Ottawa Area Birding: Hickstead Storm Pond to Panmure with JC Birding

December 16, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Eleanor, Ian, Bill and I met at the Eagleson Park and Ride. Bill thought it best if we headed to the Hickstead Storm Pond first. None of us had been there before so it was a new spot. When we arrived, it was obviously not unknown to the Mallards, so many of them and all quacking away. Eleanor asked me if males or females Mallards quacked, I said males quack -- I was wrong, wrong, wrong. I looked it up and here is what I found. Female mallards are famous for their loud classic quack which is a series of 2 to 10 notes that get softer; males do not quack but make a quieter raspy sound. Sorry Eleanor.

We came to the Storm Pond because an American Coot and a female Northern Pintail were reported. Eleanor and I used our scopes and eagle eye Eleanor found the American Coot. The Coot is a diver, so trying to tell another where the bird is difficult because chances are the Coot is underwater and of course comes out somewhere else. But we all eventually saw it. Eleanor found the Northern Pintail as well, now this bird is difficult to find because it has a kind of similar appearance to a female Mallard (check out the comparison photo). The overall appearance of the Pintail is lighter, its beak is black and it's a bit smaller than the Mallard. Again we all got good looks at the bird.

We then headed to Panmure to hopefully see the Western Meadowlark. We found the spot where it has been seen many times over the past weeks. We saw Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves and a White-breasted Nuthatch. A car came up and parked behind us and a man asked if we were looking for the Meadowlark, yes, he walked down the road and into the field. He did not stay too long. A couple came to check out the area, the woman walked right to the area where the bird had been seen -- we were not too pleased at her actions but said nothing. She did ask if we were looking for the Meadowlark, yes and she got the message that she should not stand where we were hoping the bird would fly into. One of Eleanor's friends came along and he and Eleanor saw a Turkey Vulture - what was he doing here so late???( the Turkey Vulture not Eleanor's friend). While we were in the car we did see a small flock of Snow Buntings and some American Crows. On the distant silo there were many Rock Pigeons. We hung around the area for at least an hour and a half, no Western Meadowlark for us.

While we were waiting for the Meadowlark to appear, Ian asked about a black bird in a far tree - was it an American Crow or a Common Raven. We all thought it was a large American Crow. I saw it fly - no, not a Crow but Raven. Raven's have wedge shaped tails and crows are straight across. Eleanor shows Ian a comparison of Raven vs Crow's tails to Ian. I love the learning that goes on in birding.

We discussed where to go next - we could check out where we had seen the Grosbeaks previously or we could go to Eagleson. Why not both. Well there were no Grosbeaks so we headed to Eagleson via Carleton Place. Crossing the bridge, we saw Swans, or was it chunks of snow. Bill took the first turn, which happened to be a construction place, he turned around and I suggested that we could get out and check out the birds or sno from the bridge. Bill stayed with the car while we checked out the situation, maybe 10 Trumpeter Swans, a small flock of Common Goldeneye and some Canada Geese. Good stop, as we were walking back, Bill had come to join us, he continued on and we went to the vehicle. After a health break we headed to the Eagleson Road area.

At Aikins and Eagleson, we knew there were Snow buntings ahead because two cars were parked just watching them. Bill pulled up in front and we watched the show, the Buntings would come down on the spilled corn, eat momentarily then fly off. At one point they all perched on the hydro lines, then back to the corn. A truck came along and scared them, but the Buntings eventually flew back.

Time to head back to the park & ride. On the way there we saw a small flock of European Starlings. We reached the parking lot and Eleanor knocked on my window to say she saw a woodpecker, last bird of the day Downy Woodpecker.