Ravens at CTC

 April 10, 2026

Nesting behind the CTC shield is confirmed.

We did not see any young yet, but the adult left and returned while we were there.  We were unable to see if it was carrying food.

Ospreys are back at Dunrobin

 April 9, 2026

St Lawrence River with JC Birding

 April 7, 2026

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Ian, Barb C, Barbara, Bill and I carpooled for the day trip.  We all had winter clothing on, It was a little tight in the back seat, but we managed. First Barbara had to buckle up, Barb helped her, then Barb had to buckle up, I helped her, I am a big girl no need for help!!!  The trip down the 416 did not take too long, but there was a lot of catching up to do.

First stop was the United Church at the end of the road, we saw American Crow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, American Tree Sparrow and Ring-billed Gulls on the water.  Bill spotted Common Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers near the bridge.  Out in water a small flock of Common Goldeneye.  We drove over to the power plant - Common Grackle and European Starling picking at the grit at the side of the road.  Near the power plant Greater Scaup and Canada Geese.

We turned around  and headed east on highway 2.  Lots of stops along the way.  Bufflehead and Mallards  We made a stop and saw a couple of Black-capped Chickadees.  Another stop yielded Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal and Dark-eyed Juncos.  When returning to Highway #2, I asked Bill to stop the car -- Osprey hovering.  First one of the season.

We saw a Double-crested Cormorant on land.  The interesting thing about this bird was we could very easily see the Cormorants double crests.  More like small ornamental plumes and are on both males and females, but more prominent and more numerous in males, known as nuptial crests.

Stopping along Highway #2 we saw Herring Gulls and on the island we saw our first and only Bald Eagles.  We took photos, but mine are the pits, because it was snowing.  I found out that if you use your telephoto lens, it also magnifies the snow!!!  A little bit further down #2, stop I  called to  Bill, I saw Swans.  Reverse please -- they have orange bills.  Bill and Barb say in unison Mute Swans.

We drove into Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary -- lots of Black-capped Chickadees, one White-breasted Nuthatch.  We went further up, nothing on the water, turned around and stopped where we saw the Chickadees.  Barb and I heard a strange song, not a Crow, not a Blue Jay.  The bird was brown and black.  Checked Sibleys' and wow we well me got a Rusty Blackbird.

At Ault Island we heard a Belted Kingfisher and saw a Lesser Scaup.  Unfortunately we also saw a dead Beaver on the side of the road, probably hit by a car.  Really no reason to hit a beaver, they are big enough for people to see.   We drove the west end of the island then the east -- nothing new.  At the end of the road at the east end, we had our lunch in the car.  Still very cold wintery conditions.  

Drove to Long Sault Parkway, with the expectation it would be as productive as the last time we were there about a month ago.  It was not, so very disappointing -- a couple Red breasted Mergansers, lots of Common Mergansers.  As we drove down #2 we saw many many Common Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers, well we saw lots of them at the bridge again lots of Common and Hooded Mergansers.

The sun came out for a few minutes several times while we were birding.  But it was so annoying that the sun came out while we were driving home.  Last bird of the trip was a House Sparrow at my house.

Got home around 4:00

Species Noted

1. American Crow
2. Song Sparrow 
3. Hooded Merganser
4. Common Merganser
5. Common Goldeneye
6. Red-winged Blackbird
7. American Tree Sparrow
8. Blue Jay
9. Ring-billed Gull
10. Double-crested Cormorant
11. Common Grackle
12. European Starling
13. Greater Scaup
14. Canada Goose
15. Bufflehead
16. Mallard
17. Black-capped Chickadee
18. Mourning Dove
19. Northern Cardinal
20. Dark-eyed Junco
21. Osprey
22. Herring Gull
23. Bald Eagle
24. Mute Swan
25. Rock Pigeon
26. Ring-neck Duck
27. White-breasted Nuthatch
28. Rusty Blackbird
29. Lesser Scaup
30. Red-breasted Merganser
31. Turkey Vulture
32. House Sparrow

Shrike Survey Scouting

 April 5, 2026

Our shrike route was changed this year.  One unproductive stop was dropped and two others along Panmure Road were added.  We had to go out and mark the locations on our GPS.

After that, we crossed the Mississippi at Blakeney and returned via Pakenham to check out Holland Marsh.  We found a very distant Ross's Goose and a blue morph Snow Goose among the Canadas. Going home by Dwyer Hill Road, we saw a pair of American Kestrels.

East End Spring Waterfowl with OFO

 April 4, 2026