Birding Report by Jane Burgess
Bill, Barbara, Barb C.and Ian met
at my place and we were off by 6:35. Ken and Bill drove. Ken asked for
the nearest Starbuck and we headed there, once he had fix, we were
off. We stopped on the Richmond Road for Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark
and Upland Sandpiper. No luck there. Thank goodness Ken was driving
defensively because a car pulled across the road without even seeing
us. Woke us all up!! The only interesting bird we saw was a Kestrel on
the line and we did not stop.
We decided to go
via Perth to Canoe Lake Road. Once there, we walked along the road
(I cannot find the name of road that goes from Canoe Lake Road to
Westport Road). Usually we just go up the hill, but this time we walked
to Westport Road near the water. The first bird we heard calling was an
Eastern Towhee, I certainly did not think the habitat was right for
Towhee, but what do I know? We saw our first two warblers, an American
Redstart and a Black & White Warbler. Closer to the water, we saw a
Broadwing Hawk fly over and then Belted Kingfisher. We played Common
Yellowthroat, they usually answer very quickly, no answer. We did not
see a Common Yellowthroat all day.
We all got
back into the vehicles and started down Canoe Lake Road, just barely
down the hill when we stopped. Last year we had a very cooperative
Golden-winged Warbler there, we heard it, great, then we saw it. One of
our target birds. Walking down further, we saw
Rose-breasted Groskbeak, such a pretty bird. The photographers stayed a
long while at this spot. They simply could not get enough of the
Golden-winged
Warbler. Barbara and I walked ahead. We heard
Red-eyed Vireo and Warbling Vireo, but I will not waste my time looking
for those birds, if they show themselves, good otherwise I am fine with
just hearing them. I heard an Ovenbird. There was a mini flock of
Chestnut-sided Warblers. Barbara pointed out a bird --
Tennessee Warbler, I am so happy I finally can identify it and not call
it a Nashville (I tend to mix up their names). Then a beautiful
Baltimore Oriole was heard then seen (I can't get tired of those birds
and we had several sightings during the day). There were Least
Flycatchers calling, but they were in the trees too far for us to see
them. When the photographers caught up they said they saw a
Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Nashville Warbler.
Bill
was anxious to get to the Louisiana Waterthrush sight, so off we went.
Bill stopped at this barn where of course we saw Barn Swallows. It is
amazing how fast they can fly into the barn between the barn boards.
Just a bit up the road we saw turkeys, no peafowl, no domesticated
guinea fowl wandering around two homes. We finally got to spot, I
can't say I like walking into the woods, because of the ticks, but we
all did. High on top of a tree was sitting this bird, after some
discussion, we came to the conclusion it was an Olive-sided Flycatcher.
We called the Louisiana Waterthrush, but got no response. But we did
see a Blackburian Warbler, another beautiful bird.
We
decided it was for lunch, Barb saw some comfortable large logs to sit
on, Ken brought a chair with him and joined us. Bill, Barbara and Ian
opted for the comfort of the car. Ian asked about what time we would be
expecting to return to Ottawa, oh 9:30, it's a long day, did you not
bring a substantial snack or dinner. He made arrangements with Bill and
Barbara to return home with them.
All
morning we called Cerulean Warbler, no response. But then Barb and I
heard it, we beckoned to Bill, but unfortunately, like birds do, it flew
and it refused to sing again. Oh at least Barb and I heard it and I
saw the bird fly away.
We saw a raptor fly
over, what is it? Osprey, no Broadwing, hey its carrying nesting
material, no its a snake cause it was still alive and wiggling. Bill,
Barbara and Ken all took photos, turns out when Bill was editing the
photos, it was a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. Photos are so much
better than binocular views because you can see details. As for the
snake I believe it was a Garter Snake because of the strip, but I am
absolutely not an expert on snakes.
While
walking, a Pileated Woodpecker flew by at eye level. Barb was able to
relocate it, then it flew again and again, disappearing into the woods.
Around
3:30, Bill, Barbara and Ian left us. Shortly after they left I received
a text from Connie indicating she and Sami would be birding with us
tomorrow morning. If I was entertaining any idea of not showing up,
they left immediately, I have not birded with Connie in ages, I was
very happy to have received the text.
Ken, Barb
and I were still keen to see more. We decided we would bird to the end
of Canoe Lake Road and then go over to Opinicon Road. Birding was
finally picking up after the slow part of the day, we saw some Eastern
Bluebirds on the hydro lines (we saw them several times). We almost
reached the end of the road, when the GPS told us to turn. Just a
minute here, let's be sure this is correct, Barb checks her directions.
