5 September 2009 Ottawa (all day to 5 p.m.)
Leader: Jeff Skevington.
Today’s OFO outing in the Ottawa area went well. 22 people participated over the course of the day. The weather was a bit too nice for birding (sunny and at least 24 degrees), but it was great to be out. We started our day at Mud Lake (Britannia) where there were several small flocks of warblers–we ended up with 18 species of warblers today. We then went to Andrew Haydon Park and had great looks at a Solitary Sandpiper (with a Northern Waterthrush running on the mud in the same field of view), a Green Heron and the Brant that has been around all summer. At Shirley’s Bay we walked to the end of the dike. The highlights were a Palm Warbler and good views of a Blackpoll Warbler (one of several seen). We then headed further west, stopping along March Valley Road and Berry Side Road. At the latter we had a small family of Ruffed Grouse together with a Snowshoe Hare. A pair of American Kestrels were in their usual place as we drove over to Constance Creek (off Thomas Dolan Road) and to our final spot, the Bill Mason Centre (near DunAmerican Robin). The highlight along the Bill Mason Centre trail was a Philadelphia Vireo.
A summary of the day’s list (via ebird) is below:
Observation date: 9/5/09,
Number of species: 86
Brant 1, Canada Goose 70, Wood Duck 10, Gadwall 2, American Wigeon 8, American Black Duck 4, Mallard 50, Blue‐winged Teal 10, Green‐winged Teal 8, Hooded Merganser 2, Ruffed Grouse 4, Wild Turkey 3, Pied‐billed Grebe 2, Double‐crested Cormorant 140, Great Blue Heron 5, Turkey Vulture 6, Osprey 5, Bald Eagle 1, Northern Harrier 1, Sharp‐shinned Hawk 1, Cooper’s Hawk 3, Red‐tailed Hawk 1, American Kestrel 2, Merlin 2, Killdeer 1, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Lesser Yellowlegs 1, Wilson's Snipe 1, Ring‐billed Gull 100, Herring Gull 45, Great Black‐backed Gull 30, Rock Pigeon 1, Mourning Dove 2, Ruby‐throated Hummingbird 1, Belted Kingfisher 5, Yellow‐bellied Sapsucker 3, Downy Woodpecker 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker (Yellow‐shafted) 4, Pileated Woodpecker 4, Eastern Wood‐Pewee 1, Least Flycatcher 1, Eastern Phoebe 6, Blue‐headed Vireo 2, Warbling Vireo 6, Philadelphia Vireo 1, Red‐eyed Vireo 7, Blue Jay 8, American Crow 30, Common Raven 4, Barn Swallow 1, Black‐capped Chickadee 20, White‐breasted Nuthatch 4, Brown Creeper 1, American Robin 4, Gray Catbird 3, European Starling 8, Cedar Waxwing 25, Nashville Warbler 14, Northern Parula 2, Chestnut‐sided Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler 4, Black‐throated Blue Warbler 3, Yellow‐rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 20, Black‐throated Green Warbler 8, Blackburnian Warbler 1, Pine Warbler 2, Palm Warbler 1, Bay‐breasted Warbler 4, Blackpoll Warbler 5, Black‐and‐white Warbler 1, American Redstart 4, Ovenbird 2, Northern Waterthrush 2, Common Yellowthroat 3, Wilson’s Warbler 2, Scarlet Tanager 2, Chipping Sparrow 12, Song Sparrow 4, Swamp Sparrow 3, White‐throated Sparrow 8, Northern Cardinal 1, Rose‐breasted Grosbeak 8, Common Grackle 2, American Goldfinch 6
Thanks to all who came out today!
31 May 2009 Ottawa (until Noon)
Leader: Bernie Ladouceur.
Windy conditions and unseasonably cold temperatures didn’t freeze out the enthusiasm of about twenty participants as they explored several locations west of Ottawa. We started by sending two scouts to look for terns at Britannia Point. None appeared to be present, so we headed directly to the Carp Hills, a 10km by 3 km outcrop of the Canadian Shield, rich in breeding species. The main targets were Golden‐winged Warbler and Eastern Towhee.
We made a brief stop at marsh just below the ridge and noted a Green Heron and a calling Virginia Rail.
Once on the ridge, we managed to locate three Golden‐winged Warblers at two locations. Only one of the birds sang persistently, and from a location well back from the road. The group exercised great patience and were rewarded when the bird flew to a bare tree from which it sang for over 10 minutes. Everyone was afforded excellent looks through telescopes.
