Ottawa Area Birding: Canoe Lake Road with JC Birding

May 17, 2023

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!!!