Westmeath to Lake Doré with JC Birding

 November 18, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met at Eagleson Park & Ride.  We took two vehicles - Barb C and Ian in one vehicle and Bill, Barbara, Eleanor and I in the other. Of course the first stop was Antrim Truck Stop for their baked goods.

We drove to the Cobden boat launch, where we saw Hairy Woodpecker, Hooded Merganser and Mallards.  It was cold so Barbara, Bill and I went back to sit in the car.  I knew what Barb C was looking for and she and Eleanor found one -- Common Loon. We backtracked a bit to Foresters Falls Road.  Bill had a plan but there was a road closure so the plan changed.

We drove down Beachburg Road and we spotted some Hooded Mergansers on Little Lakes.  Eleanor pointed to a small parking lot.  Out came the scopes -- what - White-wing Scoter (good one and close). Well close is a relative thing, when we see White-wing Scoter at Shirley's Bay, they are usually very far away.  There were also common Goldeneye.  A common Raven flew by letting us know he was there.

We finally ended up on Pleasant Valley Road - oh we were happy.  Sandhill cranes about 300 of them.  Bill said there are some on the other side.  We drove up a bit and wow - at least a 1000 of them.  Various places along our route we saw smaller flocks of the Cranes.  In total we estimated we saw at least 2000 of them.  Let me get back to us seeing the 1000 or so, we see this huge bird in the tree in front of us -- Juvenile Bald Eagle.  During the day we saw at least 6 or 7 more.  With one we debated whether it was a Golden Eagle, no slight dihedral, Bill took a photo and said Bald Eagle.  I believe we saw maybe 2 full adults, the others various stages of juvenile.  I remember I think it was last year we saw some very dark large birds, it took a while before we came up with Juvenile Bald Eagle.

Bill was driving along and I asked him to stop.  There in the field was a large dark bird, we all thought turkey, but something was old about it.  Ian took a photo, another juvenile Bald Eagle.  Scratch Wild Turkey from the list. 

Of course while we were driving the roads, we saw many, many flocks of Canada Geese.

We had our lunch at the Westmeath Boat Launch.

Next up was Lake Dore -- this was a good stop. We brought our scopes to the shore.   We thought there were just 4 Trumpeter Swans. No, there must have been maybe 10 o4 12, because when we drove around the lake we saw more and more.  While looking at the first four, we noticed a Grebe mmm Red necked or Horned.  After the discussion all agreed it was a Red-necked Grebe because of how large it was and the size of the bill. At some point, I turned around and saw a Pileated Woodpecker, I called the others attention to it.  We were packing up, but Eleanor was still checking out of the water.  Come look at this, is this a gull or a long-tailed duck.  It was far, but definitely a Long-tail Duck, because of the long tail, head shape and how fast the bird was moving in the water.  

All and all an excellent day - Sandhill cranes in numbers, lots of Bald Eagles, Long Tailed Duck, Common Loon.   We were happy with the day, But any day birding is good, but today was particularly good.

Thanks Bill and Ian for driving.

Thanks for the photos.

Species Noted

1.     Black-capped Chickadee
2.     Dark-eyed Junco
3.     Canada Goose
4.     American Crow
5.     Ring-billed Gull
6.     Hairy Woodpecker
7.     Hooded Merganser
8.     Mallard
9.     Common Loon
10.     Common Raven
11.     Blue Jay
12.     White-winged Scoter
13.     Common Goldeneye
14.     European Starling
15.     Rock Pigeon
16.     Sandhill Cranes
17.     Bald Eagle
18.     Mourning Dove
19.     Snow Buntings
20.     American Goldfish
21.     Trumpeter Swan
22.     Pileated Woodpecker
23.     Bufflehead
24.     Long-tailed Duck
25.     Lesser Scaup
26.     Red-necked Grebe

Dick Bell to Richmond and Our First Snowy Owl

 November 15, 2025

We found our first Red-breasted Mergansers of the season along with a sleeping White-winged Scoter. On Rushmore, we saw our first Snowy Owl of the season.  Many photographers were traipsing across the private muddy fields to get close, but we stayed back.

Richmond to North Gower with JC Brding

 November 11, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

I got a text at 6:00 a.m. indicating Eleanor would not be joining us.  So Bill (Barbara wasn't feeling 100%) and I went birding today and the first place we went was Akins road. We saw a mixed  flock of at least 200 Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.  Oh we were happy seeing those fellows.  We watched them for at least 30 minutes, always coming back to the same area for what looked like grit.  Bill will check his photos for Lapland Longspurs.

We then drove down Barnsdale Road  to behind Moodie Pond.  Before we got out of the vehicle, high in the sky we saw a Rough-legged Hawk.  We were hopeful that we may see it again as we would be going to the dump area.  We stopped behind the pond -- lots of Canada Geese, 15 or so Green-wing Teal and 1 Black Duck and of course Mallards.