The towhees were not so cooperative, but again with patience the entire group was able hear at least one singing male.
Other highlights included a Black‐billed Cuckoo, Alder Flycatchers, Field Sparrows and Ruffed Grouse. However, for the most part song was very subdued.
We left the Carp Ridge and made a rest stop at the Baxter Centre near Dunrobin. Most participants (who weren't otherwise occupied!) got to see a Willow Flycatcher uttering its “wit” call.
Next stop was at a marsh on Stonecrest Road. The wind made it difficult to hear anything so we headed for Almonte. En route, on Stonecrest Road was a pair of Red‐shouldered Hawks being mobbed by crows. The people at the front and the back of the convoy had great views; the people in the middle, not as great.
Before we entered Almonte, we made a brief stop at the Almont Burntlands. Here most of us were able to hear a Clay‐colored Sparrow and see Wild Turkey, Brown Thrasher and Northern Rough‐winged Swallow.
Our final stop was the Almonte sewage lagoons, where 300 shorebirds had been present the previous week. This day, there were only six species and the birds were distant. A few of us managed to locate a White‐rumped Sandpiper.
The good news is we exited the lagoons just before the rain started; the bad news is we didn't return to Britannia Point where two Arctic Terns had put in an appearance later in the morning. That’s birding–but I hope it is some consolation that these birds were spending their time on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River.
Some bad luck and the weather aside, it wasn’t a bad a day: the leader recorded close to 90 species and group had a good time and found some good birds.
18 April 2009 Spring Waterfowl Migration East of Ottawa
Leader: Bob Cermak.
Today’s OFO field trip for spring waterfowl migrants east of Ottawa was thoroughly enjoyed by the 15 participants. Highlights of the 50 species seen were Ross's Goose (adult on Milton road), Snow Goose, American Bittern (2 west of the Petrie Island causeway), Redhead duck (4 at Embrun lagoon), Sandhill Crane (3 on Milton), an early Spotted Sandpiper (Giroux road ponds) and a Great Horned Owl on it’s nest. 14 duck species were seen.
24 January 2009 Ottawa Area
Leader: David Britton.
This morning I led about 18 hardy birders on an OFO birding trip in the Ottawa area. On the upside, we had a crystal clear, sunny morning, with not a cloud in the sky. On the downside, the wind was howling out of the north and yielding windchills in the ‐35 degrees Celsius range! Nevertheless, we perservered and (with intermittent breaks in the cars to warm up) managed to find some good birds.
We began the day along the Rideau River at the Ottawa Tennis Club. The recent cold temperatures have left very little open water, but eventually we tracked down the overwintering male Barrow’s Goldeneye amongst several Common Goldeneyes in a small area of open water just north of the Hurdman Bridge (where Highway 417 passes over the Ottawa River). One of the trip participants also briefly saw the female Barrow’s Goldeneye in an area of open water closer to the Tennis Club.
Our next stop was at the end of Grandview Road. Unfortunately the long‐staying Northern Hawk‐Owl wasn't found, but given the temperature we didn't spend too much time looking. Instead we had great looks at a mixed flock of Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls that were at feeders near the intersection of Grandview Road and Hastings. A lingering Dark‐eyed Junco was also present here. On Hastings Road we had great looks at a male White‐winged Crossbill feeding in the top of a spruce tree. Some of the group also got a good look at a Northern Shrike here.
We continued on to the Hilda Road feeders at Shirley’s Bay. There were the usual Black‐capped Chickadees and American Tree Sparrows around the feeders as well as a flock of about 15 Pine Siskins. With the Pine Siskins was a fairly pale Common Redpoll, but detailed study showed that it was a Common Redpoll at the frosty end of the spectrum for that species. On the way back to the cars we had about a dozen Bohemian Waxwings fly over.
After a warm up at Tim Hortons we continued down March Valley Road. No raptors were visible in the wind‐swept fields, so we finished up at the Duck Club Feeders near the corner of Riddell Drive with the usual assortment of feeder birds plus a flyby Common Raven.
Thanks to everyone who braved the cold weather to join me on this trip.
26 January 2008 Ottawa Area
Leader: David Britton.
This morning I was joined by 18 birders for a pleasant morning of casual birding in the Ottawa area. The weather was very pleasant with mostly clear skies, no wind and temperatures around ‐8 degrees Celsius.
