Ottawa Area Birding: Mud Lake with JC Birding

August 15, 2024

Lots of warblers, mostly Cape May and Bay-breasted.

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Going down Britannia Road, I saw two raccoons cross the road, I had never seen them in the village of Britannia. I got to Mud Lake shortly after 7:00, meet up time was at 7:30. I checked out Mud Lake and all I could see were Wood Ducks and Mallards. I started walking down Cassel's Road when Ken drove in, at the same time I saw a Black-crowned Night Heron fly over the road. Ken was in conversation with Richard W. when I pointed out two Baltimore Orioles then Ken pointed out a Tennessee Warbler that turned out to be a Magnolia. It seemed like there were lots of birds around. Then Carol and Alan joined us, followed shortly by the Bowmans. It seemed like we were all anxious to bird today, maybe because it was a short birding day.

I said to Ken what is that bird bird at the top of the far tree, he walked quickly down the road for a better view. (He got a better look at the bird a bit later - Merlin). We took our time looking at those confusing fall warblers. It would be so much easier if they just stayed the same colour all year round, but too bad, so sad, nature doesn't think about us humans trying to identify birds. I like going out in the fall and attempting to identify them however the learning process is slow. Black and White easy; Wilson's Warbler easy, if it stays put that is; Yellow, easy; Yellow-rumped, easy; Tennessee darn difficult; Magnolia and Cape May I mix up; Redstart, easy, Blackburian, if I have this right, it has a yellow neck; Bay Breasted, I learned that one this year, no idea how to id the Parula. But going out and seeing and trying to identify the warbler is the only way to learn and I will keep trying.

We finally got up to the ridge (opposite the trail to the bridge), we were all looking at this beautiful Bay-breasted Warbler and out comes Martha and Colin. Martha tells us what birds were in that area, we did get to see all the species except Palm. We walk a bit further and Colin shouts to us Wilson's, we all rush over and yeah we did not see it. He moves on and shouts again Wilson's, yeah we did not see it. Then Colin said he heard then saw a Least Flycatcher, we all got to see it. Colin then starts talking to us about genus, Martha said to me, when I wake up at 2;30 a.m. and I can't get back to sleep, I ask Colin to tell me about genus and I fall right to sleep. Barb C. was determined to find the Wilson's Warbler so she pished and pished and out it came and it was so cooperative, just made sure most of us saw him. Not sure if Bill got to see it however.

We spent a good deal of time on the ridge, because it was hopping with birds. We finally decided to go back to the vehicles to get some water. Carol and Alan went down to the water, returned to report one Spotted Sandpiper and many Mallards. Bill, Barb, Barbara and I went to the water, no Sandpiper.

We walked the path to the bridge. There were a couple of Mallards there, looking for handouts. Nothing from us, there is plenty to eat from nature. Bill and I had a discussion about one of the 'Mallards' and we decided it was a Black Duck. Two ladies and a boy & girl came along to feed the ducks. I spoke to the little boy and asked if he could see differences in the two ducks. No, he said, I said look at the bill, oh yeah a different colour. look at the tail, yeah one has white in it, look at the overall colour, yes he said one is lighter and the other is black. I love teaching kids. Now yes that bird could have been a hybrid, but that is far too advanced for a little kid.

I caught up to the group and they were looking at a bird, but I can't remember what it was. Carol drew my attention to the House Wren singing and we walked over to see if we could locate it, we did. Such adorable little birds. Going to the outlook we came across about 2 dozen turkeys. I like to tease Bill about Wild Turkeys, asking him if he wanted to lead the group, nope. I just walked toward them clapping my hands and they left. Looking out over Mud Lake we saw more Wood Ducks, a Hooded Merganser and Great Blue heron right in front of us. All of a sudden it takes off making a rather very hoarse call as it flew off. We met the same group of 4 (two moms and a boy and a girl) and he told me he was afraid of the turkeys, I told him to walk and clap and he did. I guess he had reason to be nervous, the Tom turkey was bigger than him.

We walked toward the bridge and those Wild Turkeys took over the path. There were people at the other end waiting for the Turkeys to move and there was a group of people behind us waiting for those darn turkeys to move off the trail. I was raised on a poultry farm as you all have heard before and we had turkeys. I always thought turkeys were stupid. I again walked with confidence and clapped my hands rather loudly and those turkeys moved into the woods. At the bridge there were more Wood Ducks and a Muskrat chewing on some vegetation totally ignoring us humans.

Walking back to Cassels Road, we met a woman with a field guide in her hand, I thought good luck with that, the guides just don't do justice with those confusing fall warblers, but she was trying. We checked out the ridge again and it was totally quiet.

Time to head for the Mandarin to celebrate the 150 years Bill and Barb C have been on this earth. We were the last to arrive -- 15 or so minutes late. But right on time if you think of it as birders time!!!!!!! We all had a lovely time catching up with friends we had not seen in a while and just chatting to those we see regularly. I believe a good time was had by all.