Ottawa Area Birding: Fletcher and Dows Lake with JC Birding

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Fletcher and Dows Lake with JC Birding

March 26 2024

Birding Report by Barbara Chouinard

It was a mostly overcast day with some weak sunshine and the blustery wind again. Bill, Ian, Eleanor and Barb met up at 8 am at Fletcher. Barb wrote the day’s report.

Eleanor remarked that she heard waxwings, we looked around none seen. We walked over to the feeder behind the OFNC building. For the first few minutes it was really quiet. But after a bit, birds came to the feeder: Northern Cardinals, Chickadees and a Downy Woodpecker. We wondered where the Dark eyed Junco’s were. Usually they are on the ground around the feeder. In a short while one appeared, then more. A trio of starlings showed up and a closer look revealed that one was a Brown headed Cowbird and we heard its call. The Cardinals were vibrant in their red for the male and the lovely orangey beige of the females. We spent almost an hour here. Where to next?

We left the garden and the bush trees on the right had the Waxwings! Eleanor counted 10 Cedar Waxwings flying around. We were happy to see them.

A couple of days ago, Bill and Barbara had seen a Yellow bellied Sapsucker in the pines not too far away from the back field bird feeder. We looked around but had no luck with the Sapsucker today but at the nearby feeder we did get House Finch and a Downy Woodpecker.

We then decided to go to the Arboretum and Dow’s Lake/Canal area to try for the Barrow’s goldeneye that was seen yesterday. We were by the lake and saw the first of the year (for some of us) Double crested Cormorant. There were Common Mergansers, Ring billed Gulls, a juvenile Herring Gull, Common goldeneye and Black Duck, to name a few. We walked along the shore by the canal. A Killdeer was spotted sitting in the mud. Bill said “what is it doing in the mud”. Another Killdeer was spotted nearby also in the mud. We could also hear another one calling but could not locate it. We went on to the bridge at the arboretum and while there was a bit of water, there were no ducks around. On the walk back some ducks had moved and were a bit closer. We saw Scaup (not sure what kind) and Ring necked Ducks. The whole time the wind was blustery. It was supposed to warm up quickly but by 11 am it was still chilly but not as bad as last week.

Ian had to leave at this point. He had things to do but it was great to have him bird with us this morning.

We decided to see if there was anything on the Ottawa River. The three of us drove over to Remic Rapids Park. Did I say it was windy? And it was cold? Well it was even windier along the Ottawa River. Here are photos of Bill and myself. I was holding on to my scope and Bill was sheltering from the wind. Thanks for the photos Eleanor.

We then walked over to where the lovely little bit of trees and bushes were by the parking lot. It was a mini-forest. We have had birds here in this spot during migration. But the bush has been all chopped down and only the trees remain. We are curious people and we were wondering what kind of machine could cut down hardy bushes. It was difficult to walk on this thick stalk stumps.

At this point, Eleanor had to leave us, she had things to do. Bill also said he has a busy week and should get home to get some things done.