We began west of Ottawa, along Huntmar Road where, just north of Highway 417, we had a nice comparison of both light and dark morph Rough‐legged Hawks as well as a nearby Red‐tailed Hawk. A Northern Shrike was in the same area. A little further north on Huntmar, between Richardson Sideroad and the Carp River Bridge, a flock of 200+ Snow Buntings in a field of corn stubble on the east side of the road also contained one Lapland Longspur. Despite a fairly intensive search, we were unable to turn up the over wintering Red‐shouldered Hawk at Huntmar and Old Carp. We headed back down March Valley Road, finding a couple more Red‐tailed Hawks and a single Rough‐legged. In the fields east of Herzberg Road south of Carling Avenue we managed to find a couple of small groups of Wild Turkeys and had a flyover of approximately 38 Bohemian Waxwings. Moving on the feeders on Hilda Road near Shirley’s Bay, we had several more groups of waxwings and the usual feeder birds, including a number of Common Redpolls. An American Robin hanging around the feeders was the first one I’ve seen in Ottawa this month.
After lunch we headed to 7 Millbrook Crescent near Meadowlands and Merivale where we saw the Townsend’s Solitaire in its usual juniper tree on the left side of the house. The bird was hunkered down close to the trunk eating berries and took a little bit of searching to find After wrapping up the trip, Maris Apse and I made a quick run along the Ottawa River and saw the female Harlequin Duck off Bate Island at the Champlain Bridge.
Reported by David Britton.
8 June 2008 Breeding Birds of Larose Forest, Ottawa
Leader: Bernie Ladouceur.
Despite the heat, the bugs and the early starting time, about 20 birders showed up to explore some of 10,000 hectare Larose Forest, maintained by the united counties of Prescott‐Russell. We entered the forest from the west on Clarence‐Cambridge Road and then turned left (north) and traveled 1.7 km along Indian Creek road (note that it is called Grant road on the south side of Clarence‐Cambridge Road). Here a few of us managed to hear the Olive‐sided Flycatcher that was found the previous Monday. We traveled south again and among the many birds heard, we got pretty good views of Mourning Warbler, Indigo Bunting and Chestnut‐sided Warbler.
We returned to Clarence‐Cambridge Road and continued east, racking up the warbler species, including two Canada Warblers near the intersection with Bertrand Road (formerly Neuf‐mile Road). Other highlights along this stretch included a Fisher and a two Evening Grosbeaks that seemed to like the shade under one of the cars in our group. We turned south onto Bertrand Road and were able locate a number of the Cape May Warblers that breed in the Black Spruce along this road. One male was observed carrying food on a couple of occasions. It was getting hot, so we gave the Olive‐sided Flycatcher another try. No luck, but the leader did hear a few Red Crossbills (giving the sweeter call), flying overhead.
The heat definitely had an impact on the level of song, but despite this we had close to 50 species. We were able to locate 15 of the 17 species of warbler that breed in the forest, and actually saw eight of these species.
Reported by Bernie Ladouceur.
6 September 2008 Ottawa River Corridor
Leader: Dave Moore.
In spite of almost constant pouring rain, five hearty participants and brave leader Dave Moore visited birding hotspots along the Ottawa River in Ottawa to find 32 species. The trip description said we could “expect warblers, sparrows, waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls and others.“ Fortunately all these categories are represented in our trip list, if only by a hair (or a feather). In the right conditions the Britannia Conservation Area can be alive with migrating songbirds. Today, however, was one of those days when a leader is compelled to summon all his many talents, not just those for bird‐finding. We did see three heron species there, including two young Black‐crowned Night‐Herons that were so cryptically concealed they would have eluded most observers. Another trip highlight was two Red Knots along the shore at Andrew Haydon Park. Ottawa River levels continue to be high with little habitat available for shorebirds.
Thanks to Bob Cermak and Tom Hanrahan for tipping us off about the knots and the few other shorebird species on hand. This inspired us to keep peering through the torrents draining off our hat brims. It was “nice weather for ducks“, and we saw quite a few individuals, but the northern breeding species that stage in Ottawa in fall were elsewhere. We ended the trip at 10:40 with all present agreeing that it was folly to continue. Still, the dramatic weather held promise of rarities blown in from afar, and these no doubt showed up after we all went home to wring ourselves out.
Many thanks to all participants for their good humour throughout, especially Dave who filled in as leader on short notice.
