April 1, 2025
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
Ken, Anita, Ian,
Bill & Barb, Eleanor and I met at Mud Lake. Because of the cold
weather overnight, the lake was frozen over except in a very small area
near the bank. I arrived early and walked down to the road into the
woods, while walking I saw a Wood Duck and Mallards. There were many,
many male Red-winged Blackbirds singing. Ken was the first to arrive
and I pointed out to him the little channel the Canada Geese had made
out to the thicker ice. Interestingly, the Canada Geese just used that
small channel - guess one of them was an ice breaker.
Once
Bill & Barb, Ian, Anita and Eleanor arrived we decided a few of us
would go up to the berm and the rest would walk to the point. Ian, Ken
and Anita were very lucky they saw a Merlin just as they were walking
up. The others saw a White-breasted Nuthatch. Here I will mention the
weather, very windy and cold, April 1, I guess Mother Nature was playing
a trick on us. It is supposed to be spring, but it felt like a very
cold winter day. That was not going to stop us. We stopped to speak to
another birder who told us a Great Egret was on the island tucked in.
We did not see it.
We discussed where to go,
thinking checking the roads to Carp would yield very little. Okay let's
try Andrew Haydon Park, if the Park was locked we would continue onto
Dick Bell. The Park was locked, driving by, we could see the pond was
frozen over. We parked and decided to check out the bridge, Eleanor
spoke to a friend who told us there were nothing but a few Canada Geese.
We commented on her rosy red cheeks, she said it was from the north
west wind. We checked out the geese hoping to see Cackling Geese,
Eleanor can find them if they are there, they were none.
Where
to go next, we have to get out of this wind. Let's try the
Sarsaparilla Trail. I chose not to walk the trail because it was uneven
and icy. I walked around the parking lot and truth be told I was
feeling sorry for myself. Eleanor called me to say there was a Fox
Sparrow there, yes I will walk down the trail. Ken came running down
the path, to offer an arm ensuring I would not fall - I just don't want
to reinjure my knee - Thank you Ken for your thoughtfulness. There was
one Fox Sparrow, a couple of Song Sparrow and one American Tree Sparrow,
along with a Dark-eyed Juncos and one Downy Woodpecker. We were in a
clearing enclosed by the trees, sunny and no wind. We stayed for at
least 30 minutes. Those Fox Sparrows are so beautiful and I rank it the
best of the sparrows,
We proceeded to Twin
Elms, hoping the water would be open and waterfowl in the fields. Lots
of Canada Geese and Mallards, one Northern Pintail, another beautiful
bird, and at least 2 dozen Killdeer. Ken left us to check out the
Hooded Mergansers he had seen as he crossed the little bridge. After
looking for different waterfowl and finding none, we decided to join
Ken. He said he was successful at flushing them.
Off
to the dump to find the Glaucous Gull, there was one seen, We drove
down Cambrian Road W. - a very muddy road. Oh we saw Gulls, Ring-billed
Gulls, now finding one Glaucous Gull amongst there is darn near
impossible. We did not see it, but I did see a Red-tail Hawk, having a
very difficult time flying into the wind. There was a huge flock of
European Starling flying around, We turned around to check out the
other side of the dump, nothing of consequence. We met Alan and Carole,
who I thought were going to join us, but they did not. Ken had checked
out Discord to find that Peter B. had seen some good stuff at the
Richmond Lagoon. Off we went.
Out of the
vehicles, out comes the scope and off we went. Absolutely nothing in
the first cell and then the second cell. No trespassing posted on a
gate over the trail to the cell. ANNOYING. I emailed Peter tio find out
if he knew the reason for the No Trespassing. His response was "I
actually don't know what the official explanation for this is. It
doesn't seem to keep people out, perhaps could limit city liability from
people who go beyond the fence close to the sewage works". In the
parking lot we saw three Cedar Waxwing, we watched them drinking at a
little puddle of water under the coniferous tree. They were joined by
American Robins. It was about noon time, so we decided to have lunch
there.
We drove to almost the end of Barnsdale
and turned on Lockview Road. This road is included in the area I cover
for the CBC, there are at least four bird feeders there, really no luck
there - House Sparrow and American Goldfinch. We turned around and
drove to Watson's Mill. Where is Ken? He was at the other bridge in
Manotick. He joined us, but nothing new - Canada Geese and Mallards.
The most interesting thing we saw was a Canada Goose on the nest, just
on the other side of the barricade on the lookout. She did not move when
we all took a look at her.
It was time to head
home, so we took River Drive and turned onto Rideau Road toward the
water. There we saw at least 2 dozen Common Mergansers. There was one
female who looked a bit weird because her feathers were blown,
she looked like she had feathers pointing to the sky. Next and final
stop was Nicolls Island - no birds but it was a nice little drive.
Anita
said she needed gas and had seen the price was 131.9 at Mitch Owens and
River Road. I suggested there was another gas station kitty corner to
Vimy Bridge. Lucky her the price was a little cheaper at 129.9. Thank
you no carbon tax.
Home by about 2:00. 35 species for such a pitsy day is pretty good.
Species Noted
- Northern Cardinal
- American Robin
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Ring-billed Gull
- Canada Goose
- American Crow
- Common Raven
- European Starling
- Red-winged Blackbird
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Merlin
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Common Goldeneye
- Mallard
- Wood Duck
- Song Sparrow
- Mourning Dove
- Rock Pigeon
- Bald Eagle
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Blue Jay
- Fox Sparrow
- American Tree Sparrow
- Downy Woodpecker
- Northern Pintail
- Killdeer
- Turkey Vulture
- Hooded Merganser
- Common Grackle
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Cedar Waxwing
- House Sparrow
- American Goldfinch
- Common Merganser
- House Finch
Critters
- Eastern Chipmunk
- Red squirrel
