Hilda Road

 October 31, 2023

A possible Red-bellied Woodpecker lured out to Hilda.  There was a very tame Red Fox hanging around which kept everything except the Blue Jays away.  We also check Shirley's Bay, Nortel Ponds and Bate Island for a Harlequin Duck.  Nothing doing.

Andrew Haydon Park and Fletcher Wildlife Garden with Ken from Toronto

 April 28, 2023

Hilda emailed that a Toronto friend was coming to Ottawa for the Argos game, and wanted some ideas for a quick birding outing beforehand.

I met Ken at Andrew Haydon Park this morning.  It was very windy, so almost no birds were there.  Only a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers on the pond.  We checked for the Screech Owls, but they were not out.  However, we met another birder who had photographed a Barred Owl at Fletcher Wildlife Garden that very morning.  We did not hesitate - off to Fletcher.  We saw nothing at the usual spot, but found two Barred Owls behind the bird feeder area.  One was buried in branches, but we had better luck with the second one.  After that, we hiked down the hill to Dow's Lake.  Hundreds of Mallards, and a lone Great Egret.  I enjoyed meeting Ken and we had a good time together. 

Ridge Road to Beyond Casselman with JC Birding

 October 26, 2023

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Eleanor and I met at Elmvale Acres Shopping Centre at 8:00 and proceeded to Dolman Ridge.  On the Ridge Road we saw a small flock of Wild Turkeys.  We usually drive very slowly down Dolman Ridge Road, we did not get very far when we heard bird song -- turned out we found a medium sized flock of American Robins.  Then Eleanor heard Golden-crowned Kinglet singing, we never did see it, but we did try hard to find it.  A lady was filling up all the bird feeders at the Dewberry Trail.  She told us, she had a helper cut down some trees in the forest where she had put up more feeders thus allowing the birds to be undisturbed while eating. We saw Blue Jays, it is amazing how they know when someone throws peanuts on the ground, they fly in and gobbling the nuts up. There were White-breast Nuthatches, Hairy Woodpeckers, White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Mourning Doves and I think two Fox Sparrows.

Eleanor checked her phone and said Bill called.  He told me he would call, yes and I left my phone in the vehicle.  He told us that he would join us at Mer Bleue Bog.  We walked down the Dolman Road, the trail part,  in hopes we might be lucky and see a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that had been reported there over the past several days.  We played the song, but it was not to be, no Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

We met up with Bill at Mer Bleue Boardwalk.  More bird feeders have been put up, by the same lady who fills the feeder at Dewberry Trail.  We had the same species of birds we had seen at the Dewberry feeders.  We had a little visitor, a tailless mouse, well I thought it was tailless, until I saw Bill's photos - a House Mouse.  When we were leaving I noticed a painter, I went over to speak with him.  My mother was a painter and I have always been curious how artists paint.  This fellow had done three pencil sketches, one for depth, one for contrast and I can't remember the third.  He said it would take him about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to paint (in oils) to complete the painting, then because he was using oil paints, it would take up to 2 days to dry.  He had done some stuff to the wood he was painting on and he said it helps the oils dry more quickly.  I asked if he shows his work, yep in the next week or so he will be showing his paintings at the Blackburn library.  I apologized to Eleanor and Bill for taking so long, I said I was sorry and yet I was not sorry, I quite enjoyed the conversation with him. 

Off to Farmer's Way where we saw a flock of four birds flying ahead of us, they would light then fly, again and again, finally we got to see one of them -- Chipping Sparrow.  In the same general area we head a Song Sparrow.

On Perrault Road we stopped because we saw something strange, not a bird, but we wondered what it was. Eleanor brought out her scope and after locating it, told us it was just a big rock.  While she was checking out the rock I was looking at the beehives. I guess all the bees are in the hives now.  I checked it on the internet and it indicated bees retreat to their hives when the temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celius.  They then form a winter cluster to keep warm--sort of like a giant three-month slumber party.  The poor bees must be confused with the weather we have had in September and October.

I think it was on McFadden Road, two or three Sandhill Cranes were spotted, far away.  I have to say I couldn't get excited about 2 or 3 Sandhill Cranes when we saw the large numbers of them in the Cobden area.

We stopped at a ploughed field near Giroux Pond, we could hear Horned Larks but we could not see them.

At Giroux pond (north), we thought at a quick glance there was nothing on the pond, but when we used our binoculars, there were lots of birds -- Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ring-billed Gull and Canada Geese.  On the other side of the road, we heard and saw a small flock of Great Yellowlegs.  While I was walking toward the water, I frightened  a Sharp-shinned Hawk. On the water there were 4 Common Mergansers.

