Ottawa Area Birding: Panmure Road to Cedar Hill with JC Birding

April 24, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Ken, Alan, Carole, Richard, Pat, Eleanor, Bill, Barbara and I met at the park & ride at Eagleson and the Queensway at 7:30 and we went directly to Panmure with hopes high that we would see the Mountain Bluebird. When we arrived there were people already there and we were told no one had yet seen the Mountain Bluebird. We were there maybe 15 minutes when someone said that there was a shrike way back on the top of a snag. Was it a Northern Shrike or a Loggerhead Shrike? It was far and the subtleties between the two species were very difficult to see. After a lot of discussion, the conclusion was Northern Shrike.

Eleanor noticed a little white bug on Bill's jacket. She initially thought it was a little feather but it moved. There is a photograph of it, if anyone knows what the bug is please let me know. Maybe some kind of little spider.

The Eastern Meadowlarks were singing up a storm, but to actually see them was a challenge. They were singing in the field, not flying too much, but we did see the occasional bird. It certainly did not help that there was a wind and it was cold out. Gloves and a hat were definitely needed, We saw two Upland Sandpipers high in the sky, then in the grass, I prefer seeing them perched on a wire or on a fence, but that was not the case today. Eleanor and I walked up Panmure a bit and we did see a Wilson's Snipe, unmistakable the dark brown with the bold cream stripes on its back and the long bill, then it flew to behind some brush, we did not see it again.

There was a pair of Tree Swallows perched near a bird box, then the female flew to the box staking claim to it, I imagine. We saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet on the other side of the road, it flew in, checked out the tree and flew again, Enough time to identify it, but not enough time to enjoy the little bird.

There were several Kestrels flying about, I just love to watch them hovering looking for food. We walked back to where most of the people were, the corral area where the Bluebird had been seen. No luck, the bird had not appeared yet. Eleanor and Ken walked back to the car to change into warmer clothes. While they were changing a male Northern Harrier flew quite close to them, but they were busy disrobing to notice, It was cold.

Bill, Barbara and I decided it was time to warm up, into the car with the heater on. We drove to Upper Dwyer Hill Road to see if we could get a better view of the Upland Sandpipers. We did not, but we did get good views of the Eastern Meadowlarks but still the birds were far away. While checking out one of the fields, Richard asked where we were going. There were dark clouds overhead and the rain looked imminent. Richard and Pat decided to call it a day. Saying goodbye, I looked in my binoculars and I spotted Connie. Connie, Sami and Lynne had arrived, it was good to see them. Driving over to where Connie was we told her that we were heading out to Holland Marsh for the Yellowlegs, would she join us. No, they had just arrived and had we seen the Bluebird? No. Unfortunately the weather was cold and windy and we figured if the bird showed up it could be in the warmer weather that had been predicted. We told the others of our plans.

While driving to Holland Marsh, the rain came down in buckets. Alan and Carole got to the marsh first. About 6 Greater Yellowlegs were there. While taking photos, the rain was just coming down, making the job challenging. We drove to the bridge over the Mississippi, only birds we saw there were Canada Geese and Green-winged Teal. We spoke to Alan and Carole and they reported more Greater Yellowlegs had arrived at the marsh and just after we left a flock of Green-winged Teal left the marsh. The rain had subsided, Eleanor took out her scope to check out the marsh, she found a Killdeer. While she was scoping the marsh a small flock of ducks flew overhead. Eleanor, look up, Northern Pintail? Her answer to me was don't you just love it when you now can identify another species.

We discussed where we would go next, Ken thought it might be good to go looking for the Varied Thrush that had not been seen in a while. I suggested to Bill, let's go to where we see Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. He knew exactly where I meant. He gave the others directions to Pakenham.

We turned on to County Road 17, and Alan and Carole were behind us, but not Ken and Eleanor. I called them asking where they were and gave them the directions to where we were. We got to the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker place and those birds did not disappoint. We saw them several times and concluded there were two pairs. The bellies on the sapsuckers were really yellow, typical for the spring with no fading of feathers at this point in time. The others had not shown up, when they did they reported seeing 4 Broad-winged Hawks and one Red-shouldered hawk. Good birds.

We had lunch at the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker place, time was around 11:30, but we were all hungry, not sure if it was the early start or the cold weather burning up the calories. It had warmed up enough that we ate our lunch outside, some using the vehicles as chairs. Ken and Eleanor left us and we told Alan and Carole our plans. They decided to go back to the Bluebird spot as they were not interested in crossing Ottawa at the height of rush hour.

As we drove along the Bellamy Road we came up a stream. Looking down the farmer's long laneway we saw a Belted Kingfisher (first of the season for us). As we were driving off, we saw another one, much further away. We were driving with the windows open so we could hear the bird song, we stopped and heard a Pileated Woodpecker. Trying to find the Pileated Woodpecker Bill saw a Hairy Woodpecker. We had not driven very far when we saw a large bird in the sky crossing the road -- Sandhill Crane -- a totally unexpected bird.

While driving back, we saw this bird on the fence - mm wonder what it is. It flew to the hydro line where we could easily identify it. First female Red-wing Blackbird we have seen this spring.

Along the road we saw three clumps of yellow flowers. Bill what are those flowers called -- Coltsfoot, one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Seeing them from afar I thought they looked like dandelions, so wrong. Some people think they are a pest and invasive. Definitely a plant from Europe, Africa and Asia, it was imported because of the medicinal properties. It can be eaten, but in moderation due to the presence of alkaloids which can be toxic in large quantities.

We drove back to the Bluebird sight looking for Eastern Bluebirds, we were unsuccessful. Those birds had better hurry up, as all the nest boxes will be claimed by Tree Swallows. We parked on Panmure and Bill took out his scope -- 6 Upland Sandpipers. I don't want you to think we saw 6 right away, first 3 then 3 became 4 then 5 and finally 6. They were far away and we could see them in the scope. I tried to take some photos, what a joke, the birds look like sandpiper ghosts all fuzzy and out of focus and add heat haze, but one could make out birds.

The Kestrels kept us entertained. While we were there, a Broad-winged Hawk flew over. I think 5 or 6 Broad-wing Hawks were seen during the course of the day.

Bill thought it was time to go home, arriving at his place at 3:30.