We turned on Trail Road and stopped near the dump and were checking out Dark-eyed Junco and American Tree Sparrows, when we saw this larger bird (larger than a junco but not as big as a Blue Jay) clinging onto the fence, it had a longish tail and a killer beak.  OMG Northern Shrike, up close and personal.  We saw it  first in the chain link fence around the dump (see a not so great photo).  I have never seen a Northern Shrike  clinging to a chain linked fence before,  always on top of a tree. It flew and finally decided on a small shrub.  What a great find.  We were happy campers for certain.  

We then drove around to the other side of the dump and drove down Cambrian Road, there must have been 1000+ European Starlings filling up at least three or four trees (see Bill's photos).  On a light standard in the dump area,  there was one single Common Raven.

Next up - Moody Pond.  Well Barb C would have been happy, we saw one Common Loon. one Black-back Gull, Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls and 100's of Canada Geese.  On the way to the next stop we saw a small flock of Wild Turkeys.  Dobson Rd was a big disappointment - no birds.  

Next road was Goodstown road, there is this one home that has amazing bird feeders and today was not a disappointment - Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatches and Dark-eyed Juncos and then on the return trip we saw Northern Cardinal and Black-capped Chickadees.

We stopped birding at 10:50 to about 11:20 to listen to the Remembrance Day coverage that was on the CBC.

Bill asked where to next, my response was I don't know the name of the street, you know the place where we see Snow buntings and sometimes Lapland Longspurs on corn spills on the road -- good thing Bill and I have been birding a long while,  He knew exactly where it was - Lockhead.  We got there and parked beside Foster Farms - so many Rock Pigeons, Ring-billed Gulls.  The American Crows were definitely in the minority and so many Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.  We watched them and took photos, they were in the fields and close or  on the road.  Of course trucks and cars passed and  frightened them away, but they came back.  After we finished looking at the birds we drove further down the road past the North Gower Grains where there are about 20 silos altogether.  Bill was headed for the little hill that has lots of trees on it.  He started to say something but  didn't get out of his mouth, when a Red-tailed Hawk flew from the trees.  Bill got out of the vehicle but it was on a mission and  took off to places unknown.   We turned around and drove to the other end of Lockhead, a small flock of Snow buntings.  We decided we would go back and watch the show as we ate our lunch.  Sadly the Buntings and Larks had flown, except for a few.

The last stop was Richmond Storm Ponds.  My, oh my many many Canada Geese and Bill found one Hooded Merganser and two Mallards.

On our birding journey we saw many many Canada Geese in the fields and flying south.  Eleanor would have had a challenge estimating the number of Canada Geese for the ebird report.

We were home around 1:45.  I was cold and in fact I am still cold and it's 6:00, but we had a good day.

 The absolute best bird of the day was the Northern Shrike.

Species Noted

1. Black-capped Chickadee
2. Dark-eyed Junco
3. Northern Cardinal
4. Canada Geese
5. American Crow
6. Horned Larks
7. Snow Buntings
8. Rough-legged Hawk
9. Green-winged Teal
10. Mallard
11. Black Duck
12. Tree Sparrow
13. Northern Shrike
14. Herring Gull
15. American Goldfinch
16. European Starling
17. Common Raven
18. Common Loon
19. Great Black-backed Gull
20. Wild Turkey'
21. Blue Jay
22. Mourning Dove
23. House Sparrow
24. Hairy Woodpecker
25. White-breasted Nuthatch
26. Rock Pigeon
27. Red-tail Hawk
28. Hooded Merganser

Harlequin Duck at Billings Bridge

 November 7, 2025

Eastern Lagoons with JC Birding

 November 4, 2025

Birding Report by Barbara Chouinard

Tuesday November 4, 2025 Birding Day in the Eastern Lagoons

Jane is very busy this week orchestrating a family Murder Mystery Night which we are looking to forward hearing all about it.  Maybe Jane is not only a birder but the murderer??

It was a sunny morning when we met up at Elmvale Shopping Centre.  I had not noticed the wind when I left downtown Ottawa.  Maybe there was none.  BUT as Eleanor, Ken and Barbc waited for Bill and Barbara who were stuck in traffic, the wind was gusty, blustery and chilly.  One had to hold on to one’s scope today.

At the parking lot were Rock Pigeons, Ring billed Gulls and European Starlings.  Oh, did I mention, Canada Geese.  We saw lots and lots and lots of birds today, problem being they were mostly Canada Geese, probably in the thousands.

So, we set off.   Bill and Barbara and Ken in one vehicle and Eleanor driving her car with Barbc.  We got lost in Russell/Embrun nexus of the universe.  My Google maps would not work properly.  On the highway I tried to get google maps to work.  It could not find the coordinates I put in for Road 3 and Road 6, Russell.  Nope.  To further complicate matters, I had no reading glasses and we were driving east in the sunshine directly in our eyes.  All we could do was laugh.

Eleanor managed to get some google maps but we overshot, (we think) a road or two.  Finally, leaving the phone on and talking with Ken and Bill and Barbara got us to a happy meet-up. Finally!  We were so glad to see them.  

Today we decided to do a good birding survey of the Eastern Lagoons.  Maybe some Snow Geese...

