March 2, 2023
This was an unexpected birding outing. We were relaxing at home when Eleanor forwarded an email from Jill M in Carleton Place. The swans, which had been absent for 2 weeks, were back on her property. After a short discussion, Eleanor came over and we headed out. We were delayed by an accident on Cavanaugh Rd, but arrived to see 2 Trumpeter Swans swimming near shore in front of Jill's place. We quickly snapped a few photos and a video, as they rapidly swam out to the middle of the river, then downstream out of sight.
There were a few hundred Mallards hanging around, as Jill feeds them cracked corn. There was also a flock of Common Goldeneye further out in the river. Without warning, they all suddenly took off - a sure sigh that a predator had been seen. Sure enough, seconds later, a Bald Eagle flew over the river. it twice hovered and tried to drop down on a goldeneye, but the duck eluded it. Exciting!
We checked out the feeders in the front yard and observed a few American Tree Sparrows.
We drove downstream and over the Glen Isle bridge, but there was no sign of the swans. A single Common Merganser was observed from the bridge.
We drove home via Almonte with no further sightings. We even dropped into the CTC to show Eleanor where the ravens were nesting. No bird was on the nest, but one did fly over the arena. We were delighted to see the Trumpeter Swans and the hunting Bald Eagle today. Checklist by Eleanor.
Mississippi Riverwalk Trail, Carleton Place CA-ON 45.14823, -76.13875, Lanark, Ontario, CA Mar 2, 2023 2:19 PM - 3:04 PM Protocol: Stationary 9 species Canada Goose X Trumpeter Swan 2 Mallard X Common Goldeneye 15 Estimate Bald Eagle 1 Adult. Observed the eagle unsuccessfully attempting to capture a Common Goldeneye on the river. American Crow 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 European Starling 1 American Tree Sparrow 3 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S130354587
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