Ottawa Area Birding: Mud Lake & Andrew Haydon Park

September 9, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Bill, Louise, Barb, Guy, Eleanor, Alan, Carole met at Mud Lake at 7:30. Ann joined us a bit later. Guy had biked to Mud Lake, my he must have been cold because I had my gloves on. Yes he said he rode his bike with one hand while the other warmed up. He looked for his gloves the night before and well I guess he did not find them. We were very hopeful that it would be a good day since we saw so many different species on the lake -- Wood Duck, Ring-billed Gull, Ring-necked Duck, Mallard, American Widgeon, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant and of course Canada Geese. Guy and I walked over to the pond on the opposite side of the road, we saw Swamp Sparrow and heard a Gray Catbird.

While we were walking down Cassels Road, we saw many Yellow-rumped Warblers, Eastern Phoebes, Red-eyed Vireos and Warbling Vireos. We heard White-breasted Nuthatches and I saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch. It took more than an hour to get down to the entrances going up the ridge. On the ridge, the big maple tree seemed alive with birds flying here, there and everywhere. My goodness it was hard to get a bead on them. One little bird we saw was this tiny little bird that had to be a Kinglet, of course there were many Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cape May, Palm Warblers shaking their tails. High in the tree a single Cedar Waxwing. There were lots of Black-caped Chickadees to be seen. Overlooking the water, Bill, Alan and Carole saw Hooded Merganser, Great Black-backed Gull and a single Spotted Sandpiper.

Ann joined us just before we left the ridge and walked to the water. Lots of Mallards and another birding group were there. I left the group a bit too early because a Belted Kingfisher was seen. I walked over to the other side of Cassels and there was a Northern Flicker on the ground taking a meal of what I presume were ants.

Walking to the filtration plant, we experience really the best birding of the day. More Yellow-rumps and Palm Warblers. We saw Black-throated Green Warblers in two different plumages, -- the typical male plumage you would see in the spring and the female plumage. I am not all that familiar with the female plumage but am now. Then there were Chestnut-sided warblers, winter plumage - lime green head and back and gray face and plain gray or white underparts and a bold white eye ring and yellow wing bars. No chestnut on its sides. This warbler is easy to identify in the spring but it holds a challenge for me. Thank goodness there were not only our group looking at these birds but others and birds helping other birders, thank goodness. Two Black & White Warblers were seen, easy to ID because they are black and white.

I walked away from the group and toward the water. I stopped just opposite the filtration plant and I heard a single Black-capped Chickadee. It was in a small apple tree and it was quite open. So I phished and the single Chickadee became maybe 10 but other birds came in as well. Easy to see, hard to ID, and even harder to photograph. Louise was coming along and I asked, "Are you seeing birds?, answer yes I see them, don't know what I am seeing. My response, Join the club!!! Ann and Louise left at this point.

I saw Paul L and we caught up a bit. He is a good birder and he pointed out birds to me -- Northern Parula, Magnolia and Tennessee. Barb wanted to go back down the small trail to check out the water again. There Barb and I saw a Common Merganser.

We all seemed to have got to the vehicles at the same time- Alan Carole, Bill, Barb and me. Where was Guy, has anyone seen Guy, oh he must have biked home. We decided we would go to Ottawa Beach to see if there were any shorebirds. Eleanor left us at this point.

We decided to have lunch before checking the water. Mmm where are Alan and Carole, when they arrived, they had stopped at Britannia and saw a Caspian Tern. I thought I should text Guy to let him know what we were doing, since Barb C had seen that his bike was still parked at Mud lake when she left there. Two birders walked by and we asked about the shorebirds. None, but there is a Peregrine Falcon showing itself every now and again. They asked if we had seen the Screech Owl, we had not. Nothing on the mud flats except Canada Geese and Ring-billed Gulls and in the distance some Great Egrets. We did walk over to see the owl and yes it was asleep in the exact same spot we had seen it before. Good one.

We then moved on to Andrew Hayden park. The water was very low, it looked like there were no shorebirds, but Bill found 3 or 4 Killdeer and Carole found a Spotted Sandpiper. Barb found a Painted Turtle high up on the rocks maybe 3 feet up on the shore. So we asked Bill, our turtle guy, about it. He did not have an answer. So of course I googled it. Here is what I found. Painted turtles climb rocks with moderate success, especially with rough surfaces and lower angles, with a maximum successful climb of about 24 degrees on smooth ramps and 40 degrees on rough ramps. While they are not strong climbers, they need to be able to easily access basking platforms, they need to absorb solar radiation and maintain their body temperature.

There was one Great Egret in the water, we did not see a Great Blue Heron, but we most definitely heard one barking. I decided I would sit on the bench for a rest, Bill joined me. We were very lucky, because we were looking out onto the water. This bird flew by very quickly, Bill said what was that? I did not have enough time, when he answered his own question -- Peregrine Falcon. Unfortunately the others did not see it.

Guy texted me back indicating he went to the bridge at Mud Lake, saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Chipping sparrow. He was headed home.

The others joined us when a lady that Barb and Carole were talking to, came by and said she got the Shoveller and the Teal. We asked about the Teal and figured out with her answers, it was Blue Wing. Off Bill, Barb and I go in search of the birds. Carole and Alan left us. Bill and Barb took the path beside the bridge and then beside the reeds, searching for said birds. I decided to stay on the bridge. When they returned, they were happy to report they had both birds. Unfortunately photos tell the truth, upon looking at his photos, Bill texted us to say no, no Shoveller. Oh well

Last stop of the day was Shirley's Bay. Nothing on the water. When we were leaving a Belted Kingfisher flew over, funny I said it is not chattering, then of course it did. Walking back to the car, a White-throated Sparrow was spotted. Once at the car, I said, no turkey Vultures, of course we look up and we see two of them.

It was just an excellent day of birding. Temperature wise it was very cool to start with, I wore a jacket and gloves. But by lunch time the heavy outer clothing was removed. Really, 58 species and 13 species of warblers for September is amazing.

I leave on my trip to Uganda on Wednesday and I drive to Montreal the night before for my early morning flight.

For those that are travelling, safe travels, For those staying in the Ottawa area, enjoy and you will hear from me after Thanksgiving.