The Russell Lagoons were “locked up” and it did not appear that anything was there.  So, we went on to the Embrun Lagoons.  There were lots of Canada Geese here.  In the distance, Ken spotted a flying hawk, which was determined to be a Red-tailed Hawk.  Once it crossed over it was mobbed by American Crows, maybe 5 of them.  In the lagoons were Mallards, Green winged Teal, and Black Duck.  There were strings of Canada Geese in the sky and Eleanor spotted something different in the far sky.  We saw 5 Snow Geese flying.  Trouble was they were flying away from us.  But no doubt when the sunshine caught them at the right angle, the beautiful white with the black on the wings was beautiful.   Ken took a stroll down the road to check the next cell.  We lost him but could only see a green form flapping (Ken wore his green jacket today).   Luckily, we did not have to search for Ken.  We laughed.

At Casselman, the lagoon gate was open.  Again, lots and lots, estimate was 2,000 Canada Geese.  We looked through the geese and found a tiny female Bufflehead.  It had the little white comma directly behind its eye.  Barbara spotted movement in a nearby bush near the gate.  The bird came out and sat on a branch with a red berry.  The bird had a very crisp white breast and gray top and head in the sunlight.  It was very handsome Dark eyed Junco and sat for a bit on the branch.  I don’t know if there was a photo op.  Barbara most likely got a great shot of it.

Next we headed to the St Isidore Lagoons.  On the way there was a bird on the hydro wire.  From our angle it looked like it had a round head and body and rusty sides.  It flew after a minute or so.  So, it was a mystery bird but Eleanor and I were tending toward saying it could be an Eastern Bluebird.  Confirmed by Bill's photo:  a female Eastern Bluebird.  The bird was back lit so it looked pretty well all black except for the bit that had the right angle of the sun on it and it was the rusty breast that we could see a bit of.

At St Isidore, in a lagoon of thousands of Canada Geese, there was one white bird.  The waterfowl were moving away from us but the white bird stuck out and it was moving with the Geese.  Eventually the whole group lifted up in the air to fly around and we could follow the white bird.    We believe it was a Ross’s Goose as it was very small and had a small pinched-type of bill. In the nearby bushes by the road Eleanor and I stopped and pished as Eleanor had seen something fly across the road.  In the Pines, a Black capped Chickadee responded and showed up.

We continued on to Moose Creek Lagoons.  This is the lagoon that once a fence was put up to keep us and other people out, one can’t really see into the lagoon which is wrapped up in plastic.  Plus, the water level was low.  Eleanor stood on her car door edge to see better.  Eleanor is pretty tall if you ask me and she saw a group of Snow Geese fly into the next nearby lagoon cell but there was no way to see them once they landed.  Also, at the lagoon there was a workman in a pickup truck with some equipment to monitor some things.  Barbara had kindly offered us some treats: granola bars/hard candy, etc.  Thank you, Barbara.  She even offered some to the fellow in the pick-up truck.  The fellow checked around the whole lagoon driving his pick-up truck but the birds did not rise up and fly around.  Ken said there was a sign at the road that explained that the lagoons would be expanded.  So maybe the fellow was doing some work on the expansion.

In the blustery wind we ate our lunch standing up and chatting.  It was still sunny but once in the vehicle we were happy to use the seat heater to warm us up.

We moved on to Chrysler.  Bill walked over to us to tell us he had seen a Mourning Dove.  On a day like today every species counts.  So, thank you Bill.  Here the water was very low and the “falls” were pretty calm.  There were no birds on or around the water on the rocks.

At the lagoons, Bill saw two types of flying ducks here and he is sure one is a Lesser Scaup and the other species a Gadwall or Green winged Teal.  It was too far away to tell.

Eleanor had a Blue Jay (not the baseball team player).   We then decided to head home taking the roads that still may have some Sandhill Cranes.  We down Frank Kenny, Milton, Smith, McFadden and Ramsayville Roads.  Nope, no luck with the cranes.

By this time, we could see the Crow Highway in the sky.  Crows were traveling to their night group roosts.  It was still sunny but soon with the time change two days ago, the sun would start going down.  Throughout the day we saw massive farm equipment on the county roads.  The farmers were taking advantage of the dry and sunny day.

We returned to our cars and said our farewells.

Writer:   Barbara Chouinard

Confluence of the Castor River with the South Nation.

View from the bridge at Crysler.

We must have set a record for the smallest species list today.  We should record it.  Five sets of pretty good eyes and few birds.  Count is 16 species. Nevertheless, it was a great birding day.

1.      Canada Geese

2.      Rock Pigeon

3.      Ring billed Gull

4.      European Starling

5.      Red tailed Hawk

6.      American Crow

7.      Common Raven  

8.      Mallard

9.      Green winged Teal

10.   Black Duck

11.   Snow Geese

12.   Ross’s Goose

13.   Eastern Bluebird female was the Mystery Bird

14.   Mourning Dove

15.  Lesser Scaup

16.  Gadwall (maybe)

One green mammal waving arms (that was Ken)