July 27-28,2012 Eastern Ontario birding

Hi Everyone

Spent the past 2 days birding various sites in eastern Ontario. Overall, lots of activity and migration. Yesterday at the Alfred Lagoon we observed 7 families of Ruddy Duck with 4-9 young, 3 families of Redhead with 3-7 young and numerous families of American Coot and Common Gallinule. Near the Alfred Bog there was a flock of 80+ Bobolink and 3 Upland Sandpiper. We checked a number of the other eastern sewage lagoons and the most productive was the St. Albert Sewage Lagoon with over 200 shorebirds including 2 adult Stilt Sandpiper and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper. There were 150+ Lesser Yellowlegs,1 juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and 3 Black Tern. All birds were in the south east cell due to low water conditions.

At the Amherstview S.L. west of Kingston 9 adult Stilt Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Wilson's Phalarope, 1 adult Short-billed Dowitcher were observed along with numerous Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Today at Presqu'ile we observed 1 adult Baird's Sandpiper and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon at Owen Point.

Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From the town of Alfred go east on Highway 17, then turn south on Peat Moss Road and drive for 2 km. The lagoons are on your left (east side of road). The birds are best observed from the viewing tower. Access to the viewing tower is free and no permit is needed

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Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 east to exit 66 and go south on St. Albert Road. Proceed around a large corner where the road becomes Cty Rd 7.After passing through St.Albert watch for the sign for the lagoon on the south side of the road, opposite house #1664.

Directions: Courtesy Fred Helleiner: To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground.

Directions: Amherstview Sewage Lagoon: From Hwy. 401 take exit 599 (County Rd. 6, Odessa) south on County Rd. 6 to Taylor-Kidd Blvd. Turn left (east) on Taylor-Kidd and drive approx. 1 km watching for a lane on your right after crossing railway overpass. This is the entrance to the lagoon. If you're coming from Amherst Island, drive east on Hwy 33 approx. 9 km. and then turn left on County Rd 6. Continue north about 1.5 km and turn right (east) onto Taylor-Kidd Blvd. MUST be accompanied by a KFN member. For KFN contact information or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."

Chipping Sparrows

Stilt Sandpiper feeding.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Owen Point. 

Juvenile Black Tern at St. Albert 

Lots of shorebird activity at St.Albert.

Stilt Sandpiper in flight. 

Great Crested Flycatcher

Adult Pectoral Sandpiper at Amherstview Sewage Lagoon. 

Adult Solitary Sandpiper at Embrun Sewage Lagoon. 

Cedar Waxwing displays. 

A young Gray Catbird.

Killdeer in flight. 

A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was a surprise at Presqu'ile. 

 Yellow Warblers are now migrating south in numbers throughout eastern Ontario. 

July 19/20, 2012 Local birding in the Ottawa area.

The water levels along the Ottawa River continue to drop. With all the exposed mudflats, shorebirds are dispruted over a large area. There are no large concentrations yet as the weather has been too sunny and hot. No significant rainfall has also reduced the chance of a grounding. Most shorebirds are likely moving over eastern Ontario and not stopping. No reason to! I've noticed a definite increase in the number of terns in the area, mainly Common with a few Caspian Terns feeding at Shirley's Bay and in the Constance Bay area. No Black Terns yet but likely soon. With the low water levels, herons are easy to find almost anywhere along the river, mainly Great Blue, Green, and Black-crowned Night-Heron with a few Great Egrets. Still numerous families of dabbling/diving ducks including Mallard, American Black,Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser. The Red-headed Woodpeckers at Constance Bay are nesting and hopefully young will be seen soon. This is the 11th consecutive year that they have nested in the "old burn site". Most of the trees have now fallen and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before these woodpeckers move on to another location. Since their discovery in June 2002 there has been only a couple of other nesting sites found in the Ottawa-Gatineau district.
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The Great Blue Heron is a regular breeder along the Ottawa River
at Shirley's Bay.

