Ottawa Area Birding

September 15, 2026

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Before we left Barb C and Ken arrived early and did some birding around my area of the woods -- the best bird heard was an Orange-crowned Warbler. We all piled into Bill's vehicle and headed to the United Church at Johnstown - there we saw an Osprey perched on the bridge going to the USA. Closer there was a single Common Goldeneye swimming relatively. A Great Blue Heron took flight from the reeds, I guess he did not like us around him. Very much further out Barb C. found her usual bird she is always looking for -- Common Loons. There were many Double-crested Cormorants about. Two very loud Blue Jays made their presence known. A single Red-wing Blackbird was making a chack call.

We moved on to the Port of Johnstown terminal. For the first time we took the 1 kilometre pathway beside the terminal to the water. Just as we started the trail, there were many Cormorants perched on a dead tree and stumps in the water. Bill played the mobbing tape, no answer. I was walking ahead of the group and saw some sparrows flying around two small trees. Never really got a good bead on them, but we all thought Song Sparrow. Barb C and I were walking together when she wondered out loud why the car was parked so far away from the gate. As we got closer, we found out why - two men fast asleep and my guess it was a quieter spot. Mmmm, did they work all night or does the company pay them to sleep. We kept walking to the end, then returned. Closer to the beginning we saw a Belted Kingfisher. Barb C and Barb were a bit behind and Barb C saw something fly onto a high part of the building. Could it be the Peregrine Falcon Ken wanted to see, he ran to join them.. Yes it was. At the vehicle we heard birds and Bill played the tape, Yellowrumps.

I took a photo of what looked like derelict buildings with a ship beside it. I did a bit of research and found no buildings on site are derelict and all are functional. I even phoned but the operations person I was put through to, did not answer his phone. What is shipped out of the port of Johnstown is local grain , soybeans and spring wheat. Silly me have always referred to these buildings as the power plant, now I know better.

Back in the car we stopped at various places along highway #2. Driving back out to highway #2 from one road, we saw a bird on the line -- Mourning Dove No, Kestrel. Ault Island was the next big stop - on the causeway we saw many Wood Ducks, 4 Great Egrets, about a dozen Killdeer, a Great Blue Heron, Ring-necked Duck, Mallards and Green Wing Teal. Then I embarrassed myself, Ken a Raven, he looked and looked some more, No a juvenile Bald Eagle. A discussion then followed, what year was it, both Bill and I said 1st year, why, it's all dark with some white on the underbelly. Some is a keyword, because there is more white on a 2nd year bird .

We then turned west at the t-junction - driving back, we heard bird song, we stopped. More Yellowrumps, a Common Yellowthroat, Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Cedar Waxwings and of course Black-capped Chickadees. We drove to the end of the east part of the road and had lunch.

At one stop while we were phishing or playing the tape, Ken disappeared, lucky him, he saw a mink. Great sighting.

We turned into Farran Park, where Ken and Bill went for about a half hour walk. Ken called to say they had seen a Green Heron. When they returned they reported they had heard a Virginia Rail and saw a Common Gallinule. While they were off on their walk the two Barb's visited the park office.

We were then off to the Long Sault Parkway. We saw several flocks of Wild Turkeys, not large flocks, maybe 2 to 6 in each flock. We stopped on the bridges to check to see if there was something interesting on the water. Again Wood Ducks, Cormorants, Canada Geese and Mallards. There had been a Long-tailed Duck reported, but we did not see it. On one of the islands we were fortunate to see a pair of Merlins. Only new waterfowl was a Common Merganser

Bill said it will take about 1 1/2 hours to get home, we should start heading home now.

Home by 5:00

Good day of birding and companionship with friends.