Ottawa Area Birding: 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.