Up to 5 families of Hooded Mergansers have been observed along the Ottawa River between Britannia and Shirley's Bay.

A family of Mallards move along the shoreline at Shirley's Bay.

An adult Red-headed Woodpecker waits for a insect to fly by.

Dramatically low water levels along the Ottawa River at Constance Bay.

Another view from The Point looking east.

A Gar Pike was a surprise along the causeway at Shirley's Bay.

A family of Wood Ducks quickly look for cover.

July 17, 2012 More birding along the Ottawa River

Ben and I spent a few hours birding along the Ottawa River today between Britannia and Shirley's Bay. We sighted 7 Whimbrel heading south west over the river and observed activity in the 2 Great Egret nests at Deschenes Rapids. At Shirley's Bay there were a variety  of shorebirds including 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Semipalmated Plover and a small group of Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper.
A flock of 20+ Gadwall were noted resting on the exposed rocks off the end of the causeway.
Good birding, Bruce and Ben


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 causeway.

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

Caspian Tern fishing at Shirley's Bay

Low water levels at Shirley's Bay.

Greater Yellowlegs feeding.

Size camparison of Greater Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper.

July 16, 2012 Shirley's Bay birding.

The birding at Shirley's Bay continues to change as the water levels to drop. Ben and I birded the area during the mid day heat and had a nice variety of birds. The shorebird numbers were low with 4 adult Greater Yellowlegs, 14 adult Semipalmated Sandpiper, 2 adult Least Sandpiper along with 20+ Spotted Sandpiper and 16 Killdeer. There were 18 Great Blue Heron, mainly juveniles and 3 Great Egrets. With the low water levels we counted 27 Common Tern including 3 juvenile, 1 Caspian Tern and 1 early juvenile Bonaparte's Gull resting on the exposed rocks off the end of the causeway.
Good Birding, Bruce and Ben

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 CAUSEWAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the dyke area for birding.

A juvenile Bonaparte's Gull resting on the exposed rocks off the Shirley's Bay causeway.

A Great Blue Heron takes advantage of the low water levels along the Ottawa river.

A female Hooded Merganser with young.

July 15, 2012 Southbound shorebirds, land birds and breeders

Bruce Mactavish, John Pratt and I spent the morning birding various sites along the Ottawa River and a couple of inland locations. Overall, lots of activity and very low water levels along the river. At Shirley's Bay there was a small number of shorebirds including 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 15+ Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Short-billed Dowitcher and 1 Sanderling. There was a small movement of land birds mainly warblers including 1 singing Northern Parula, 2 Yellow-rumped, 20+ Yellow, and a few Black and White Warbler. Also present were 2 Great Egret and 3 Caspian Tern. At the Richmond Sewage Lagoon water level were low and the first cell was dry and the second cell had a nice selection of shorebirds including 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 20+ Least Sandpiper and 150+ Killdeer. The 3rd cell was full of cattails and dry. At the Trail Road Landfill Facility (including ponds) we observed 14 Ruddy Duck, 7 Ring-necked Duck, 11 Pied-billed Grebe and 20+ Turkey Vulture.
At Deschenes Rapids we observed an amazing 34 juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron and two nests of Great Egrets, one with 3 visible young and the second nest was likely active too but due to the vegetation couldn't confirm young. This is the first confirmed nesting of great egret for the Ottawa-Gatineau district. These birds have been present and under observation since late May on Conroy Island.
Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: Britannia Pier and Dick Bell Park: Both areas are accessible from Carling Ave. west of Carling and Richmond Rd. intersection.

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: Deschenes Rapids is located along the Ottawa River at Britannia. Britannia Point is accessible from Britannia Water Filtration Plant Deschenes Rapids

Directions: 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.

Great Egrets nesting on Conroy Island, Deschenes Rapids. First nesting record for the Ottawa-Gatineau ditrict.