Ottawa Area Birding: Crystal Beach to Richmond to North Gower

February 3, 2026

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We changed our route a little bit, we headed for the Crystal Bay Greenspace, a Saw whet Owl had been reported. We saw Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Tree Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker and heard a White-breasted Nuthatch. We were not prepared to walk in the snow and chance ending up waist deep to get to the evergreen trees, so no Saw Whet Owl. We headed to Fallowfield Village to check out the feeders, not so many feeders as there used to be, no new species. On the way there just before Bells Corners, we saw our first huge flock of American Crows.

On Atkins we saw more American Crows, a car came along and frightened them off the road. Good thing because a small flock of Snow Buntings flew to where the Crows had been eating. We drove slowly up Atkins and in the far distance we saw a Snowy Owl. Nothing on Rushmore. We headed to the dump, took Cambrian and we saw more Crows. Then we took Trail Road and Bill said is that a Coopers' Hawk? We took many photos, it just stayed and watched us, we did not get too close, because it obviously wanted to conserve its energy. It turned out not to be a Coopers' Hawk but a Merlin. Still very good.

Richland has been good sometimes, so why not try our luck, two American Goldfinch. We wondered if Eleanor and Ian lost us, no they did not, Ian was photographing the Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings. The flock was quite large - 200+. Gee I had not seen any Waxwings all seasons, we were all happy to get the Bohemian Waxwings.

We heard about Goodstown Road many years ago at a Christmas Bird Count, and the fella that has such a good feeding station is happy to 'share his birds'. It was pretty busy bird wise - lots of American Tree, House Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. A good number of Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays. About 5 or 6 Evening Grosbeaks (we all had smiles on our faces to see them) and a single Hairy Woodpecker. We decided to have our lunch in front of the feeding station, the Grosbeaks that were there, did not show up while we were having our lunch. As we drove off a Pileated Woodpecker was seen on a hydro post. I called Eleanor to let her know. The bird flew off, but Barbara relocated it and I got out of the vehicle and pointed to where it was. Eleanor and Ian got to see it as well.

On Lockhead, there were about 15 or 20 Horned Larks and of course huge flocks of Crows. Some European Starlings and Rock Pigeons were seen on the many silos. No Lapland Longspurs.

Eleanor had told us when we started out that Redpolls had been seen on Third and Brophy, we drove almost the length of Third and guess where the Redpolls were, at the corner of Third and Brophy. We had a fleeting glance. We saw them and I think Bill and I took a photo each. Bill moved up a bit and off them went, never to be seen by us again.

Time to go home. We drove down Moody Drive and saw two small flocks of Wild Turkeys. But to end our day we saw a Barred owl on a hydro line on Fallowfield Road not more than a mile away from my place. What a great way to end our day.

Such a good day. My, my a Snowy Owl, Barred Owl, Evening Grosbeaks, Redpolls, Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings and throw in a Pileated Woodpecker and a Merlin. All so very good to make an extremely productive day.

I said to Bill while we were on Lockhead, you know I am so calm and right with the world, I love that birding does that. He agreed.