Ottawa Area Birding: Gananoque Lake Nature Reserve with JC Birding

June 4, 2024

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Bill, Barbara, Guy, Barb and I left my house at 7:00 with Bill driving and Guy doing the note taking for the day. We started seriously birding once we were driving the fields after Mallorytown. We saw an absolutely gorgeous accommodating Scarlet Tanager. It flew in and started singing, it was still in the tree when we left. Along the way we saw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird resting on a hydro line, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak making it challenging to see it, but we did. Great-crested Flycatchers were doing the "weep" call throughout the day, and we heard so many. I recalled that Ann G taught me that call before she moved west and now she is back east, it was a long time ago. Bill recalled learning the call from a book written for the sight impaired and how happy he was when he first identified the call. We were all pretty happy to hear the Eastern Towhee, but it would not come out, but luckily at another stop, we did see one. Guy and I were walking along the road and he said, "What is that, a bird flew in and I wasn't paying attention, so the answer was a Grackle. I think we were checking out a Common Yellowthroat at the time. I looked over to see the 'what's that bird' and I said Towhee, the bird was hidden a bit, I saw the distinctive reddish colour on its side. Always like seeing Eastern Towhees and I love their song "Drink your teeea"

At another stop we saw a Golden-winged Warbler, so beautiful with the yellow crown and bright yellow wing panel. Another, always love to see that bird. We had a ooperative Indigo Bunting, singing high in a leafless tree. Rick C. taught me the song and I just can't forget it Fire, fire, where, where, here, here. I sometimes remember the song and not the name of the bird. I am not sure who saw the Black-capped Chickadee, it seems they are not all that plentiful as they once were.

We walked down the road to find the Cerulean Warbler, before getting to the spot, we saw a Hairy Woodpecker and heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker. We got to the spot and played it, no answer, well there was a bird singing but not exactly the Cerulean Warbler song, it had more burr at the end, turns out it was the Cerulean Warbler. Beautiful views and not at the top of the trees, I did not get a decent photos because those birds don't sit still, but I am sure Bill and Guy got great shots. We heard the Red-bellied Woodpecker again and it flew in, in fact I think there were two of them.

We decided to eat lunch at a new dock overlooking Gananoque Lake. (Walking down the road to the dock, we saw another Gold-winged Warbler) We had a Caspian Tern fly around, then a Great Blue Heron. Guy and I were looking at the fish - Bass, Crapie and Beaverfish - Guy identified them, they were just fish to me. Barb decided to text Nadine who has a cottage on Gananoque Lake, she had just left her cottage and was heading home. Barb always is looking for Common Loons on any lake we stop at, she was rewarded by seeing one while we were finishing our lunches.

Back in the car, we drove to where we always see many Great Blue Herons nesting in trees, this year only one heron, disappointment for us all. There were three Trumpeter Swans in the distance. Bill drove us around his Loggerhead Shrike route. No new birds. We drove to another favourite swamp, another disappointment. Well not totally, lucky for us, we saw a Green Heron fly by twice.

Along the way we stopped and looked at some Texas Longhorn Cattle - you know the cattle with the really long horns (see photo). I have always thought I would not want to be near those guys because of their horns, but apparently they are really gentle cattle and among the easiest of the breeds to handle and control. Who knew?

Time to start heading back to Ottawa.

We drove down Wood Road and we heard Bobolink, we got out of the car because some of them were roosting on the hydro line. We saw a Red-tailed Hawk, we had seen two other hawks flying during the day, but disappeared before they could be identified. We passed a small farm that had 3 or 4 donkeys. Have you really take a look at donkeys -- they have a stripe down their sides and down their backs (see photo)-- legend has it that the little donkey carried Jesus into Jerusalem a week before he was crucified and also followed him to Calvary and was there when they hung him on the cross. As a reward for the humble donkey had shown, the Lord caused the shadow of the cross to fall on the back of the donkey. I told this legend to those in the car. Finally we drove to Twin Elms to see if the Osprey were on the nest (the last time Barb and I were there, there was no sign of them), one was on the nest giving us the evil eye for being so close.

On the drive home, I discovered I had a tick in my hair. The whole idea of ticks grosses me out. I said to Bill, maybe you should wear your leech socks. Talk about gross creatures. Guy and Barb pointed out that leeches can be used for medical purposes -- just gross. Later in the evening Guy texted to say he had found a tick. The other three were lucky, no ticks. In case you did not

my point, I absolutely hate ticks and leeches.

Home by 6:00, another successful birding day.

Thanks Bill for driving, thank you Barbara and Bill for the photos, thank you Guy for keeping the notes and thank you Sami for editing my photos.