What should we do, go to the lagoons or go look for Snow Geese around Casselman?  We opted for the Snow Geese scenario.  While driving by the Lafleche Dump on the 417, we saw a huge flock of white birds, could we be so lucky?  Well we set up our scopes on Lafleche Road and no not Snow Geese, but a whole lot of Ring-billed Gulls, with a few Great Black-backed Gulls sprinkled in.  Where should we go here Moose Creek or over the 417?   Off to Moose Creek, we had to stand on the car to see over to the lagoon, yeah a couple of Canada Geese.  Back we went and over 417 to Concession 21.  I was telling Eleanor we often see corn spilled on the road, and sure enough there was a spill at the corner.  We saw a mixed flock of Horned Larks and American Pipits.  We drove up Renaud Road, where we scared up a rather large flock of Horned Larks.  I was looking at Facebook and Tony Beck had a large flock of Snow Geese at Casselman on the day we were there, he did not indicate when or where he saw them.  But indicated he was disappointed in not seeing them, he figures it is one of two reasons, avian flu or the weather.  I hope it is the weather.

We then checked out the lagoon near Ste Isidore. There is a farm at the end of the road that had Helmeted Guinea Fowls with chicks and some  domestic Muscovy Ducks.  Walking to the lagoon, a 3rd year Bald Eagle was spotted in a far off tree. How did we know it was a 3rd year? It had a very dark eyestripe and of course a huge beak.  Eleanor spotted 2 American Coot. There were so many Green-wing Teal on the shore causing us a bit of confusion because of their pale bellies, that of course we never see because we see them swimming.   After taking some photos, Bill said we have at least one Ring-necked Duck, thank goodness for photography.  We also had a fly by of 3 Greater Yellowlegs

Driving home, we had to wait for five minutes or so on one of the country roads, while a farmer emptied his corn harvester into a big wagon.  When he backed up,  we thought oh no, he might hit us with the unloading spout.  But no as the farmer was moving the harvester the spout moved back into position beside the drum of the harvester.  

A Red-tailed Hawk was spotted on the 417, something that does not often happen.

For late in October, getting 42 species is pretty good and seeing the small flock of Greater Yellowlegs was really good.  How did we know they were Greater and not Lesser because they did their tututu call while Lesser does a too-too call.

Species Seen

1. Wild Turkey
2. Canada Goose
3. American Robin
4. Golden-crowned Kinglet
5. Blue Jay
6. Hairy Woodpecker
7. White-breasted Nuthatch
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Mourning Dove
10. Dark-eyed Junco
11. Fox Sparrow
12. White-throated Sparrow
13. White-crowned Sparrow
14. Red--winged Blackbird
15. American Crow
16. Common Raven
17. Rock Pigeon
18. Great-blue Heron
19. Chipping Sparrow
20. Song Sparrow
21. European Starling
22. Sandhill Crane
23. Lesser Scaup
24. Common Goldeneye
25. Hooded Merganser
26. Ruddy Duck
27. Mallard
28. Green-winged Teal
29. Ring-billed Gull
30. Common Merganser
31. Greater Yellowlegs
32. Sharp-shinned Hawk
33. House Sparrow
34. Turkey Vulture
35. Great Black-backed Gull
36. Horned Larks
37. American Pipit
38. Bald Eagle
39. American Coot
40. Northern Harrier
41. Ring-necked Duck
42. Red-tailed Hawk
    
    
    
    

Adawe Bridge & Ridge Road

 October 20, 2023

Fletcher Wildlife Garden

 October 19, 2023

Lanark Limpkin with JC Birding

October 17 2023

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met at the Eagleson Park and Ride.  We decided that  we would divide and conquer.  There had been two good birds reported - Limpkin and an Eared Grebe.  Bill and Barbara had brought their canoe and headed off to Sylvania Lodge on the Mississippi River in search of the Limpkin. While Ken, Barb and Jane went to the Burnt Lands Provincial Park and then to the Almonte Lagoons in search of the Grebe.

We walked part way down the path of the Burnt Lands provincial park and it was very quiet.  As we walked Ken said he did not know if he locked his vehicle.  It was obvious that it was worrying him, so when we got back to the vehicle.  All locked up, we headed back to Almonte, on the way there we saw a Red-tailed Hawk, just where Barb said it could be.