Species list: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Blue‐winged Teal, Pied‐billed Grebe, Double‐crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black‐crowned Night‐Heron, Solitary Sandpiper, Red Knot, Sanderling, Ring‐billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black‐backed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Warbling Vireo, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Black‐capped Chickadee, White‐breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Gray Catbird(no starlings!), Cedar Waxwing, Black‐and‐white Warbler, American Redstart, Song Sparrow, American Goldfinch.
Reported by Bev McBride
14 April 2008 Spring Waterfowl Migration East of Ottawa
Leader: Jeff Skevington
Today 13 birders went on an OFO trip primarily focused on the flooded fields east of Ottawa. We hit it right for water levels with all areas at or near maximum flood. However, there were still areas of ice in some ponds and lots of snow still in the fields so the peak of waterfowl migration is still a couple of days away. Petrie Island (the meeting point) was still locked in ice and the only highlights there were Yellow‐bellied Sapsucker, Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe. We saw more of all of these species later in the day. Milton Road and Frank Kenny Road both had lots of water and moderate numbers of waterfowl. We had our only Green‐winged Teal for the day here. The bulk of the ducks that we saw today were along Milton Road. A singing Vesper Sparrow on Milton Road was a year bird for everyone in the group. Three Snow Geese were the first of the day and the only Snow Geese that most of the group saw.
We then headed to Larose Forest for lunch. There was still over two feet of snow in the forest so it was very quiet. American Woodcock and Evening Grosbeaks were the only birds of note here. After Larose, we headed east to Cobb’s Creek. There were hundreds of Canada Geese around but not much else. Highlights were 1 Cackling Goose, 90 Snow Buntings and 1 Lapland Longspur. Some of the Snow Buntings and the Longspur were moulting into alternate plumage.
We headed further east to see if there was much in the Alfred area. The Lagoons were still frozen and it was getting late so most of the group headed back to Ottawa. The three who continued found two large groups of Snow Geese along the South Nation River. The river is in high flood and has formed an impressive lake over 2 km across in spots. Many of the north‐south roads were entirely blocked by the flooding. Over 5,000 Snow Geese were just south of Fournier in the flooded fields. Another 4,200 were in the flooded area about 2 km west of Fournier.
A list of the 59 species birds observed today is included below.
Snow Goose ‐ 9200; Cackling Goose ‐ 1; Canada Goose ‐ 10000; Wood Duck ‐ 6; Gadwall ‐ 3; American Wigeon ‐ 4; American Black Duck ‐ 30; Mallard ‐ 100; Northern Pintail ‐ 280; Green‐winged Teal ‐ 12; Ring‐necked Duck ‐ 35; Bufflehead ‐ 4; Common Goldeneye ‐ 16; Hooded Merganser ‐ 5; Wild Turkey ‐ 12; Great Blue Heron ‐ 2; Turkey Vulture ‐ 12; Northern Harrier ‐ 18; Sharp‐shinned Hawk ‐ 2; Red‐tailed Hawk ‐ 2; Rough‐legged Hawk ‐ 8; American Kestrel ‐ 5; Killdeer ‐ 10; Ring‐billed Gull ‐ 30; Herring Gull ‐ 1; Great Black‐backed Gull ‐ 1; Rock Pigeon ‐ 15; Mourning Dove ‐ 12; Yellow‐bellied Sapsucker ‐ 2; Hairy Woodpecker ‐ 1; Northern Flicker ‐ 2; Eastern Phoebe ‐ 12; Blue Jay ‐ 5; American Crow ‐ 40; Common Raven ‐ 5; Horned Lark ‐ 20; Tree Swallow ‐ 7; Black‐capped Chickadee ‐ 2; Brown Creeper ‐ 1; Eastern Bluebird ‐ 2; American Robin ‐ 70; European Starling ‐ 120; American Tree Sparrow ‐ 2; Vesper Sparrow ‐ 1; Savannah Sparrow ‐ 1; Song Sparrow ‐ 40; Dark‐eyed Junco ‐ 2; Lapland Longspur ‐ 1; Snow Bunting ‐ 90; Northern Cardinal ‐ 2; Red‐winged Blackbird ‐ 400; Eastern Meadowlark ‐ 2; Common Grackle ‐ 300; Brown‐headed Cowbird ‐ 80; House Finch ‐ 1; Common Redpoll ‐ 4; American Goldfinch ‐ 4; Evening Grosbeak ‐ 3; House Sparrow ‐ 3
Reported by Jeff Skevington.
8 September 2007 Ottawa
Leader: Jeff Skevington.
