Ottawa Area Birding

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Canoe Lake Road with JC Birding

May 14, 2026

Birding Report by Jane Burges

Ian, Richard, Bill and I carpooled and off we went to Canoe Lake Road. We checked the fields along Fallowfield Road for Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink, we can up empty handed. We had just crossed Dwyer Hill Road when an American Bittern flew over the road, mmm maybe an indicator of how the day will go.

Bill turned down Canoe Lake Road and parked and we walked up the hill. First bird we heard was Rose-breasted Grosbeak, then an Eastern Towhee. Richard pointed to a Ruby-throated Hummingbird resting on the hydro line -- first one of the year. We saw Pine and Nashville Warblers and a White-breasted Nuthatch. Walking back to the vehicle a hawk flew by -- gut feeling was a Red-shouldered hawk, not a long tail, striped tail and not all that big.

I played the Golden-winged Warbler sound to familiarize myself with the song. We all got in the vehicle and I said to Bill, do you want me to walk? Yes, I have been lucky in the past, maybe this year. I got out and started to play, but there was no need, the little Golden-winged Warbler was singing away. We all got excellent views of the little guy, Bill said "Brewster" -- that means it is a hybrid between Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warbler. no black on its throat. Still a good bird.

We started walking down the road, Bill moving the vehicle whenever necessary. We heard the songs of the Ovenbird, (teacher, teacher, teacher) and the mnemonic associated with Chestnut-sided Warbler pleased, pleased, pleased to meet-cha. We eventually saw both of them.

We heard Wood Thrush and Veery, I never got to see the Veery and I had fleeting glances of the Wood Thrush, I believe Richard and Ian got to photograph the bird.

We went down Rose Lane to see if we would get the Louisiana Waterthrush, we played the song, no response. We walked to the end of the lane but we never got to see it. We tried for it on the other side of the road, still, nope, no thrush. At another location we tried for a Northern Waterthrush and no luck there as well.

Time for lunch, we parked in a grassy area. Bill saw movement and he said Broadwing Hawk -- no photos.

We walked the road some more, saw a Northern Yellow Warbler, heard Black and White Warbler, but never saw it.

Bill and Ian saw a Black-throated Green Warbler, lucky them.

We turned on Devil Lake Road, we stopped because a Burrr sound was heard -- lucky us -- we got a Golden-winged Warbler. We heard a Yellow-throated Vireo and a Redstart.

On the way back we took Highway 15, we stopped to check out a swamp, there we saw 2 Trumpeter Swans and a couple of Mallards. Then Roger Steven's Dive where a Northern Harrier made a very brief appearance..

Overall a very good, but cold day. Insects were out, good for the birds, but I really am not a fan of black flies. 53 species. We saw birds we don't normally see and that is always good. Richard later let me know, he brought home a tick that latched onto his body. Ticks just give me the willies...