ONRI Christmas Bird Count

 December 20, 2025

Hickstead Storm Pond to Panmure with JC Birding

 December 16, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Eleanor, Ian, Bill and I met at the Eagleson Park and Ride.  Bill thought it best if we headed to the Hickstead Storm Pond first.  None of us had been there before so it was a new spot.  When we arrived, it was obviously not unknown to the Mallards, so many of them and all quacking away. Eleanor asked me if males or females Mallards quacked, I said males  quack -- I was wrong, wrong, wrong. I looked it up and here is  what I found. Female mallards are famous for their loud classic quack which is a series of 2 to 10 notes that get softer; males do not quack but make a quieter raspy sound. Sorry Eleanor.

We came to the Storm Pond because an American Coot and a female Northern Pintail were reported.  Eleanor and I used our scopes and eagle eye Eleanor found the American Coot.  The Coot is a diver, so trying to tell another where the bird is difficult because chances are the Coot is underwater and of course comes out somewhere else.  But we all eventually saw it.  Eleanor found the Northern Pintail as well, now this bird is difficult to find because it has a kind of similar appearance to a female Mallard (check out the comparison photo).  The overall appearance of the Pintail is lighter, its beak is black and it's a bit smaller than the Mallard. Again we all got good looks at the bird.

We then headed to Panmure to hopefully see the Western Meadowlark.  We found the spot where it has been seen many times over the past weeks.  We saw Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves and a White-breasted Nuthatch. A car came up and parked behind us and a man asked if we were looking for the Meadowlark, yes, he walked down the road and into the field.  He did not stay too long.  A couple came to check out the area, the woman walked right to the area where the bird had been seen -- we were not too pleased at her actions but said nothing.  She did ask if we were looking for the Meadowlark, yes and she got the message that she should not stand where we were hoping the bird would fly into.  One of Eleanor's friends came along and he and Eleanor saw a Turkey Vulture - what was he doing here so late???( the Turkey Vulture not Eleanor's friend). While we were in the car we did see a small flock of Snow Buntings and some American Crows.  On the distant silo there were many Rock Pigeons. We hung around the area for at least an hour and a half, no Western Meadowlark for us.

While we were waiting for the Meadowlark to appear, Ian asked about a black bird in a far tree - was it an American Crow or a Common Raven.  We all thought it was  a large American Crow.  I saw it fly - no, not a Crow but Raven.  Raven's have wedge shaped tails and crows are straight across.  Eleanor shows Ian a comparison of Raven vs Crow's tails to Ian.  I love the learning that goes on in birding.

We discussed where to go next - we could check out where we had seen the Grosbeaks previously or we could go to Eagleson.  Why not both.  Well there were no Grosbeaks so we headed to Eagleson via Carleton Place.  Crossing the bridge, we saw Swans, or was it chunks of snow.  Bill took the first turn, which happened to be a construction place, he turned around and I suggested that we could get  out and check out the birds or sno from the bridge.  Bill stayed with the car while we checked out the situation, maybe 10 Trumpeter Swans, a small flock of  Common Goldeneye and some Canada Geese.  Good stop, as we were walking back, Bill had come to join us, he continued on and we went to the vehicle.  After a health break we headed to the Eagleson Road area.

At  Aikins and Eagleson, we knew there were Snow buntings ahead because two cars were parked just watching them.  Bill pulled up in front and we watched the show, the Buntings would come down on the spilled corn, eat momentarily then fly off.  At one point they all perched on the hydro lines, then back to the corn.  A truck came along and scared them, but the Buntings eventually flew back. 

Time to head back to the park & ride.  On the way there we saw a small flock of European Starlings.  We reached the parking lot and Eleanor knocked on my window to say she saw a woodpecker, last bird of the day Downy Woodpecker.

Species Noted

1. Northern Cardinal
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. American Crow
4. Mallard
5. Black Duck
6. American Coot
7. Northern Pintail
8. Blue Jay
9. Mourning Dove
10. Common Raven
11. White-breasted Nuthatch
12. Snow Buntings
13. Rock Pigeons
14. Turkey Vulture
15. Trumpeter Swan
16. Common Goldeneye
17. Canada Goose
18. Wild Turkey
19. European Starling
20. Downy Woodpecker

Tufted Titmouse & Pileated Woodpecker

 December 15, 2025

We had an eBird alert followed by a hot tip from BarbC that a Tufted Titmouse was coming to a feeder downtown on Lewis Street.  It was a very good feeder. We sure got cold fingers on the stake out.

Satisfied, we drove home to warm up, only to find a male Pileated Woodpecker at our suet feeder!

ONOH CBC Britannia Sector

 December 14, 2025

This year Bruce DiLabio assigned us to bird at Mud Lake with Michael & Paula Webster.  Barbara was not feeling well and did not participate in the morning.  It was chilly but not impossible. The three of us decided to stick together and have a mid morning break for coffee and treats at the Websters' nearby home.

After the welcome break, we completed the Mud Lake Loop then went to Harveys to meet Bruce.

At lunch we met another couple who had already birded the woods at the Champlain Bridge, so we decided to skip it and proceed to Black Rapids.  Barbara rallied to come with Bill on this one. Uncharacteristically, the river was devoid of ducks.