Thirteen birders participated in an OFO outing in the Ottawa area today. We started at Britannia at 7:30 am and stopped at Andrew Hayden Park and Shirleys Bay before finishing at 12:30. Passerine birding was pretty good at Britannia and most of the ducks and shorebirds that we saw were at Shirleys Bay. Our group total for the day was 75 species, about 60 of which were seen by most members of the group. A list of species seen, along with approximate numbers follows.
Pied‐billed Grebe 4; Double‐crested Cormorant 75; Great Egret 2; Great Blue Heron 12; Canada Goose 100; Mallard 100; American Black Duck 12; Green‐winged Teal 50; American Wigeon 15; Blue‐winged Teal 5; Wood Duck 15; Ring‐necked Duck 7; Common Merganser 11; Semipalmated Plover 5; Killdeer 2; Lesser Yellowlegs 1; Spotted Sandpiper 7; Stilt Sandpiper 1; Semipalmated Sandpiper 30; Least Sandpiper 6; Baird’s Sandpiper 3; Ring‐billed Gull 2500; Herring Gull 400; Great Black‐backed Gull 80; Turkey Vulture 4; Northern Harrier 1; Sharp‐shinned Hawk 2; Cooper’s Hawk 2; Osprey 2; American Kestrel 1; Merlin 1; Peregrine Falcon 2; Wild Turkey 6; Rock Pigeon 40; Mourning Dove 15; Belted Kingfisher 5; Northern Flicker 2; Downy Woodpecker 1; Eastern Kingbird 1; Great‐crested Flycatcher 1; Eastern Wood‐Pewee 1; Eastern Phoebe 2; Blue Jay 20; American Crow 15; Common Raven 2; Black‐capped Chickadee 15; White‐breasted Nuthatch 2; American Robin 2; Gray Catbird 1; Brown Thrasher 2; Cedar Waxwing 10; European Starling 250; Blue‐headed Vireo 1; Red‐eyed Vireo 1; Warbling Vireo 3; Philadelphia Vireo 2; Tennessee Warbler 1; Nashville Warbler 1; Northern Parula 1; Black‐and‐white Warbler 2; Blackburnian Warbler 1; Yellow‐rumped Warbler 45; Black‐throated Green Warbler 12; Bay‐breasted Warbler 1; Blackpoll Warbler 1; Northern Cardinal 2; Song Sparrow 10; Chipping Sparrow 20; Dark‐eyed Junco 1; White‐throated Sparrow 15; Common Grackle 2; Scarlet Tanager 3; American Goldfinch 5; Purple Finch 7; House Sparrow 2.
Reported by Jeff Skevington.
3 June 2007 Ottawa
Leader: Bernie Ladouceur.
On June 3 OFO held its second of three Ottawa area field trips for the year 2007. Although skies were threatening, eighteen enthusiastic birders were in attendance, including the leader. Our goal was to observe 10 species of sparrow, Eastern Palm Warbler and, if we received positive phone call from friends checking the Ottawa River that morning, Arctic Tern.
We covered two areas. The first was Mer Bleue Bog boardwalk. Walking into the Mer Bleue is like walking several hundred miles north. It is the smaller sister of the Alfred Bog although not identical in composition. Like Alfred, three bird species of local interest breed here: Sandhill Crane, Eastern Palm Warbler and Lincoln’s Sparrow. The cranes are not often encountered in breeding season.
On our way in along Ridge Road, we stopped to hear a Clay‐coloured Sparrow. Chipping, White‐throated, Swamp and Song Sparrows were also noted along the way. The group was also treated to great looks at four Yellow‐bellied Sapsuckers interacting with each other on telephone poles beside the road. The Mer Bleue is a fantastic place, but this day with overcast skies and a somewhat moderate breeze, things were pretty quiet. Fortunately, the star attraction Eastern Palm Warblers didn‘t follow the trend. Two males sang almost continually. One was right along the boardwalk providing us with some very good views. The species with second billing, Lincoln’s Sparrow, was not so cooperative. The leader picked up one snippet of song and a few participants had a glimpse of what was probably a Lincoln’s Sparrow.
On the way back to the vehicles, one of the participants located a distant juvenile bird in his telescope. The majority thought it was a crow, while some contended it was a grackle; the leader voted for Rook. Two Broad‐winged Hawks put on a spectacular show for those in cars near the front of the pack, and a less spectacular show for those toward the back. Ah, the frustration of field trips.
