June 9, 2026
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
We had a fantastic day. Everyone
went home very happy and Richard & Guy got themselves some lifers.
Let me begin at the beginning.
We left my place
at 7:00, Guy, Barbara B. and Richard in one vehicle and Bill and I in
another. Our first stop was at ONroute near Brockville. Richard
reported they saw Black-crowned Night-heron, Turkeys and a Great Blue
Heron along the way, no Red-tailed Hawks. We proceeded to the first
exit off the 401, once out of Mallorytown, we started to bird. We heard
many Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds - in fact it seemed that we
lifted our binoculars many many times to see Red-winged Blackbirds. We
stopped to photograph an Eastern Bluebird female and we wondered where
the male was because they are so much prettier making him more
photographable. Maybe off doing parenting duties.
We
often heard Northern House Wrens along the way as well. Bill stopped
at one point and said we stopped here last year and a House Wren was
sitting on that dead tree singing and believe it or not there was a
House Wren singing in the tree. I took a photograph that shows its eye
in more of a horizontal position than vertical. I looked it up to see
if this was 'normal' and it is, it helps the bird see its prey and foe
so much better. I did not know this. While there down in the swamp
area, we saw a Great Blue heron activity fishing. Richard and I walked
along the road to hear then see a Scarlet Tanager. It was absolutely
beautiful, with the sun shining on it. We both raised our cameras and
before we were able to take a photo, the bird flew off to parts
unknown. We tried calling it to no avail.
We
had a couple of sightings of Indigo Buntings. Bill said to me there is a
Brown Thrasher on the ground near the big tree, I will drive slowly and
hopefully the bird will stay. It was focused on eating and we were
lucky to get a few photos of it before it flew up and perched on the
tree.
Richard caught up to us and he reported
seeing a pair of Northern Harrier and a Black-billed Cuckoo and a pair
of Brown-headed Cowbirds. I did question the Brown-headed Cowbird
sights because there were a lot of young European Starlings around.
Both are similar but the beaks are quite different. No, said Richard I
saw mature Cowbirds, not young ones and then he proceeded to describe
them. And lucky them to have seen a Black-billed Cuckoo.
A
pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers flew by. We heard Ovenbirds coming
from the woods. We stopped at a stream where we saw a family of Canada
Geese and a family of Hooded Mergansers.
Finally
we reached our destination. We got out of the vehicles and dosed
ourselves with insect repellant. Off we went, there was a gate that
indicated we should not enter. The road is a public access road but
there are two brothers who live at the end of the road that have major
attitudes. Thankfully we did not experience them this time. Richard
took a photo of us at the gate.
I was walking
with Guy when he said, last time there were lots of butterflies over
there. This year there were a lot of Eastern Giant Swallowtails flying
from one Dames Rocket bloom to another bloom. Beautiful site the
contrast of the yellow of the Swallowtails and the pink of the flowers.
We
were anxious to get to the Cerulean Warbler, but Bill I heard the
Goldenwing Warbler. We got both species and that little Cerulean stayed
so high in the trees and flew here, there and everywhere not sitting
very still. I cannot photograph warblers but the Cerulean is so
challenging. I get to enjoy my friends' photographs. While we were
focusing on the warblers we heard two Barred Owls duetting. Again I
looked it up, it happens during courtship and territory defense, the
male and female take turns calling back and forth, with the females
pitch often noticeably higher. It was neat to hear. First for me.
Back
at the Eastern Giant Swallowtail site, we saw another Golden-winged
Warbler. i saw a bird in a tree and tried to take a photo of it, then I
got distracted with the warbler and a second later a bird flew out of
the tree -- Black-billed Cuckoo. When I downloaded my photos,I was
surprised to see that bird in the tree was a Black-billed Cuckoo, I just
could not see the bird very well when I was in the field. Of course I
did see a Black-billed Cuckoo fly away. I was so happy when I saw the
photo.
