Ottawa Area Birding: Mud Lake & Beyond with JC Birding

April 1, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Ken, Anita, Ian, Bill & Barb, Eleanor and I met at Mud Lake. Because of the cold weather overnight, the lake was frozen over except in a very small area near the bank. I arrived early and walked down to the road into the woods, while walking I saw a Wood Duck and Mallards. There were many, many male Red-winged Blackbirds singing. Ken was the first to arrive and I pointed out to him the little channel the Canada Geese had made out to the thicker ice. Interestingly, the Canada Geese just used that small channel - guess one of them was an ice breaker.

Once Bill & Barb, Ian, Anita and Eleanor arrived we decided a few of us would go up to the berm and the rest would walk to the point. Ian, Ken and Anita were very lucky they saw a Merlin just as they were walking up. The others saw a White-breasted Nuthatch. Here I will mention the weather, very windy and cold, April 1, I guess Mother Nature was playing a trick on us. It is supposed to be spring, but it felt like a very cold winter day. That was not going to stop us. We stopped to speak to another birder who told us a Great Egret was on the island tucked in. We did not see it.

We discussed where to go, thinking checking the roads to Carp would yield very little. Okay let's try Andrew Haydon Park, if the Park was locked we would continue onto Dick Bell. The Park was locked, driving by, we could see the pond was frozen over. We parked and decided to check out the bridge, Eleanor spoke to a friend who told us there were nothing but a few Canada Geese. We commented on her rosy red cheeks, she said it was from the north west wind. We checked out the geese hoping to see Cackling Geese, Eleanor can find them if they are there, they were none.

Where to go next, we have to get out of this wind. Let's try the Sarsaparilla Trail. I chose not to walk the trail because it was uneven and icy. I walked around the parking lot and truth be told I was feeling sorry for myself. Eleanor called me to say there was a Fox Sparrow there, yes I will walk down the trail. Ken came running down the path, to offer an arm ensuring I would not fall - I just don't want to reinjure my knee - Thank you Ken for your thoughtfulness. There was one Fox Sparrow, a couple of Song Sparrow and one American Tree Sparrow, along with a Dark-eyed Juncos and one Downy Woodpecker. We were in a clearing enclosed by the trees, sunny and no wind. We stayed for at least 30 minutes. Those Fox Sparrows are so beautiful and I rank it the best of the sparrows,

We proceeded to Twin Elms, hoping the water would be open and waterfowl in the fields. Lots of Canada Geese and Mallards, one Northern Pintail, another beautiful bird, and at least 2 dozen Killdeer. Ken left us to check out the Hooded Mergansers he had seen as he crossed the little bridge. After looking for different waterfowl and finding none, we decided to join Ken. He said he was successful at flushing them.

Off to the dump to find the Glaucous Gull, there was one seen, We drove down Cambrian Road W. - a very muddy road. Oh we saw Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, now finding one Glaucous Gull amongst there is darn near impossible. We did not see it, but I did see a Red-tail Hawk, having a very difficult time flying into the wind. There was a huge flock of European Starling flying around, We turned around to check out the other side of the dump, nothing of consequence. We met Alan and Carole, who I thought were going to join us, but they did not. Ken had checked out Discord to find that Peter B. had seen some good stuff at the Richmond Lagoon. Off we went.

Out of the vehicles, out comes the scope and off we went. Absolutely nothing in the first cell and then the second cell. No trespassing posted on a gate over the trail to the cell. ANNOYING. I emailed Peter tio find out if he knew the reason for the No Trespassing. His response was "I actually don't know what the official explanation for this is. It doesn't seem to keep people out, perhaps could limit city liability from people who go beyond the fence close to the sewage works". In the parking lot we saw three Cedar Waxwing, we watched them drinking at a little puddle of water under the coniferous tree. They were joined by American Robins. It was about noon time, so we decided to have lunch there.

We drove to almost the end of Barnsdale and turned on Lockview Road. This road is included in the area I cover for the CBC, there are at least four bird feeders there, really no luck there - House Sparrow and American Goldfinch. We turned around and drove to Watson's Mill. Where is Ken? He was at the other bridge in Manotick. He joined us, but nothing new - Canada Geese and Mallards. The most interesting thing we saw was a Canada Goose on the nest, just on the other side of the barricade on the lookout. She did not move when we all took a look at her.

It was time to head home, so we took River Drive and turned onto Rideau Road toward the water. There we saw at least 2 dozen Common Mergansers. There was one female who looked a bit weird because her feathers were blown, she looked like she had feathers pointing to the sky. Next and final stop was Nicolls Island - no birds but it was a nice little drive.

Anita said she needed gas and had seen the price was 131.9 at Mitch Owens and River Road. I suggested there was another gas station kitty corner to Vimy Bridge. Lucky her the price was a little cheaper at 129.9. Thank you no carbon tax.

Home by about 2:00. 35 species for such a pitsy day is pretty good.