We walked to the lagoons, flushed 4 Canada Geese and 3 Mourning Doves and we saw, at a distance, a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.  Once at the hide, we set up our scopes, in hopes we would find the Grebe.  An initial binocular scan indicated very little, well other than 4 Canada Geese, nothing.  Barb is persistent and she  found a Sora and 3 Green-winged Teal.  I walked around the hide and found a couple of Swamp Sparrows, a single Chipping Sparrow and a couple of Northern Cardinals.  Going back into the hide, Barb was hard at it, looking and looking, at one point she looked out the other window and found a Song Sparrow.  We must have stayed there an hour.

We drove to Bowland Road to St George's Cemetery, where we always find Eastern Bluebirds and we did.  The first two we saw were perched on a tombstone, they flew and suddenly they became three.  We played House Wren, it answered once, but did not show itself.  A bit further down the road in the bushes beside the road, Barb and I spotted 'a' bird.  I described the bird and she said no it was sparrowlike.   Turns out we were looking at two different birds, after much deliberation -- Pine Grosbeak female and a Field Sparrow.  At this point we got a phone call from Bill to say he was ready to meet up, we were about 30 minutes out.  And YES they got the Limpkin.

Now we go to Bill and Barbara's report.

After meeting Jane, Barb C and Ken at the Eagleson Park & Ride, Barbara & Bill decided to go directly to Sylvania Lodge on the Mississippi River to canoe downriver to look for the Limpkin which has been reported.

We arrived shortly after 9 am and by the time we unloaded the canoe and made all the necessary preparations, it was 9:30.   

 Our first bird sighting was 4 Trumpeter Swans and a dozen or more Mallards.  They promptly took off from the water as we took record shots.

 After 30 minutes, we spotted the Limpkin on the river's left shore.  We took many photos and videos, as it did not seem bothered by us at all.  It was catching clams and cracking the shells to eat them. We were thrilled with this success.

 After 12 minutes, we started our return journey, arriving back at the launch at 10:30.  Because of lack of cell service, we could not contact the group birding near Almonte.

 We drove up the hill to get service and texted our success to our team.  It was arranged that we would meet up back at the lodge at 12 noon.  This gave us time to check a road along Dalhousie Lake and also to find access to the river off Ferguson’s Sideroad where we hoped to be able to scope for the Limpkin.

Back to me

 

Once we all were at the Sylvania Lodge, Bill led us to the Ferguson’s Sideroad, where we looked in vain for the Limpkin across the river.  No luck. But we did see a Common Loon, that swam right in front of the dock, for all to see.  We checked two other places along the river from the road, no luck.  

We continued on to Baird Trail, just before turning into the parking lot, we saw Eastern Bluebirds flying about in the opposite field.  We got out of the vehicles and walked along the road.  Lucky us, we saw at least 20 Eastern Bluebirds, mmm wonder if they were flocking up to fly south.  Ken decided not to join us, but to walk the opposite way while eating his lunch, his reward was a Turkey Vulture.

We stopped again at St George's Cemetery and saw what we hope are overwintering Eastern Bluebirds.  A bit down the road we saw a small flock of American Robins and about 15 Dark-eyed Junco, flying to the road and then back to the low branches.

We thought we should check out the Almonte Lagoons, just in case, nope no Eared Grebe.  We thought we should head home.  Maybe a quick check of Andrew Hayden Park, there had been a Greater White-fronted Goose reported there.  We had to stop at the park and ride while Bill and Barbara continued onto the park.  They saw a female Red-breasted Merganser.  When we got there we spoke to Penny and her friend and they said the Goose had not been seen all day.  We checked the water, Wood Duck and Blue-winged Teal.  While Barb was scanning eastwardly, she thought she saw a Merganser, so we walked over to the eastern park of the park, nope nothing.  We walked over to see if the owls were out, nope, then we checked out the water.  We could not go down the path as there was a lot of water, just Gulls.

We called it a day around 4ish.

Limpkin video links

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TbatNEScNlHndG5SdQGbZFVo2eE5_8U-?usp=sharing

Species Noted

1. Ring-billed Gull
2. American Crow
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. European Starling
5. Canada Goose
6. Red-tailed Hawk
7. Blue Jay
8. Mourning Dove
9. Sora
10. Green-winged Teal
    
11. American Robin
12. Song Sparrow
13. Swamp Sparrow
14. Chipping Sparrow
15. Northern Cardinal
16. Red-winged Blackbird
17. Common Raven
18. Eastern Bluebird
19. Wild Turkey
20. Dark-eyed Junco
21. Rock Pigeon
22. Limpkin
23. Trumpeter Swan
24. Mallard
25. Common Loon
26. White-breasted Nuthatch
27. Turkey Vulture
28. Pine Grosbeak
29. Field Sparrow
30. Wood Duck
31. Blue-winged Teal
32. Red-breasted Merganser