Ottawa Area Birding: Gananoque Lake Nature Reserve with JC Birding

June 24, 2025

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We (Barbara, Bill, Barb C., Ian, and Jane) set out at 7:00 There were not many birds to seen along the 416- Red-winged Blackbirds, American Crow, Turkey Vulture and a lone Wild turkey. We stopped at the first enroute on the 401 and there we saw Ring-billed Gulls and a few Barn Swallows.

We started birding in earnest once we were out of Mallorytown. We stopped to look at the only Kestrel seen all day. We heard Chestnut-sided Warbler so we stopped again. It was a good stop -- Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Northern House Wren, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, American Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. In the distance perched on a tree, Barb C thought she saw a Turkey Vulture, once the cameras came out, nope not a TV but a Double-crested Cormorant. The Great-crested

Flycatcher was busy at the nest hole in the utility pole. Mr. Yellowbellied Sapsucker made a very brief

stop and fly off to the great beyond. The Northern House Wren was busy feeding her youngsters-her nest was a the top of a broken off tree.

Another stop we saw Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow and House Sparrow. We saw Eastern Bluebirds in several places, but the best place was on the hydro lines going to a farm - a male and female Bluebird. But they were not cooperative, they flew off once the second car drove up. Finally we saw Eastern Meadowlarks. We stopped for a Baltimore Oriole, but again it flew off. I took a photograph for identification only, the photo was not that good. While we were stopped a hawk flew over, I yelled, Hawk Hawk, Hawk. I thought it was a Broad-winged Hawk, nope, Bill took a photo of the flyover and it turned out to be a Red-shouldered Hawk.

We took a lot of time looking at birds and not focusing on our destination. We finally arrived at 11:30, we had decided we would drive part way and part on a side road. That was a good plan only to be stopped in our tracks, with a sign "Caution, this road has Pot Holes, Sink Holes and Assholes. Drive with caution. Such a welcoming sign!!!! This sign was posted on a gate that was closed, on the right side of the fence indicated No Trespassing. Bill spoke to the others about walking the road, we decided yes we would. The cars had to be parked back at the entrance on the road, because there were lots of No Trespassing signs. Again so welcoming. Ann, Ian, Guy and I walked ahead of the group and heard the Cerulean Warblers. Ann wanted me to play the song, but the others were not there. They were back a bit, so I walked to the hill to tell them we had the Cerulean Warblers, they were trying to photograph a Yellow-throated Vireo, but the Warbler trumps the Vireo. We played Merlin, the birds just moved a lot high in the trees. We all got to see the birds, but I think Guy was the only one who got a photo of the bird. At that point Ann decided she could not walk any further, so she and Guy walked back together. They left for the day. We walked further only to hear and see an Ovenbird and hear a Northern Cardinal.

Our stomachs were growling about this time, so we walked to the car. Where to find a place, the first place had far too many flies, so Bill went looking. While we were looking for the picnic place, lucky us we had a Green Heron fly by. We stopped at the first swamp that used to be so good, the only new bird was a Trumpeter Swan. We met a man there, who was looking at dragonflies. We drove a bit further and there was a notice of a cemetery entrance, Perfect place - there was a parking lot and trees to provide shade. While we were eating our lunch an Indigo Bunting serenaded us, then we took some photos.

Time to start heading home. On the way back, we saw our first Osprey nest. Momma osprey was not too pleased because we stopped to take some photos. We made another stop for a Red-tailed Hawk, it made a quick get away. Another large swamp, that when we first stopped at it many years ago, was so good. This year part of it was totally dried up. We did see a Common Loon way out in the river, a couple of Great Blue Herons, and closer we saw a single Mallard. We had a Northern Flicker fly over the swamp and perched on the hydro lines. Barb C put her things in Bill's vehicle and Ian left to let his dog out. At another small swamp we saw a Kingbird.

We were driving through Smiths Falls, and Bill asked should we stop at the Swale, sure why not. There we saw lots of Wood Ducks and their babies and two Common Gallinules. A gray Ghost (Northern Harrier) flew over the swamp.

We often see Harriers fly low over fields and sometimes we forget their previous name was Marsh Hawk.

We visited another swamp, but nothing to see. We had had rain off and on, on the way home, sometimes it was light rain and other times it was raining cats and dogs. Bill decided to take Rogers Stevens home. I said I don't like this way home, we never see anything on this road. About 5 minutes later, an American Bittern flew over. Bill says to me "so we never see anything on this road". I laughed. It started to rain really hard and both Barb and I wondered if we would get soaked when we got home. Nope it had stopped raining in Barrhaven.

Another good day of birding and friendship,

Thank you Bill and Barbara for your photos.