April 30, 2011 Local birding

Spent the morning birding along the Ottawa River at Shirley's Bay this morning. A noticeable increase in migrants was noted including Spotted Sandpiper, Common Tern and Eastern Kingbird along the causeway. A couple of Brown Thrashers were heard singing along Hilda Road. In the flooded fields along Brophy Road we observed a flock of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs along with a few Green-winged Teal and a Vesper Sparrow. More migrants to come!

April 28, 2011 windy day at the feeders.

The high winds today didn't stop the Common Redpolls and American Goldfinch from feeding at the feeders. Some gusts reached 96 km/hour and blow over many trees in the Carp area.

Redpolls and Goldfinch hold on during wind storm.

April 27, 2011 Birding Chaffey's Lock area and Canoe Lake Road

Hello Everyone


Spent the morning birding Chaffey's Lock Road/Opinicon Rd and Canoe Lake Rd. A number of new arrivals were noted including 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Eastern Kingbird, 1 Great Crested Flycatcher, 3 Warbling Vireo, 1 Wood Thrush, 4 Northern Waterthrush, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 8 Pine Warbler, 7 Black & White Warbler, 1 Nashville Warbler, and 20+ Yellow-rumped Warbler. A small flight of 50+ Broad-winged Hawk, 1 ad. Bald Eagle, 1 Cooper's, 1 Sharp-shinned, 1 Northern Harrier and a couple of Osprey were also observed along with 6 Red-shouldered Hawk. On the Canoe Lake Road we observed 3 Louisiana Waterthrush singing, 5 Black-thr. Green Warbler and a small number of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Good birding, Bruce


Directions to Opinicon Road (Courtsery M. Conboy): From Kingston: Go north on Division Street/Perth Road/County Road 10 to just past Perth Road Village. Turn east (right) on Opinicon Road. From Ottawa: Go west on Highway 417 to Highway 7. At Carleton Place turn south (left) on Highway 15. Follow Highway 15 for about 60 km through Smith's Falls and all the way to Chaffey's Lock Road (name changes to Opinicon Road west of Chaffey's Lock). The best birding is between Chaffey's Lock and Perth Road. Queen's University Biological Station (main operations centre; emergency address 280) is located at the end of Queen's University Road, 2 km west of Chaffey's Lock.
Note: Visitors are welcome at Queen's Univsersity Biological Station throughout the year. In order to avoid distrubing ongoing avain research projects we ask that birders contact Mark Andrew Conboy by email (mconboy@lakeheadu.ca) if they plan to visit the station proper and its properties.

Green Comma

Skycroft trail

Green Frog

Old Beaver cuttings

Porcupine

Adult Broad-winged Hawk

Adult Red-shouldered Hawk

Painted Turtle

Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

April 25, 2011 Local birding

This morning Ben and I birded along the Ottawa River from Britannia to Shirley's Bay. Overall, a noticeable drop in the number of grebes at Shirley's Bay with only 3 Red-necked and 16 Horned Grebe. Relocated the pair of Black Scoters off Rocky Point just west of Andrew Haydon Park and also saw 1 White-winged Scoter. The Britannia Conservation Area/ Mud Lake had 3 Pine Warbler singing and a few Yellow-rumped Warblers. Somewhat quiet in the woods, seems like more birds back on territory including Savannah Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, and Eastern Phoebe. A quick stop at the Carp River flood plain produced 2 Lesser Yellowlegs and 26 Green-winged Teal.

April 24, 2011 Upland Sandpiper at Constance Bay

This afternoon enroute to Constance Bay, Ben spotted a Upland Sandpiper near the corner of Dunrobin Road and Constance Bay Drive. This area has been good for Upland Sandpiper for the past decade or so. The bird was on the north side Constance Bay Drive after you turn right off Dunrobin Road. Like many grassland species, the Upland Sandpiper has become a scarce bird locally due to habitat loss. The male Red-bellied Woodpecker was present at the Old Burn site but no Red-headed woodpeckers yet.

Directions: Constance Bay: RBWP: From Ottawa travel west bound on Hwy. 417 to the March Rd./Eagleson Road and exit right onto March Rd. Follow to Dunrobin Road and turn right continuing northwest through Woodlawn. At the hill turn right onto Constance Bay Rd following it for approx. 1.5 km. Turn left on Allbirch Road and drive 1.3 km to the " T " intersection. Turn lefton Bishop Davis Drive and then right on Bayview Drive. Follow Bayview Drive to Ritchie St. Turn right and go a short distance to Whistler Rd. Turn left and drive .3 km and watch for a gate on the right. The trail through the burn area is opposite the gate. Parking is limited.

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker at "old burn site" at Constance Bay.

A female Hairy Woodpecker at nest site.

April 23 & 24, 2011 More Birding along the Ottawa River.

Hi Everyone Lots of birds on the move! Birding along the Ottawa River continues to be good. I spent 3 hours this morning between Andrew Haydon Park and Shirley's Bay. At the boat launch at Shirley's Bay I observed a "Yellow" Palm Warbler. It flew over and landed in some shrubbery and was visible for a couple of minutes before disappearing. It is a rare spring migrant, I've only seen them on territory at Mer Blue Bog and Alfred Bog during spring migration. Lots of water birds including 49 Red-necked Grebe and 22 Horned Grebe. Yesterday saw 53 Horned and 17 Red-necked Grebe in the same area. Also yesterday, a breeding plumaged Red-throated Loon flew over the Britannia Rapids area, 2 Long-tailed Duck off Britannia Pier and there were 2 Great Egrets at Deschenes Rapids plus 40+ Bohemian Waxwings near Moodie Drive and Carling Ave. Land bird numbers are again up today with good numbers of White-throated Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Purple Martin and Bank Swallow in the area. Two Bald Eagle, 1 adult and 1, 2nd year bird were playing with sticks in a large tree in the Shirley's Bay area this morning.

Happy Easter 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 (summer). **** 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.

Breeding plumage Red-necked Grebe

Breeding plumage Horned Grebe

Small flotilla of Horned Grebes off the Shirley's Bay boat launch.

Displaying Wild Turkeys near Carp.

Dueling male Wild Turkeys

Purple Martins are now back in numbers. I check the nesting area at Nepean Sailing Club yesterday, didn't see any activity, lots of action today!

A male Northern Cardinal singing.

Canada Geese can be very aggressive and territorial during the breeding season.

April 22, 2011 Birding along the Ottawa River

Hello Ontbirders

Great weather for birding along the Ottawa River this morning between Deschenes Rapids and Constance Bay. Off Dick Bell Park at 7:00 a.m. I observed a pair of Black Scoters. This species is a very rare spring migrant and one of the few I've observed in the past 40 years. Good numbers of water birds at Shirley's Bay with 22 Common loon, 3 Red-necked Grebe, 300+ Bufflehead along with Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, and all 3 merganser. At Constance Bay there was a very vocal male Red-bellied Woodpecker at the corner of Whistler Road and Bayview Drive. Likely the same individual that over wintered nearby. Still lots of Common Redpolls in the area.

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.

Male Red-winged blackbird back on territory.

The Northern Flicker is now back in numbers.

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker was very vocal today at Constance Bay. Likely the same individual that overwintered.