Time for lunch. Jane, go ask the home
owner if we could use their picnic table. I knocked on the door, but no
answer. At the corner of their house was a hummingbird feeder with a
Ruby-throated Hummingbird partaking of the liquid provided. Yes, too
fast for me, I went to take a photo and yeah it had gone. We decided to
have our lunch opposite the house watching Cedar Waxwings and the
hummingbird and of course there was conversation. A four-wheeler pulled
up and they asked us about the birding. Both were very friendly, they
had their "opinions" about the men who put up a gate indicating no
public access. The man told us he had Indigo Buntings coming to his
feeder. -- Bill asked me if I ever heard of Indigo Buntings coming to
feeders, Nope I had not. He was one lucky man. Off they went.
Richard, Guy and I walked down to the water, while Bill and Barbara
drove. On the water a lone Common Loon. Walking back to where we left
our stuff, we saw a small fast moving Milk Snake. I tried to take a
photo and my camera just refused to take a photo. Dam...
Barbara joined us, leaving Guy and Richard to their own devices.
Off
to the Great Blue Heron rookery, well years ago there was a rookery.
Just a couple of Great Blue Herons feeding in the water, along with a
few Wood Ducks. A lone Trumpeter Swan was in the swamp area as well.
That spot was so good years ago.
Driving out of
the area, two small brown hawks flew by, calling to each other. Oh
maybe they landed in the tree, we all got out and yes they were in the
tree, we got to see them fly away. Bill said the only hawk they could
be were Broadwing Hawks, because of the size.
Bill said
to me, the next spot is a long shot at best, it is along a hydro
easement. We drove up to where there was a path. I went over to the
gate and heard Field Sparrow and saw an Eastern Kingbird. The others
walked away from the cars and focused on the other side of the road. I
joined them and the long shot turned out to be reality -- a Prairie
Warbler. The Bowmans last Prairie Warbler was in Mexico, mine was in
Cuba. Lifers for both Guy and Richard. All of us were SO happy.
We
then headed to Jones Falls - famous historic lockstation and dam along
the Rideau Canal in Eastern Ontario. It was the highest dam in North
America when it was completed in 1863 measuring 60 feet tall. There was
a sign for ice cream, Bill checked the place out -- closed. We walked
to the bridge, where we saw families of Canada Geese, Barn Swallows on
the line and in the distance a Mute Swan family. Overhead we had an
Osprey flying.
Thinking it was time to head
home, we headed to Smith Falls, where Bill found a Dairy Queen. While
enjoying the ice cream, we went over my bird list, seems my memory is
good, but not perfect, 6 more species were added. We said goodbye to
Richard and Guy joined us. Stopping at Richmond stormwater pond, we
spotted a single Great Egret and we saw a Double-crested Cormorant
flying overhead.
We drove to Twin Elms,
where we were surprised to see two Ospreys occupying the nest. The
usual Barn Swallows, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds were there as
well. We drove down the road and in a clearing we saw three Turkey
Vultures eating in the field. We speculated that they might be eating
clay. I again googled it, of course their primary food is dead mammals,
reptiles and plant matter (in the absence of fresh carrion, they are
omnivorous and will eat decaying vegetation. Guess they were doing the
decaying vegetation thing. Okay we all know the turkey vulture's heads
are bare, but why. They frequently stick their entire heads deep
inside carcasses to feed. A lack of feathers prevents bacteria, blood
and decaying tissue from caking onto their heads, which would otherwise
be impossible to keep clean. As well the exposed skin on the head helps
the bird manage their body heat. When hot they can change their
posture to expose their bald head and neck to release excess body heat.
I
was walking the Twin Elm Road when I heard a Warbling Vireo, I pished,
no good in doing that. Then I saw it on a bare branch, took a few
photos and off I went. Bill picked me up and we drove to the Osprey's
nest. Photos and more photos. I took a photo of a female Red-wing
Blackbird and its legs were marked with beige 'stripes'. I googled that
but with no satisfactory answer, because their legs should be black.
So if anyone could provide an explanation, I would love to hear it.
Time
to get home. I think we got home around 5:30. We were all happy with
the day, it is not everyday we get a Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean
Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet
Tanager, oh my list could go on and on. Just a super day.
Just love birding.
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