Mer Bleue, Rare Nesters of Eastern Ontario – Ottawa East with Always an Adventure

July 3, 2014

We met at the Dewberry Trail parking lot on Dolman Ridge Road - Tony, Nina, Gary, Sue, Judith, me and a new birder, Helen.

We had some good sightings right there, then moved over to the Mer Bleue boardwalk.  We got the LIncoln's Sparrow, but had no sign of the Palm Warbler.

Our next stop was Hall Road, where we found a Vesper Sparrow on the ground.

Our last stop was Milton Road / Smith Road.  No sign of the Sandhill Cranes, but we did see a whole family of Eastern Bluebirds.

Bird List

1. Wood Thrush
2. Great Crested Flycatcher
3. Song Sparrow
4. Osprey
5. Cooper's Hawk
6. Black and White Warbler
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. Ovenbird
9. Chestnut-sided Warbler
10. Broad-winged Hawk
11. Veery
12. Blue Jay
13. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
14. Nashville Warbler
15. Red-eyed Vireo
16. White-throated Sparrow
17. Eastern Phoebe
18. Purple Finch
19. American Robin
20. Common Grackle
21. Common Yellowthroat
22. Red-winged Blackbird
23. Cedar Waxwing
24. Swamp Sparrow
25. Green Heron
26. Lincoln's Sparrow
27. Gray Catbird
28. Northern Flicker
29. Hairy Woodpecker
30. Common Raven
31. American Crow
32. European Starling
33. Vesper Sparrow
34. American Goldfinch
35. Savannah Sparrow
36. Ring-billed Gull
37. Canada Goose
38. Barn Swallow
39. Great Blue Heron
40. Northern Harrier
41. Turkey Vulture
42. Mourning Dove
43. Eastern Bluebird
44. Killdeer

Grand Lac des Cèdres Cottage Birding

July 1 long weekend

Kirk and the grandkids were up for the first two days, so we concentrated on fishing and swimming.  The following day, we went for a paddle along the shore.  It was fairly quiet except for the Common Grackles and Northern Waterthrushes.

On the drive home, we joked about seeing Sandhill Cranes near Venosta.  But incredibly, Grant did spot one - a very dark specimen.

Rivière Coulonge Canoe Trip

June 25-27, 2014

With 9 Venturer Scouts and two other leaders all paddling whitewater, there was little time for birding except when they came to me.  In spite of the late date, we heard a lot of warblers singing, although we did not see any. I managed to get the following images, the first two taken through the windshield.. We did also see a Bald Eagle several times, and a Red-tailed Hawk.

Eurasian Wigeon

June 23, 2014

Although too busy for extended birding outings, this guy was just too easy to pass up.  Persistent eBird reports had him at the mouth of the Rideau Canal.  I drove Barbara to work, then circled back and parked at the Mill.  A pleasant 15 minute walk along the Ottawa River brought me to the area.  And there he was, sitting all alone on the cement pier where the boats tie up.  Other water birds included Mallards and large numbers of juvenile Canada Geese.

Bobolinks at P17 in Wakefield

June 22, 2014

While waiting for the family to bike back from Lac Philippe, we explored the fields near the parking lot where I had seen sparrows and Bobolinks before.  We were not disappointed.  The Bobolinks, both male and female, put on a good show, and Barbara got some photos.

The Northern Waterthrushes Return

June 15, 2014

We  had a surprise Nothern Waterthrush family at Cedar Lake in 2012, but the songs were missing last year.  We thought it might be a one-year wonder, but no, they were singing loudly on Saturday - there seemed to be several.

On Sunday morning, it was cool and breezy, with little bird song.  Nevertheless, I played the Sibley on my phone a couple of times and one showed up and started singing back.

We walked up the road a short way hearing constant Red-eyed Vireos, but seeing none.  We could also hear occasional Black and White Warblers, and one showed up for a photo op.  While searching for more warblers, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker came by and entertained us, as did a lone Turkey Vulture.  We saw many Tiger Swallowtails.

Out on the lake, I spotted a distant Broad-winged Hawk soaring.  Back at the feeders, Purple Finches and Red-breasted Nuthatches were abundant.

Birding and Other Nature at Grand Lac des Cèdres

June 8, 2014

There are many wood warblers and other species that make their home around our cottage.  This spring, the predominant singing was by Chestnut-sided Warblers, Eastern Phoebes and Red-eyed Vireos.  From time to time, we also heard Black-and White Warblers, but could not see them.  We went for a walk and saw many bass  that had just finished spawning., and a Tiger Swallowtail perched obligingly on a lilac bloom.   An Eastern Phoebe entertained us and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak responded to the taped call.  A Common Loon swam right behind our parked boat.

We went for a Loon Count, and saw several including one on the nest.  We always hope for a good breeding year.  The Herring Gulls already has to chicks, and a lone male Common Merganser seemed to have missed finding a mate.

The trout fishing was rather slow, but patience was finally rewarded when a 6-pounder came to net.