Ottawa Area Birding: Westmeath to Lake Doré with JC Birding

October 8, 2024

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met at Bill and Barbara's place and were off at 7:30. I had texted Anne to say we were leaving. Talk about meeting up, while we were stopped at the pond just before Cobden, she drove in behind us. At the pond we saw Blue-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Canada Goose, Mallard, and Red-winged Blackbird (I thought all the Red-winged Blackbirds had left by now but I was wrong).

We parked near the boat launch in Cobden and we saw a Common Loon in winter plumage. Over near the beach area a Great Blue Heron flew across the water to fetch a friend because just a few minutes later two were seen flying in the opposite direction. Walking back we saw Tony B. and Mark G, they were off to Lake Dore.

We drove roads in search of Sandhill Cranes, we stopped to watch a coyote, interesting behaviour -- it would run, then turn and watch us, run and turn, it did that several times. Finally it was a good distance away from us and it just sat on his haunches and watched. I guess the distance in his estimation was safe for him. Then three Sandhill Cranes flew in and his attention was redirected to the Sandhill Cranes.

The focus of this outing was to see large numbers of Sandhill Cranes and we did just that. First we saw just a couple flying, then maybe four to six, finally a flock of about 100. We drove on and Bill stopped at a farm, where we saw our only Eastern Meadowlark (interesting because at the boat launch I had said to Barb C. I wonder if we will see a Meadowlark). While parked in front of a dairy farm, the others asked me what the round cement structure was, I had no idea, but I texted my older sister and my brother in law. Of course they knew -- it is a slurry holder -- the farmer pumps liquid manure to this structure. It is used for fertilizer or sold. Now the next time you go to McDonalds, don't mix up McFurry with Slurry, -- the taste would be dramatically different..... Now we are all the wiser.

On the other side of the road were three large black birds, we were not sure what they were initially -- Raven or Turkey Vulture. One flew and then another, huge wingspan, must be young Turkey Vultures. Their heads were black. Update, Bill just texted me to say that the three large black birds in the field were immature Bald Eagles. First for all of us. I have never seen three 1st year Bald Eagles sitting in a field before.

Along the road we saw White-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds and American Pipits. The Pipits were a lifer for Guy. I remember the first time I saw American Pipits, Ann G, Connie, Nadine and I were leaning against the gate at Embrun Lagoons looking at birds in the field wondering what the heck the birds were -- we were very new to birding. A long while later we came to the conclusion they were American Pipits. Now with the apps that are available it would have taken no time at all. But then the memory would not be vivid.

We turned around to look at a small flock of Sandhill Cranes and overhead was a Turkey Vulture kettle of about 15 birds. Barb C said there is a Bald Eagle amongst them and then the one became two. Why were Bald Eagles consorting with Turkey Vultures?

We drove some more, I was in the vehicle with Anne and we stopped to look at a bird on the hydro line -- Brown-headed Cowbird. While I was checking something on Sibley's, Anne looked in the rear view mirror, it seemed there were 3 deer walking to the middle of the road and then to the side and back to the middle, who knows what was going on in their minds. Bill's vehicle kept moving, I think they were trying to lose us, they were not successful.

We kept driving and finally saw a bigger flock of Sandhill Cranes, there must have been at least 250, not a lot of brown ones (juveniles). I would say there were maybe 10% juveniles rest were adults. Barbara B asked why do Sandhill Cranes follow the leader when they are not eating. Good question, if any one knows the answer, please share the information. The next morning Anne sent me a text to indicate there were Wild Turkey's behind the Sandhill Cranes. So Bill, whether you liked it or not, you did see Wild Turkey's just you did not focus on them.

Time for lunch, we drove to Westmeath and had lunch beside the Ottawa River. Barb C. decided to play the songs of Nelson's Sparrow and Le Conte's Sparrow, the only sparrow that came out was a White-throated Sparrow. Guy spotted movement on the shore close to the water - Lesser Yellowlegs. It was actively looking for food. A man came along and he was after wild cranberries. We walked toward the park, seeing a small flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Bill had walked on ahead and was picking cranberries when we caught up to him. On the way back to the vehicles, we saw a Hairy Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrows and American Robins. Oh yes, we saw a single frog -- Leopard.

We decided to visit the dump on B-line road. On the way there we interrupted some Turkey Vultures who had discovered a recently killed animal, I think it was a raccoon or fox. We finally got to the dump where we saw lots of Turkey Vultures - at least 75, many, many Ring-billed Gulls, a couple of Herring Gulls and a single Bald Eagle. We swung by Lake Doré, but there was absolutely nothing seen on the lake. Time to head home, we headed for the boat launch in Cobden. A Common Loon was swimming quite close to the shore, way far off was a dark bird. We assumed it was another Common Loon, but Anne took a distant photo -- Double-crested Cormorant.

On the 417, a Red-tailed Hawk was spotted.