Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Arboretum and Strathcona Park with JC Birding

 December 13, 2022

 

 Birding Report by Jane Burgess

We met at Fletcher Wildlife Garden at 8:00.  Barbara wanted to check the woods for owls, we thoroughly checked the woods, but came up empty handed.  But we did see 4 or 5 House Finch high up in the coniferous trees along with some American Robins. A Pileated Woodpecker was seen working a tree with dense bush around it, no photos were possible unfortunately.  At the back feeder the Black-capped Chickadees were flying back and forth to the feeder.  It was very cold and I think everyone's  toes and fingers were numb, so we went back to the vehicles to warm up.  Eleanor left us at this time, she had work to do.  

The feeder at the front was busy enough - more Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches and then a Red-breasted Nuthatch flew in.  Ken spotted a bird in the tree next to the building -- a White-throated Sparrow, late for this bird to be around.  Then a lone Dark-eyed Junco flew in.  Ken walked down the hill to see if there was any activity - nope, very quiet.

We drove over to the Arboretum to check out Dows Lake, most of the water was frozen.  Our only reward was a single Herring Gull.

Off to Strathcona park, closer to Rockcliffe Park.  Our fingers and toes got a chance to get warm again.  There we saw lots and lots of Mallards with 2 Canada Geese in the flock.   We saw a good number of Common Goldeneye, but no Barrow's.  We saw a juvenile Ring-billed Gull, guess it did not know it was time it had gone to warmer places.

We had lunch in the parking lot after Ken, Barbara and Bill had spoken with the local RCMP who patrols the area.  Bill was the first to notice a Ukraine flag being carried by a man, then a few more people joined in.  A small protest in front of a building, which was not the Russian embassy.  I wanted Barbara to take photos, but she and Bill thought better not to, so none were taken.

Over to Donald street, we walked toward the footbridge.  We saw Common Mergansers as well as a male Hooded Merganser in with all the Common Goldeneye, but no Barrow's Goldeneye.  A Common Raven flew by calling, then it was joined by American Crows harassing it.  There was a huge flock of European Starlings in trees as we approached the footbridge, at the bridge still no Barrow's.  Walking back, Barbara suggested we continue on past where we had parked the cars because we had not checked out that part of the river.  Barbara and I walked while Ken and Bill moved the vehicles.  Barbara and I checked every Goldeneye, but they were all Common.  Barbara said to me wouldn't it be nice if we found it. Barbara went to take a photo and her batteries had died so off she went to change her batteries at a nearby park bench.  We both got phone calls, yes Bill and Ken had found the Barrow's.  Off we went to join them.  The bird was on the other side of the ride nearer the shore, oh why hadn't we gone there?  We did not, so photos were taken from the side we were on.  We followed the bird and took more photos.  Finally we decided it was time to go home, oh no Barbara was missing a mitten, probably left it at the bench, nope, she and Bill retraced her steps and yes it was found.  Meantime Ken and I were conducting a financial exchange -- mmm doesn't that sound interesting.  Enough said.

Thank goodness the weather had warmed up, so no complaints about the weather after getting to Strathcona. Home shortly after 3:00 and we got our target bird - Barrow's Goldeneye.  24 species are not bad for a cold winter day.  

Bill, Barbara, Eleanor and I  will be participating in the ONRI CBC (Richmond, Munster, Manotick and Stittsville Christmas Bird Count) on Saturday December 17, let's hope the roads will be cleared after our big predicted snowfall Thursday night and Friday.

 

Species Noted

1. Wild Turkey
2. American Crow
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. House Finch
5. Pileated Woodpecker
6. Downy Woodpecker
7. Northern Cardinal
8. American Robin
9. Mourning Dove
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch
11. White-breasted Nuthatch
12. Dark-eyed Junco
13. White-throated Sparrow
14. Herring Gull
15. Rock Pigeon
16. Common Goldeneye
17. Mallard
18. Ring-billed Gull
19. Canada Goose
20. European Starling
21. Common Raven
22. Common Merganser
23. Hooded Merganser
24. Barrow's Goldeneye

Tufted Titmouse in Kemptville

 December 8, 2022

We missed it on December 5, so we decided to give it another go on this fine day. We checked out the feeder at 2469 Fairrmile Road in Kemptville.

This time we were successful. And we also got a Red-tailed Hawk on the way home.

