Saturday, September 26, 2009

Slow but steady migration. September 26-29, 2009

The Marbled Godwit was still present this morning at Shirley's Bay. Not much change in the shorebirds, 4 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Stilt Sandpiper, 24 Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin, and 1 Black-bellied Plover along with the regular species. The Moodie Drive pond was busy yesterday and today with 42 Snow Geese (38 ad. and 4 juv.), 135+ Ring-necked Duck, 18 Pied-billed Grebe, 17 Ruddy Duck, and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull. The land bird migration was low but steady with 100+ Yellow-rumped Warblers along the dyke, 30+ American Pipit, smaller numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.
Good birding,
Bruce

Directions: Shirley's Bay: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Moodie Drive exit and turn north (right) on Moodie Drive and continue to Carling Ave. Turn left at Carling Ave. and follow Carling to Rifle Road. Turn right (north) on Rifle Rd. Park at the lot at the end (boat launch).
Walk back to the road, and continue through the gate on the Department of National Defense property. There is a trail on your right (clearly marked with vehicle "No Entry" signs) which heads into the woods, and, eventually to the dyke. There is lots of POISON IVY along the dyke.

**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE DYKE AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request
permission to visit the dyke area for birding.


Directions:
Moodie Drive Pond: From Ottawa take Hwy 417 west to Hwy 416. South on the 416 to exit 66 (Fallowfield Rd.) Right (west) on Fallowfield to Moodie Dr. Left (south) on Moodie, go past Trail Rd. on your left and Cambrian Rd. on your right until you come to a very large sand & gravel operation on the left (east) side of the road. ***PLEASE NOTE*** - do NOT cross the gate to the sand & gravel operation. This is private property, and most of the birds can be well-viewed from the road.The landfill site is located on Trail Road. There is no access but the gulls can be viewed from Trail Road just south of the main entrance.



A flock of Pectoral Sandpipers feeding at Shirley's Bay.



Shorebird activity was still on the increase but water levels were on the rise.


A sign of fall is the head streaking on many of the adult gulls. Note the streaks and spots on this adult Ring-billed Gull.


Another sign that fall migration is well underway is the flocking of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and European Starling.

Thousand's can be found in the surrounding farm land going to roost sites.

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