July 29, 2025
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
Ian, Barbara, Bill and Jane
carpooled. While driving down the 417, Bill asked me if I had any
planned route, Nope was my response, but Panmure Road sounds like a good
starting point. Sounds good, says Bill. First birds we saw on Panmure
were Wild Turkey far off in the field, We slowed down a bit when we
passed the place where the Mountain Bluebird hung out for a couple of
days. We stopped at Dwyer Hill by Road and on the road was a Killdeer,
it seemed fascinated by the yellow paint on the road. We then saw
Eastern Meadowlark, on the grass near the dirt road. We drove closer,
it flew, darn. Back on Panmure, the Killdeer was still there with three
young ones. Overhead we saw a few Barn Swallows.
We
slowed down to look at a bird on the wire, I set my bins on birds on
the hydro line on Rock Coady Terrance. I looked and looked, trying to
figure out what they were, then one of the birds turned and the sun was
perfect. Bluebirds, bluebirds, I get so excited sometimes. We drove
slowly on the road, hoping the birds would not fly, sometimes they flew
other times they would sit still. I am sure Barbara and Bill got some
great photos. I did not because I was on the wrong side, I did get a
chance on the way back, but my photos were too dark and the birds were
just too far away. But we saw at least four of them.
We
drove on and had stopped because a bird flew over the road, with the
flight pattern it was obviously a woodpecker. I located it for a split
second then it flew. Ian then located it, but again off it went. I
located it for a few seconds and I said Black-backed Woodpecker. Bill
responded by saying that it is awfully rare.. I checked my Sibley's app
and said no, not a Black-backed Woodpecker but an American Three-toed
Woodpecker. I saw the black wings and the black and white back. But
because of Bill's reluctance at the sighting ( I respect his birding
knowledge), the bird is not counted on the Species noted, but just
written afterwards.
At another stop we watch
an Eastern Bluebird being chased by an Eastern Kingbird. It must have
been protecting its nesting sites. Kingbirds are known for their
aggressive behaviour toward other birds protecting their space and
resources, And they look like such calm,pretty birds.
We
drove down Concession 12 road. This road has fond memories for us, we
saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes there a couple of years ago. When we
turned, there was a Brown Thrasher on the road, we stopped and were
about to get out and the bird disappeared into the long grass. There
were lots of American Crows, and we discussed a murder of crows or in
this case would it be a massacre of crows. At the end of the road, we
all got out and decided to walk further down the road. Barbara and I
were the slow ones and I decided not to go that way, the road turned
into a rough path for me and I did not want to re- injury my knee. So I
went off in the other direction, once back at the vehicle I saw a very
co-operative young Eastern Phoebe. I did not see many birds, a Turkey
Vulture, a Song Sparrow and that was about it. Of course I saw insects
and photographed some of them. Hearing the vehicle approaching, I
wondered what they saw. Yeah an Indigo Bunting, good bird, I love
hearing and seeing them.
We headed to Pakenham
to check out the 5 arch bridge, On the water was an interesting sight, a
whole lot of Common Grackles drinking water. We stopped at the feed
company and there we saw American Goldfinch feasting up small
sunflowers. At the river we saw resting Mallards.
Ian
asked if we could go to High Lonesome, Bill checked it out and said it
is only 10 minutes away, sure we can go, but there is walking. We
arrived and walked to the building and there high in a big dead tree
were three birds, mmmmm what are they, They were not singing, and we
decided they were finches. Bill took some photos and then said Purple
finch, we thought they were all females, but after looking at my photos,
I think they were all juveniles. One of my photos definitely shows a
reddish colouring developing. We decided against doing the trails,
because the paths were so overgrown and we were not interested in the
slightest in getting any ticks on us.
Back at
the vehicle, we headed to the place I call 'where we see the
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers'. Bill and I have birded long enough together
that he knew exactly where I meant. While on Sugar Bush Road, we
stopped to look at a bird on a hydro wire - Kestrel, then it flew. No
photos but we were happy we saw it. While driving there we passed a
bunch of bird boxes. I saw a bird go in one, Bill backed up and we were
patient. We thought the bird boxes were or had been occupied by Tree
Swallows. We waited and out came a Northern House Wren. Ian said I
have seen them with their tails up, this one did not have its tail
cocked. We drove on to our destination and parked. We decided it was
time for lunch oh the time was about 11:20ish. We all had our
breakfast around 6:00 and today we did not stop for a snack, so I am
famished. Ian, Bill and Barbara set up their chairs and brought out
their lunches. I opted to sit in the vehicle. While I ate I watched the
area in front of me for birds. There was activity and at one point I
did see a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The others had pointed their chairs
facing the road, not the forest. We had a lively conversation during
lunch.
Once lunch was over we walked the
road, Ian heard a Wood Thrush. We saw water, so we played Northern
Waterthrush, no response. We walked for a bit and Barbara said
something about going uphill. We both decided we would turn around and
Bill and Ian continued. They were so lucky -- Scarlet Tanagers male and
female and a Pileated Woodpecker. While they were getting these birds,
Barbara and I were just in front of the vehicle looking toward the
forest. I was sitting on a fallen tree trunk listening and I had
Merlin playing, I heard a Great Crested Flycatcher, Merlin did not. I
played their song and the bird eventually came closer. Oh that nice
bird flew from one tree to the next, we got to see for a millisecond and
it disappeared and stopped singing. I heard a song, did not recognize
it, but Merlin indicated Brown Creeper, I heard the song again and
Merlin lit up Brown Creeper, the little bird was singing. I played the
song but it did not come in again.
We headed to Wolf Grove Road with a brief stop at BarbC's cottage, then back on Road 12 through McDonald's Corners.
Our last stop
was the Carleton Place stormwater pond. It did not disappoint --
Trumpeter Swan, Blue-wing Teal, Green-wing Teal, Greater and Less
Yellowlegs and Canada Geese. While we were checking out the pond, a
Green Heron flew over as well as a Great Blue Heron. In the distance
perched on a tree was a Great Egret. All good. We did not stay too
long as Ian's dog had to be let out of the house and really it was time
to go.
Have a relaxing long weekend.
Species Noted
- Ring-billed Gull
- American Crow
- European Starling
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Tree Swallow
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Killdeer
- Barn Swallow
- Mourning Dove
- Common Grackle
- American Robin
- Eastern Goldfinch
- Eastern Bluebird
- Chipping Sparrow
- Cedar Waxwing
- Blue Jay
- Eastern Kingbird
- Song Sparrow
- Field Sparrow
- Brown Thrasher
- Indigo Bunting
- Turkey Vulture
- Eastern Phoebe
- House Sparrow
- Mallard
- Purple Finch
- Eastern Wood Pewee
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Northern Flicker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Scarlet Tanager
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Brown Creeper
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Kestrel
- Northern House Wren
- Wood Thrush
- Rock Pigeon
- Gray Catbird
- Green-winged Teal
- Blue-winged Teal
- Green Heron
- Great-blue Heron
- Great Egret
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Canada Goose
- Trumpeter Swan
- Northern Cardinal
Three-toed Woodpecker
Critters and Insects Seen
- Muskrat
- Green Frog
- Leopard Frog
- White Admiral
- Autumn Meadowhawk
- Common Whitetail Dragonfly
- Viper's Bugloss
- Common Red Soldier Beetle
- Goldenrod Gall fly
- Eastern Chipmunk