We made one stop along Anderson Road to look for Sandhill Cranes that were observed earlier that morning. The cranes were gone, and here the leader also failed to point out the only Savannah Sparrow encountered on the trip, assuming there would be more.
The second location visited was the fields along Bowesville Road south of the Ottawa International Airport, an area seriously threatened by development. Here the participants had several fantastic looks at Grasshopper Sparrows, good views of Vesper and Field Sparrows, and some were lucky enough to have a very good look at a Clay‐coloured Sparrow. Some of us were very lucky to chance upon a Meadow Jumping Mouse.
No call came regarding Arctic Terns, so we ended the trip. Our tally was between 50 and 55 species, depending on whom you believe. Technically, we achieved our goal of 10 species of sparrow plus Eastern Palm Warbler. Thanks to Jan Slumkoski, my driver for this trip, and to the participants for their enthusiasm.
Reported by Bernie Ladouceur.
28 January 2007 Ottawa Area
Leader: Tony Beck.
Twelve participants braved the winter to attend the OFO Ottawa Area Field Trip on 28 January. Despite the cold, we had beautiful blue skies and calm conditions throughout the day. The lovely winter‐wonderland scenario was augmented by freshly fallen snow from the previous night and a touch of morning hoar frost. There was not much bird activity and it was generally quiet and typically winter‐like. Nonetheless, the day was entertaining with some good birds and lots of wildlife clues in the snow.
While waiting for the last participants at the meeting spot off Carling Ave, we saw a lone first winter Ring‐billed Gull circling the parking lot. This is a very rare species for late January in Ottawa.
Our first stop was at the Hilda Road feeding station in Shirleys Bay. Here, we were treated to a dozen Cedar Waxwings feeding on buckthorn. Several Blue Jays and Black‐capped Chickadees patrolled the area while American Tree Sparrows fed on the ground.
Along March Valley Road, we got scope views of a dark morph Rough‐legged Hawk and a distant adult Red‐tailed Hawk. A few lucky people at the head of the group got to see a Fisher run across the road. At the Ottawa Duck Club feeding station we added five Wild Turkeys, three Mourning Doves, four White‐breasted Nuthatches and a Porcupine.
Kerwin Road was surprisingly quiet. Although conditions were ideal for hearing subtle sounds, bird activity was relatively low. Common Ravens were making various vocalizations at a distance while Blue Jays were particularly chatty. Black‐capped Chickadees, a Hairy Woodpecker, a Downy Woodpecker and Red‐breasted Nuthatches were mildly active along the trail. However, the highlight was the White‐winged Crossbills at close range feeding in the tops of spruce trees, with several males singing.
We officially finished just before noon; however, six of us continued again after lunch. We started at Bayshore to see the overwintering drake Wood Duck and male Belted Kingfisher. The Wood Duck put on a great performance for the camera. After that, we returned to Kerwin Road with hopes of more northern specialties. En‐route, we saw a Common Raven flying low over Terry Fox Drive with a (probable) Meadow Vole in its beak.
At Kerwin Road, we didn’t add anything new to the day’s list. However we were treated to more White‐winged Crossbills, including males in aerial display and first year male plumages. Also highly entertaining were pairs of Common Ravens engaged in aerobatic bonding/courtship flights.
We ended the day with 24 bird species ‐ a reasonable field trip total for the Ottawa area in late January, especially considering the limited habitat we explored.
- 1 ‐ Wood Duck
- 8 ‐ American Black Duck
- 20 ‐ Mallard
- (6 ‐ American Black/Mallard Hybrid)
- 1 ‐ Red‐tailed Hawk
- 1 ‐ Rough‐legged Hawk
- 5 ‐ Wild Turkey
- 1 ‐ Ring‐billed Gull
- 9 ‐ Rock Dove
- 3 ‐ Mourning Dove
- 1 ‐ Belted Kingfisher
- 3 ‐ Downy Woodpecker
- 7 ‐ Hairy Woodpecker
- 15 ‐ Blue Jay
- 8 ‐ American Crow
- 11 ‐ Common Raven
- 19 ‐ Black‐capped Chickadee
- 4 ‐ Red‐breasted Nuthatch
- 4 ‐ White‐breasted Nuthatch
- 2 ‐ European Starling
- 12 ‐ Cedar Waxwing
- 14 ‐ American Tree Sparrow
- 24 ‐ White‐winged Crossbill
- 3 ‐ American Goldfinch
- 8 ‐ House Sparrow
Reported by Tony Beck.