Ottawa Area Birding: April 2026

April 2, 2026

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

Bill and I met up with Eleanor and Barb C at Mud Lake. We were all dressed for winter conditions, but Eleanor said she brought a lighter jacket for the afternoon. But at 8:00, it was cold and damp. Mud Lake was frozen, Barb C said she had gone over to check the lake so she walked on the ice, it immediately cracked, so melting will happen soon. We walked down to the river and saw Mallard Ducks, a pair of Wood Ducks and Common Mergansers. The water was flowing very fast, the ducks did not have to work to go down river. We watched the ducks and Canada Geese go from the water to the ice to land. Mallards made it look easy, while the Canada Geese were rather clumsy getting on land.

Down at the filtration plant we looked over to the Quebec side, many many Ring-billed Gulls, along with Double-crested Cormorants and four Great Egrets. We were there with one other birder who didn't stay long because of the cold.

We then went over to Britannia Yacht Club, gee I haven't been there for years. There we saw many Herring Gulls and a sprinkling of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls (they have yellow legs as opposed to pink legs of the Great Black-backed).

Driving to the next location we stopped on Britannia Road to watch a male Wild Turkey strut around in full courtship behaviour. I then noticed three female turkeys on the other side of the street.

We continued onwards to Solva street to check out the bird feeder on the trail, American Robins and a single Song Sparrow met us at the head of the trail. Northern Cardinals were singing. There was a huge puddle on the trail, I did not proceed, but Bill and Barb C did, at the feeder they saw American Tree Sparrows. Eleanor and I saw White-breasted Nuthatch and a very small flock of American Goldfinch.

We then drove to Grandview and turned into the Barry Mullen Park parking lot and walked over to the wooded area. Still some snow on the trail, but it was not slippery. At one point Eleanor said Bohemian Waxwings were heard by Merlin. She looked and looked and her patience paid off, she spotted a small flock of Waxwings. I went back to where she was standing and saw them fly off. A Downy Woodpecker was spotted along with a White-breasted Nuthatch. Back in the cars we drove to the end of Grandview. Barb C was out first she thought she spotted a raptor but no positive identification. We walked the trail a bit and watched a Common Ravens at their nest. The question was asked where do Crows nest, high up in trees often 60 feet or more. Now I am wondering if we saw a Crow or a Raven nesting. Crows nest between late March and August. Ravens nest between February and March. A bit later we heard guttural calls that I thought were Ravens. Upon listening to both Raven and Crow calls I am not at all sure. I downloaded my photo and Merlin identified it as an American Crow.

Next stop was Rifle Road. Eleanor had told us she had seen American Woodcock Monday evening. Bill was very interested in knowing exactly where, hence Eleanor led the group down Rifle Road. She stopped and told us this was the spot. We drove down to the water, frozen, no bird activity at all. While walking to the car, we heard and then saw a Common Raven. Exiting the parking lot we looked down Rifle Road at the Osprey nest, no sign of any Osprey there.

Barbara C was hosting her bridge club so she said her goodbyes and left us.

Then we went to Emerald Meadows storm ponds. There we saw a whole lot of Canada Geese, 2 Common Mergansers and 1 Hooded Merganser. In the trees beside the pond, we saw a single Mourning Dove, three Common Grackles and heard but did not see a House Finch.

It was about noon, time for lunch at the Richmond Lagoons parking lot. Eleanor joined Bill and me and we chatted as we ate. Then we saw some students rushing over to the path to the lagoons. Eleanor checked her phone, Great White-fronted Goose reported 10 minutes ago. We got out of the vehicle, rushing down the path with our scopes and cameras. We were told where the Greater White-fronted Goose was, it took a bit of time and we all found it. Take your eyes off your scope and then it's a mystery where the bird is. Most of the time it was sleeping with its head under its wing, so we had to look for the white line on the side.

The four students were excited to see the goose. Wow they came with just sweaters on, golly they must have been cold. When asked they said no. One guy was more excited than the other, he had seen the Ross's Goose. They told us they were in Grade 12 at South Carleton and taking the Photography Class. Lucky for them they were in that class when the boy had seen the notification of the Greater White-fronted Goose. It is always good to see young people interested in nature.

Along with the Greater White-fronted, we saw a pair of Northern Pintail and about 5 or 6 Mallards. While looking at all the Canada Goose, we saw a polka dotted headed Canada Goose.

Our next stop was at Twin Elm road, there we saw one single blue morph Snow Goose, who very randomly would lift its head, otherwise it was pointed away from us. I said to Eleanor Connie saw Killdeer last week, Eleanor said yes, I just heard one. Actually she probably heard three, located in the drier part of the field. While driving to the Ottawa dump a Turkey Vulture flew over.

Both Eleanor and Bill had driven down Cambrian Road near the dump earlier in the week. Bill said he was loath to go there, it is so muddy. When we got to Cambrian , surprise, surprise. It was dry and it appeared that they either graded it or they had put some gravel on it. The only birds at the dump appeared to be Ring-billed Gulls, American Crows and European Starlings. We drove to Trail road and around to Moodie Pond, only birds at the back of the pond were Canada Geese and more Gulls. At the front of the pond, we could see only Canada Geese.

At this point Eleanor left us. She never did put on the lighter coat, weather did not warm up, still cold and damp.

Bill and I went to one other spot - Sarsaparilla Trail hoping we might see a Fox Sparrow, we did not. Getting out of the vehicle, we were greeted by 5 Red squirrels feeding on seeds on the trail. They still had their winter coats on. We walked up to the feeder and saw Northern Cardinals and one Red-breasted Nuthatch.