Ottawa Area Birding: Mud Lake to Richmond Conservation Area with JC Birding

May 6, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Bill, Barbara and I were at Mud Lake at 7:30 and once out of the vehicle, we heard a Brown thrasher calling. Try as we may, we could not find the bird. We had expectations of lots of warblers. Nothing around the tall evergreens, we walked toward the filtration plant and finally we saw our first warbler - Cape May. We stopped and spoke to Wade for a few minutes, and then our attention was drawn to a male Redstart. There were very few Yellow-rumped Warblers, not like last week when they were eating insects off the ground. Carole and Alan joined us, they did not know if they would join us, given the weather forecast of rain. They continued to the filtration plant and behind it. They saw a Northern Parula and a Spotted Sandpiper. We saw two White-throated Sparrows scratching away looking for food. We walked up to the ridge and again we heard the Brown Thrasher, but no we did not find it.

Walking along the path there were Black-capped Chickadees and Red-winged Blackbirds and overhead a few Tree Swallows. Along the path we had a very cooperative Warbling Vireo. We met Martha who told us that all the warblers from last week were gone and a fresh lot had come in. It had rained the night before and we had hoped the birds would have stayed, but it was cool, so maybe they were just hunkered down until it warmed up.

We heard a Baltimore Oriole, of course when I saw it, it flew. Carole saw a Chimney Swift overhead.

We walked the path and then Alan called us to point out a pair of Cooper's Hawks. I am so glad they are back and nesting. Bill, Barbara and I walked closer to the hawks for better photos. Back on the path two people told us there was a Black-crowned Night Heron in the small pond. Carole hurried on, that was her target bird for the day. While walking on the path this little bird came along the path, flying then walking, but not in any hurry. It came quite close to me, I tried to take a photo, it kept on walking and flying. Bill said did you get that bird? what is it, Bill? maybe a female Cape May. Turned out it was a female Pine Warbler, just a strange behaviour. Once we joined Carole, the NightHawk was actively fishing and successfully catching a fairly good size fish. I have no idea how he got such big fish down his throat. We spent probably 15 minutes watching it. Then along came a guy who wanted a closer view,, of course the Black-crowned Night Heron flew much further away.

We continued down the path and heard the Carolina Wren singing. Bill nor I could find it, but Alan did. It was perched on a branch on an evergreen tree, just singing away. There were two Downy Woodpeckers chasing each other, typical for this time of the year.

Walking back we noticed some Trout Lily. When I was a child, it grew in the ditch and we called it Dog-toothed Violets. On our way home from school, we would pick them for our Mother and of course the flowers were totally wilted once we got home.

We decided to check out Andrew Haydon Park, new species included Lesser Scaup, Osprey, Purple Martin and Yellow Warbler. The only new bird at Beetbox was a Yellow Warbler. Shirley's Bay yielded nothing. Alan and Carole took Rifle Road to the other side of Carling Ave. While they were walking down the path, we decided we would have lunch there. We were 'treated' to unbelievable behaviour by a man, who decided he should urinate right in front of us, well not right in front, but nothing was left to the imagination.....enough said. Carole and Alan saw Swamp Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Kestrel and Bobolink.

We left Carole and Alan before they returned to their car, we checked out Emerald Meadow storm pond, there we saw Common Merganser, Great Egret and two Double-crested Cormorants drying their wings.

On the way to Richmond Lagoons, it started to sprinkle, but once there it stopped. Bill said we will just go and do a quick check. That did not happen. The first bird we saw was a Pied-billed Grebe and a very large Snapping Turtle, just below the viewing platform. In cell #2, we saw Green-wing Teal and Gadwall and a couple of Painted Turtles. We also saw a Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat and heard a Killdeer. While putting on my seatbelt I noticed a black bird in the trees, I lifted my bins and the black bird turned out to be a Brown-headed Cowbird.

Okay says Bill Twin Elms is the last stop. One of the Osprey flew in as we drove up, we stopped, took photos and moved on. I had indicated I wished to walk the road, nothing new for a while. Then I turned my attention to the east side of the road and something caught my eye - two birds flew in and were wading somewhere in the water. It took me some time to find one, no idea where the other flew off to. I brought my camera up and then I could not find the bird -- so well camouflaged. Well it was a Sandpiper, I phoned Bill to say I had a little sandpiper. He said he was looking at Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Gadwall and Green-winged Teal. But Al was walking toward me, so he would help me identify the bird. I suck at identifying waders. I met up with Al and introduced myself and showed him the photo. I now know that a white eye ring and green legs means Solitary Sandpiper. He showed me a flock of about 15 to 20 Least Sandpipers.

Time to leave. I was expecting Bill to turn home, but he said this one is for Jane. We drove to Moody Pond. I took my scope out to see 2 pairs of Redheads along with Common Mergansers. Driving home we saw a Red-tailed Hawk in a tree.

The day started off slow and rather cool. By the end of the day, it had warmed up and we had tallied 67 species

All and all a good day for birding, but then what day isn't good for birding.

Thank you Bill and Barbara for your photos and thank you Sami for editing my photos.