Ottawa Area Birding: August 2025

August 5, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Bill and I started birding at 7:00, we drove to Shirley's Bay. First we drove over to see if the Osprey nest was still occupied, it was not. Returning to Rifle Road we saw a Double-crested Cormorant fly over. Driving into the parking lot we saw a guy with white hair - Mark P and he told us lots of Ring-billed Gulls and a couple of Caspian Terns. We walked over to see the terns and to take a few photos. We remarked that Mark had just a pair of shorts on and a short sleeve shirt, it was quite cool, on our return he had put on a hoodie. Three Caspian Terns to start our day. Great.

When we were driving down Carling Ave toward the DND property, we saw this guy riding a bike with just a pair of shorts on and his arms behind his back, I guess he was enjoying the cool air!!!. Strange and just too cold for that. At the main DND pond there were just a couple of Mallards, on the east side of the building in the river side, we saw Killdeer and Bill saw a Green Heron. We checked to see if the Purple Martins were still hanging around, nope they were gone. Leaving the Nepean Sailing Club we saw a Great Egret standing in the water.

I had received a text from Guy saying he was at Mud Lake. We headed there. Guy, Eleanor and Ken had arrived. Ken was birding on the berm while Guy and Eleanor were catching up. When I got out of the vehicle I asked Bill who was making that sound? I don't know, but Merlin did -- Northern Flicker. I could not locate it in the big tree beside the path, that is because it was not there. It was in a dead tree on the other side of the road. Guy indicated he saw both Eastern Phoebe and Eastern Wood-pewee. There were Wild Turkeys just at the head of the path with a couple of good sized poults.

We started up the berm and once on the path we separated. Amongst the five of us we saw Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rump Warbler, American Redstart, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch and a Downy Woodpecker up close and personal. Eleanor pointed out a single Chimney Swift flying about in circles. Ian joined us around 8:30. He saw a family of House Finches. We wandered down to the water hoping to see some shorebirds, nope just Mallards and Canada Geese,

Guy and I walked over to the Filtration Plant gardens and beyond. On Mud Lake we saw many Wood Ducks and heard a Great Crested Flycatcher singing. The conversation was not about birds but perennial flowers I could plant in my front flower bed. Guy is our flower expert.

Walking back to the parking lot, we noticed that Sami, Lynne and Connie had arrived. When we almost got there a large bird flew over, I asked Bill Black-crowned Nightheron, he said yes. Then we saw a Great Blue Heron not too far away in Mud Lake. I asked Connie are you up to walking the path? just a bit she said. Okay that is what we will do.

We stopped to watch the Wood Ducks and the Mallards, those male Wood Ducks aren't as gorgeous as in peak breeding season, but still are quite special. A bit further down the trail we all stopped to watch two American Goldfinch gather silk from the spent Thistle flowers. They use this to line their nest, making their nest especially soft for their little ones. I did notice that the female Goldfinch was gathering much more silk than he was, Ian said the male's job was to supervise, mmmmm, no comment.

Guy and Lynne saw a White Tail Deer chase one of the Wild Turkeys, guess the Wild Turkey was annoying it somehow. We thought initially there was only one turkey but several adults came out of the woods. Walking onwards we saw some American Redstarts. I decided to turn around at this time. But Bill, Guy and Ian kept going, unfortunately for Bill he turned around before the other two were rewarded by seeing a very cooperative juvenile Cooper's Hawk and a Green Heron. On the way back Sami photographed a Chestnut-sided Warbler and Connie captured a Baltimore Oriole. I was walking with Lynne when she pointed out this tiny little moth/butterfly on the ground. I took a photo and I blew it up and so the photo is not that sharp, but it gives you a good visual. The moth is a Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth -- the wingspan is 20 mm or .787 inch, so tiny. Lynne is an excellent spotter,she lifted it off the path so it would not get stepped on. I heard a Carolina Wren singing but not its usual song.

We finally all got together at the trailhead and discussed where to go next. Sami, Connie and Lynne left us at this point. It was good to see them. Eleanor thought it would be good to go to Richmond Lagoons, but we decided upon Carleton Place Storm Pond because the recent reports listed the shorebirds we all wanted to see. Bill gave them directions for the back way to get to the Storm Pond. Guy opted to leave his bike locked up at Mud Lake and carpool with Ian. Eleanor and Ken carpool. When we got there Colin G. told us what was at the pond, he was so helpful. Great the Stilt and Baird's Sandpipers were still there, all the other birds were a bonus.

Out came the scopes, I decided I would bring mine today because we would be looking at shorebirds and if not through a scope then its quite difficult to see differences in the shorebirds.. Who am I trying to kid it's difficult even when looking through a scope. Bill stopped not far from where we entered, he had a Semipalmated and a Spotted Sandpiper. It took me a while with my bins to find them. I went back up the trail to retrieve my scope and looked at them through it. Still difficult. Eleanor and Ken arrived to join the conversation. Ian and Guy had gone down the trail, Guy had a good view of a Garter Snake.

I walked over to where the Stilt Sandpipers had been seen. I found what I thought were two Yellowlegs, with dirty legs. Yeah shorebird challenged me, those were the Stilt Sandpipers. Once I saw the photos on the computer screen, the difference was obvious. Eleanor and Ian walked a good distance about 2/3 around the pond and got decent views of all the birds on the pond. as well. Bill and I were not up to walking that far, we looked like the walking wounded.

All in all I believe we saw Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Baird Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe, Green Heron, Blue-wing Teal, Green-wing Teal, Trumpeter Swan, Great Egret and a Common Raven.

Time to have lunch, Colin and Matthew M. were still talking and were happy to hear we saw all the birds he told us about. Bill and I went off to a picnic area and I let the others know where we were. By this time my leg was bothering me big time. Guy and Ian scarfed down their lunch and left, Guy wanted to be back at Mud Lake for 2:00. Ian and Eleanor joined us and we had a good conversation. At the end of the conversation we decided it was time to go home.

Another good day of birding. And Guy got two likers today - Stilt and Baird's Sandpiper. His list is growing, that is if he keeps a list.