went from tree to tree and
then disappeared into the woods. Two Northern Flickers were very
focused on courtship behaviour - Ken called it dancing. Something flew
overhead, I was sure it was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ken thought the
same, Eleanor said she thought Flicker. Out comes the Sibley's app and
we do a comparison, Eleanor is correct. Many Song Sparrows were
singing, along with a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinals and
Blue Jays. It must be spring. We got back in the car and drove maybe a
minute, when two sparrows were spotted, Ken said Fox Sparrows, we were
hearing them but not seeing them and I still did not see them, just two
birds flying up from the ditch. Darn. What are those little birds
flicking about -- golden-crowned Kinglets, another bird that makes me
smile, they seem to have non stop energy.
Ann G
joined us and decided she would park up a bit further, and she called
to say Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers tapping on a hydro post, in fact there
are two posts they are working. Got to see the Sapsuckers. There were
at least two of them doing their courtship thing. Bill calls to ask
where we are, on Dolman ridge road, we have yet to get to the parking
lot I tell him. When they arrived we finally made it to the parking
lot. The Eastern Phoebes were making a nest under the eaves of the
latrine. A White-breasted Nuthatch was eating at the suet feeder. We
walked up the road a bit to see a Fox Sparrow sitting in a bush, singing
away. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers were busy pecking away at various
trees.
Off the Mer Bleue boardwalk, with the
hope we would see more Fox Sparrows, did I say how beautiful those
sparrows are, the prettiest of all sparrows in my view. On the way Ian
and Eleanor saw something large in a tree, but it took off and went
low, so we stopped and got out. Finally it showed itself - Red-tailed
Hawk. Around the gate on the road (the gate that gets open around 7:00
to let us go to the boardwalk -- back in the day Linkletters lived
there), we saw something large and weird looking in the field, I thought
it was a horse lying down. I have a very vivid imagination, it was a
male Wild Turkey in full display mode. Gosh what is wrong with me
mistaking a turkey for a horse!!!! American Tree Sparrows, Black-capped
Chickadees, Blue Jays and Common Grackles at the feeders. There was a
large puddle on the way to the boardwalk so we did not go on the
boardwalk. Eleanor wondered if the Palm Warblers were back. Mistake,
we did not go on the boardwalk because the Warblers were reported
(ebird) there around the same time we were there. Oh well. Ann G.
leaves us saying she is off to see the Pine Warblers.
Off
we went, making our way to Frank Kenny, but first we turned down
Farmer's Way. Mmm, what was that that flew over, Killdeer. We stopped
and checked out the flooded area to the east. Lots of Canada Geese, so
we start to go, Ken says hold on a sec, I think I see Yellowlegs. We
get out and bring out the scopes, Yes, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs as
well as a few Mallards.
Next road we turn down
is Hall Road, we see one Eastern Bluebird and a couple of Tree
Swallows. We then cross Russell road and check the area near the
bridge. Eastern Phoebe singing up a storm. Ken thinks he sees a
shorebird, Ian takes a photo, turns out it was a White-throated
Sparrow. Ken goes to tell Bill and Barb and while he is gone Ian says,
there is something in the lower branches of the pine tree --
White-crowned Sparrow.
We will get to Frank
Kenny Road, but first we should check out Carlsbad Lane. There we see
our first Savannah Sparrow and a Kestrel along with European Starlings.
We thoroughly checked the area for Vesper Sparrow, but no luck there.
We thought it's time to eat, (it's after 1:00), so while some of us ate
lunch, others were photographing the Eastern Bluebird and the Kestrel.
(I have a friend who thinks it is fake news Eastern Bluebirds, so I
text her for the second time to let her know of our sightings.). While
doing that a Northern Harrier flies by that I did not see just because I
want to tease my friend.....
Well we should
really check Milton, we see a Great Blue Heron fly over. We drive a bit
and stop where it is a bit safer, the road is very busy. Oh, I see a
Northern Pintail, such regal looking birds, along with Wigeon, Blue-wing
Teal and Green Wing Teal. We turned down Perreault and I got a
telephone call from Bill, aren't you going to Smith to see the Sandhill
Cranes? Little secret, I thought it was a long shot. Bill takes the
lead and stops, usings his binoculars he finds them, gets out and brings
the scope out. Yes, about 12 of them in the distance. Thank you
Bill. Across the road, while I was looking at all the downed evergreen
trees I saw a single Barn Swallow fly by.
We
finally get to Frank Kenny. What was so important about getting to
Frank Kenny - it is usually mega flooded and we get lots of
waterfowl there and swans were reported there. We park on the side of
the road and out we get. A 'gentleman' in a black half ton truck stops
and says you aren't going on the property, No, we are good, no we
aren't. He repeats himself and gives me the serious eye all the time. I
repeat myself, No, we are good, we don't go on private property. I
look over at the property, one muddy area, like I am not going there.