 

 

Champlain Bridge, Andrew Haydon Park, Kemptville & Birchgrove Road with JC Birding

 December 5, 2022

 

Birding Report by Jane Burgess

 

 We met up at the parking lot, Ottawa side of the Champlain Bridge.  Barb was already there and had seen the duck before we got there.  The bird was mixed in with some Common Goldeneye, not that easy to see but one could see it between dives and waves.  We then drove to Dick Bell hoping we would see the Black Scoter.  We walked to the tip and saw a Common Loon, but we saw interesting ducks at Andrew Hayden so we walked over there. While we were looking for the Black Scoter, something caught Bill's eye over in the empty boat docking area - a mink, an excellent sighting on Bill's behalf. While we passed the boat ramp at the Sailing Club we saw  Common Mergansers and maybe 10 Mallards.

At Andrew Hayden, there were Red-breasted Mergansers and Bufflehead.  A lady asked if we had seen the Long-tailed Duck, no where is it?  Her reply was over at the bridge, Bill wandered over and yes it was still there. I was turned around to speak to the lady and all of a sudden this small raptor flew over -- Merlin, another good bird.  When Barb and I made our way to the vehicles, we also saw the female Long-tailed Duck, another good bird.

Where to next and where to park Barb's vehicle.  We decided on a safe place to park and off we went to 2440 Fairmile Road, near Kemptville, hoping we would see the Tufted Titmouse.  On the 416 we saw a Red-tailed Hawk.  On our arrival, we parked near the house and we were asked to move the vehicle because the homeowners had requested birders to do so.  There were people staking the area out and told us it had been heard earlier this morning but not yet seen.  A pair of Pine Siskin were at the feeders -- first for us for this season.  Also Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinch, Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal.  We hung around for over an hour, but no Tufted Titmouse.  Well do we leave or do we stay. 

We decided we should go to the Boreal Chickadee sight - I think it was 45 minutes away at 3613 Magladry, well east of Navan.  We stopped at a Tim Horton's and had a bite to eat.  On the way to the Boreal Chickadee sight, a Pileated Woodpecker flew by, so easy to identify.  Then Bill got a Rare bird alert - the Tufted Titmouse was seen, about 30 minutes after we left and at a slightly different location.

We got to Magladry and watched the incorrect house while we were eating our lunch.  At that house we saw lots more American Goldfinch, a Downy Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch.  We heard a Common Raven.  Mmmm some cars are parked over on the other side of the Birchgrove.  More cars and we use our bins to see who they are, we recognize John Ruddy. His group is looking at the feeders at the corner of Magladry and Birchgrove.  We join the group, talk about mega luck.  As I join the group, someone points out the Boreal Chickadee, then Bill and Barb join the group and they see it as well.  Unfortunately the bird went from one tree to another and then it was gone.  We hung around for at least an hour, John heard its song, can't say I heard it.  John pointed out American Tree Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch and an immature Herring Gull.  John's group left individually, John left, until only a gentleman was left, I spoke with him at length and invited him to join our group.  So perhaps we will see him sometime on our weekly outings.

On the way home, our big find was a small flock of Mourning Doves!!!  I teased Bill, 'we can't go home until we see some Wild Turkeys', Bill just smiled.  On my way from Bill's house, on Greenbank Road,  I saw one lone Wild Turkey that had not gone to roost yet.

Good outing - Common Loon, Mink, Long Tail Duck, Pine Siskin and a Boreal Chickadee. Can't complain, yes it would have been good to see a Black Scoter and a Tufted Titmouse, but they will be seen on another day.

 

Species Noted

1. Canada Goose
2. Harlequin Duck
3. Common Goldeneye
4. Ring-billed Gull
5. American Crow
6. Common Loon
7. Common Merganser
8. Mallard
9. Red-breasted Merganser
10. Long-tailed Duck
11. Bufflehead
12. Blue Jay
13. Merlin
14. American Goldfinch
15. House Sparrow
16. Red-tailed Hawk
17. Rock Pigeon
18. Pine Siskin
19. Northern Cardinal
20. Black-caped Chickadee
21. Dark-eyed Junco
22. Pileated Woodpecker
23. European Starling
24. Common Raven
25. Downy Woodpecker
26. White-breasted Nuthatch
27. Red-breasted Nuthatch
28. Boreal Chickadee
29. American Tree Sparrow
30. Herring Gull
31. Mourning Dove
32. Wild Turkey

Critters

1. Mink