Ottawa Area Birding: Canoe Lake Road with JC Birding

June 25, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

I suggested to Bill, we should take Old Richmond Road then go to Perth, bad, bad, bad decision. Road work that held us up for at least 45 minutes. We were hoping to see Upland Sandpiper, well that did not happen.

Last week we saw no Canada Geese at all, this outing we saw at least 4 or 5 flocks of them.

Once on Canoe Lake Road we parked near the marsh and walked up the hill. It was quiet. First bird we saw was an Eastern Phoebe, then a Black-capped Chickadee. Flying across the road was a Northern Flicker. I had the Merlin Bird ID on sound and it indicated Eastern Towhee. Strange, we did not think the habitat was right, but we played it and it came in quickly, good one. Again the Flicker flew and then another one. Bill was getting into the vehicle when I spotted a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (f), there were 2 females seen during the course of the day.

We played Golden-winged Warbler, to be familiar with the sound when we heard it. Positive thinkers. Well we did not hear it where we would normally see it. I got out of the vehicle and played the song, but sadly no response. I guess we got there too late in the season and the birds are on the nest. Bill heard a Black & White Warbler, we all got to see it, but Bill was the only one to photograph it. Later in the day, we had a more cooperative bird. Walking on the road, we heard and saw lots of Song Sparrows, Common Yellowthroats and of course Red-winged Blackbirds. A bit further on the road a Veery and Ovenbird were also heard.

Bill said we should check out Rose Lane for the Louisiana Waterthrush, it was seen six days ago. The Lane was quiet, Red-eyed Vireos singing, well when don't they sing, every road we took, the Red-eyed Vireo was singing. We played the Louisiana Waterthrush song, with absolutely no response. A White-breasted Nuthatch was heard. We walked to the water and no Louisiana Waterthrush. We played the song on the other side of Canoe Lake Road and nope, no response. Must be on the nest. We heard a Great-crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo and an Eastern Wood Pewee. Today we had to be satisfied with heard birds.

Bill, Bill, look up, there in the sky. Bill took a few photographs and later told us we had seen a Broad-winged Hawk.

Bill heard a Scarlet Tanager, and so he played the song, and yes it came in. Another beautiful bird.

We drove a bit further down the road to "Barbara's barn" -- a barn where she successfully identified a Barn Swallow, because it was a swallow and it flew in the barn. Great logic. Getting out of the car, I saw a little bird far away and it turned out to be an Indigo Bunting, then it flew to where we were. Another bird that I quite like. (really how many birds don't I like)

As we were getting into the car, I spotted a very small bird on the line, up went the binoculars and yes a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Good one.

We had no service hence no GPS and so Bill said look for Devil's Lake Road. We found it, no problem. We found a shaded place to have lunch and Bill got out his Garman (a device from the past). He cleaned it off and plugs it in, no luck. We drive for a bit and we hear a Pine Warbler, yes we play the song and it comes down, usually they just ignore it. While driving we saw a Brown Thrasher fly across the road. We stopped a little while later, there seemed to be a lot of bird sound, yes it was a Gray Catbird.

Hey Bill, why not try the Salem dump, hey there is a port-a-potty, I got out and asked the guy if he had seen any good birds, just Turkey Vultures. I asked if the port-a-potty was clean and could I use it. Yes. This way I did not have to worry about someone coming along while I was doing my business.

Bill and Barbara stopped for some Ice cream. Maybe this will be a necessary stop after birding. Sadly I had not brought my pills along so I did not join them.

There was a sign indicating "the Narrows', so we turned, it was a lot longer a drive than I remember to get to the canal. Once there we saw a Common Loon preening in the water and of course there were a few Ring-billed Gulls. We walked over the bridge to the guard house and then back to the vehicle. Two birds had flown in, Mallards. The list is slowly inching forward. Along the road I see a big bird flying in the sky - Osprey, we follow it and see it fly to a nest. In fact, there was one Osprey nest on four hydro towers.

Going through Smith Falls, Bill asks if I have ever been to the 'Swale'. Nope, l never heard of it. We drove to the Swale, which is actually a swampy area on both sides of the road not more than a 1/4 mile from my daughter Samantha's place. Who knew that area was called the Swale, next time I see her I am going to ask her about the name and if she had heard of it ever. Anyways we bring out the scopes, I have driven by there so many times and have seen nothing, zip, nadda. But with a scope, we saw so many Wood Ducks, not a big flock, but 2or 3 here and there and everywhere. And in the distance Bill saw 2 Common Mergansers. The highway was very busy, it took a while to cross the road and we were not taking any chances, we wanted to get home alive.

Back on the highway heading out of Smiths Fall, we stopped at another swamp, where there were more Wood Ducks, Canada Geese and 2 Green Herons

Last bird seen were Wild Turkeys. While unloading the vehicle at my place we saw a Northern Cardinal making it the 47th bird we saw. Not bad for a slow day.

Home by 6:15. The weather was perfect, not too warm, yes the bugs were out. We timed getting home quite well as we drove through a bit of rain, but nothing major.