Why were we reluctant? Well it was a dirt road, it looked more like a
cottage road, single lane and a sign indicated it was not maintained
during the winter months until April, its mid May should be okay. Off
we went on this adventure, the road was narrow, came very close to the
water at times, very steep hilly parts and in some parts full of
potholes. We did see a Common Loon on the lake. Oh we are such birders,
seeing the positive once we see a bird. Thinking way back, it seemed
to me that I had gone on this road once with Susan G and Connie and
all the time Connie indicated her major discomfort at driving the road.
Susan telling us that the GPS indicated to come this way, we were both
sure Susan was faking it and we were really lost. It definitely was an
adventure with Connie and Susan just as it was with Ken and Barb. We
took James Wilson Road, Bedford Road to Long Lake Road to Charlie Green,
Norway to Wilmer to Perth Road and finally Opinicon. (I wrote it down,
I would never remember all those road names.)
I
asked to stop at the graveyard where there were many Tree Swallows
flying about. I was the only one to get out of the car and I had not
gone 10 feet, when Ken took off like a bat out of hell. Wonder what
that was about? I started walking in the direction they drove off in,
wondering well I don't have money, phone or water, it's a long walk
home. Oh maybe they are around the next curve, no, many curves later
they come back. Must say they did not offer an explanation as to why
they disappeared so quickly. What Barb and I noted was there were so
many more Tree Swallow boxes, back in the day they were full of Eastern
Bluebirds.
Barb started to call the Cerulean
warbler again and again. No response. We parked at the Queens
University Road and called both Cerulean and Indigo Bunting, but no
response. We had our dinner around 6:45. Along comes four motorcycles,
they all wave. Next a car turns into the road to Queen's University
Biological Station, then another and another. Ken decides he should
move the car up a bit, more cars come. Barb says there must be classes
at 7:00. We did not want to leave the area because there were birds
flying about, they were flying quickly from one tree to the next -- most
were Yellow-rumped Warblers. The light was very poor, there could have
been other species but ... We heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker and then
it crossed the road. Barb heard a Barred Owl, then Ken did, I did not
hear it at all. Barb calls the Barred Owl (with her voice) but no
response.
Gee, we have not seen or heard
Eastern Meadowlark. We listened and sometimes played the song at fields
that we would expect them to be, but nothing, At the last field we
stopped listened and listened and were about to drive away when a single
song was heard. I heard one!! Barb also did. Barb found it perched
on the crotch of a tree and every now and again it would sing.
Finally!!!
Ken don't drive to highway 15, take
the gravel road (Crosby road) just before the highway, we often get
good stuff there. We stopped and listened and we heard this not a song,
more like a scolding sound, a Warbling Vireo, we must have been close
to its nest. We moved and heard either a Catbird or a Thrasher. Turned
out to be a Brown Thrasher. We slowly drove along the road, but saw
nothing new.
We drove by the Portland
Conservation area and I said to Ken we sometimes get Swans back there,
he turns around. The sun was setting over the water, just beautiful and
boy it disappeared quickly. Barb and I told Ken we always met the
Hunts here, those are our friends from Perth who Nadine and I met when
we took our very first birding trip ever to Texas. And Ken when we took
Sami up to Perth to bird, turned out he worked with Murray. Good
memories. Golly how many years ago was that? No Swans. Ken pointed
to the large sign with all the districts ?? written on it names like
Upper Burgess, maybe that is wrong, but the one I do remember is
Bastard. Golly I wouldn't want to say I am from Bastard, or I am one of
those Bastards... I will leave it at that.
Since
we were going home, the speed was a whole lot faster. Slow down, we
have to see if there is anything in the swamp, nope. We passed another
swamp and we said Swans. We stop and back up and while Ken looks back,
he says there are at least four different duckies there. We saw
Trumpeter Swans, but could not see ducks. Ken got out of the car to
check and when he returned he said four different varieties of dead
heads.
Arrived back home by 9:45. My dearly
beloved asked what birds do you see in the dark? Nothing, we left
Portland when the sun was going down, we bird until we can't see
anything, then go home.
A word or two about the
weather. When Barb pulled into my laneway, I asked her what she was
taking clothes wise, everything, so off came the jacket and on went a
wool sweater and my winter coat. I put a toque, heavy mitts in my bag.
Thank goodness I had made a thermos full of tea and had put on woolen
socks. My mistake was to wear running shoes, should have been hiking
boots, and paid the price the following day. The coat came off around
noon, to be replaced by a ski jacket. It eventually got removed. For
May 17, its was darn cold. By the time we were heading home the heavy
winter coat was put back on. We walked quite a bit, almost 10
kilometer.
We did see/hear 69 species, actually we did not know that until Bill's email the following day.
Good
day, I finally got to bed just after 11:00 and I was thinking I have to
get up at 5:00 and meet up with Connie, Sami and Barb. Am I crazy!!!
