Ben and I spent most of the day birding on the Pembroke Christmas Bird Count with a quick side trip to Eganville and Lake Dore. Overall a great day, -9c, no snow and most rivers and lakes still wide open. For the Pembroke CBC it was very usual to have no snow and green grass! With the earlier mild conditions they were still numerous late lingering species along the Ottawa River at Morrison Island. Highlights included a Common Loon, 1 Greater Scaup, 7 Bufflehead, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1000+ Canada Geese and a Cackling Goose. On Lake Dore, with no ice, we found 1 Common Loon, 2 Red-necked Grebe, 5 Horned Grebe, 5 Long-tailed Duck, 1 White-winged Scoter, 37 Lesser Scaup, 17 Hooded Merganser, 2 Iceland Gull, 1 Glaucous Gull and a immature Bald Eagle. An amazing variety for mid December on Lake Dore. Most years the lake is frozen solid by now. The Rufous hummingbird was still coming to the hummingbird feeder at Eganville and appeared in good condition. Tonight's low is again -16c!
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Sunrise along the Ottawa River at Morrison Island. |
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An adult Ring-billed Gull was a late lingerer at Pembroke. |
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A Ruffed Grouse showed no concern as it walked along a log. |
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Despite -16c overnight, the Rufous Hummingbird is doing well. |
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With no snow on the ground, a flock of Snow Bunting in flight were very conspicuous. |
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