Eleanor says the reports indicated the swans were over there. Bill, Ian
and I walk to the bridge and scope the area, Ring-necked Ducks,
Bufflehead and Hooded Mergansers. No swans. Bill says we should go down
Huismans Road, we didn't see any swans. Later after coming home, I saw
an ebird report indicating the swans were seen off McGladrey.
We
had a discussion regarding the word seagull. So I decided that I would
do a little research. "The term seagull is actually a colloquialism
used to refer to gulls in general. There is no species of bird actually
called a seagull. However, as gulls often live near the sea, and
because they are so common along beaches and coastlines, people tend to
refer to all of them as seagulls. The term, though, is somewhat
inaccurate, In fact, many gulls don't live near the sea, exclusively or
at all.' Also pretty sure everyone has heard of Jonathan Livingston
Seagull by Richard Bach about a 'seagull' who is trying to learn about
flying, personal reflection and freedom. I am sure that book helped with
many people calling Gulls, Seagulls. I remember when I first birded
with Tony Beck, he gave me a lecture on there is no such thing as
Seagulls, look in a bird book, you will only find Gulls. Sadly I find
myself saying the same thing. Many of my non-birding friends like to
tease me about the word 'seagull' and I always take the bait. You would
think I would learn.
Eleanor wanted to check
out Giroux Ponds, but unfortunately for the most part they were frozen,
only bufflehead on the pond's edge. We turned around and stopped to
look at the Canada Geese in the field. We heard bird songs. -- Horned
Larks. Off in the distance, a fairly large bird perched on a branch was
seen, even scoping the bird, it came across as a fairly nondescript
hawk, so no not a Red-tailed. Eleanor was hoping for a Rough-legged
Hawk, I asked Bill to look in the scope, he said no to Rough-legged
Hawk. Fortunately for us Ian had taken a photo and showed it to Bill,
he said yes to Rough-legged Hawk. Great, At this point Ian said I have
to get home to let my dog out, just before leaving I looked at the
Merlin app and it indicated American Pipits were singing, we did not
stop to find them.
We had an excellent day. 54
species, 53 seen and 1 heard. 6 species of sparrows, Song, Fox,
Savannah, White-throated, White-crowned and House. Greater and Lesser
Yellowlegs, Eastern Bluebirds, Tree and Barn Swallow and 4 raptors-
Kestrel, Red-tailed, Northern Harrier and Rough-legged and four species
of woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Yellowbellied Sapsucker, Downy and
Hairy, making the day awesome. Did I mention I simply love birding...
Oh
and the day, it started off at 7 degrees and then reached 30 degrees.
Certainly have to dress in layers for that type of weather - awesome
weather as well.
Thank you Bill and Barbara for your photos.
Species Noted
- Ringed-bill Gull
- Canada Goose
- American Crow
- Rock Pigeon
- Mourning Dove
- Brown Creeper
- Northern Flicker
- Blue Jay
- Northern Cardinal
- Song Sparrow
- Fox Sparrow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Common Raven
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Eastern Phoebe
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- American Tree Sparrow
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- American Robin
- American Goldfinch
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Turkey Vulture
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Wild Turkey
- Killdeer
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Mallard
- Eastern Bluebird
- Tree Swallow
- White-throated Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Savannah Sparrow
- European Starling
- Kestel
- Northern Harrier
- Great Blue Heron
- Wigeon
- Northern Pintail
- Blue-winged Teal
- Green-winged Teal
- Sandhill Crane
- Barn Swallow
- Ring-necked Duck
- Bufflehead
- Hooded Merganser
- House Sparrow
- Horned Lark
- Rough-legged Hawk
- American Pipit
5420 Russell Rd, Ottawa CA-ON 45.37177, -75.51639, Ottawa, Ontario, CA Apr 13, 2023 11:24 AM - 11:32 AM Protocol: Stationary Checklist Comments: Flooded fields along Farmers Way 6 species Canada Goose 80 Estimate Mallard 2 Killdeer 2 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Ring-billed Gull 20 Song Sparrow 2 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133938357
4523–4559 Carlsbad Ln, Vars CA-ON 45.37506, -75.44036, Ottawa, Ontario, CA Apr 13, 2023 12:49 PM - 1:17 PM Protocol: Traveling 0.889 kilometer(s) 13 species Canada Goose 65 Minimum estimate Wild Turkey 2 Killdeer 1 Turkey Vulture 2 Northern Harrier 1 American Kestrel 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 American Crow 1 European Starling 3 Eastern Bluebird 1 Savannah Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 4 Red-winged Blackbird X View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133938337
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