Art Prints

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Spring Birding 11-17 April 2011

Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx Serripennis

Tuesday 12th April :
The first day of the spring program started at Petrie Island.
It was cool and fresh but that didn’t scare the birds away. The activity was high, and it seemed like most of the action was happening overhead.

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16 Wood  Duck drakes chasing a single female, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 13 Sandhill Cranes, and the day’s highlight the fantastic Northern Goshawk .

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Day list: 
  1. Mallard
  2. Canada Goose
  3. Red-Tailed Hawk
  4. Ring-billed Gull
  5. Rock Pigeon
  6. American Crow
  7. Common Raven
  8. Black-capped Chickadee
  9. American Robin
  10. European Starling
  11. American Tree Sparrow
  12. Song Sparrow
  13. Red-winged Blackbird
  14. Common Grackle
  15. American Goldfinch
  16. House Sparrow
  17. Turkey Vulture
  18. Hairy Woodpecker
  19. Downy Woodpecker
  20. Common Goldeneye
  21. White-breasted Nuthatch
  22. Mourning Dove
  23. Killdeer
  24. Herring Gull
  25. Common Merganser
  26. American Black Duck
  27. Coopers Hawk
  28. Hooded Merganser
  29. Ring-necked Duck
  30. Tree Swallow
  31. Wood Duck
  32. Sandhill Crane
  33. Northern Harrier
  34. Great Blue Heron
  35. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  36. Eastern Phoebe
  37. Northern Pintail
  38. American Kestrel
  39. Barn Swallow
  40. Bufflehead
  41. Brown-headed Cowbird
  42. Pileated Woodpecker
  43. Common Loon
  44. Northern Flicker
  45. Sharp-shinned Hawk
  46. Evening Grosbeak
  47. Horned Lark
  48. Northern Goshawk
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Beaver

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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius

Thursday 14th April – Photo day
New to the spring program this year are “Wildlife Photography Days”, which started at Britannia Conservation Area.  We were thrown into action almost from the beginning, experiencing a Coopers Hawk catching his meal, a European Starling.


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The class occupied with the Coopers Hawk

Later in the morning we moved over to Shirley’s Bay and the Hilda Road feeders, where we had a beautiful White-throated Sparrow singing his heart out. We also had the pleasure of watching a porcupine slowly eating fresh leaf buds.   

Day list:
  1. Canada Goose
  2. Mallard
  3. Ring-billed Gull
  4. Rock Pigeon
  5. Blue Jay
  6. American Crow
  7. Common Raven
  8. Black-capped Chickadee
  9. American Robin
  10. European Starling
  11. American Tree Sparrow
  12. Song Sparrow
  13. Northern Cardinal
  14. Red-winged Blackbird
  15. Common Grackle
  16. American Goldfinch
  17. House Sparrow
  18. Turkey Vulture
  19. Hairy Woodpecker
  20. Common Goldeneye
  21. White-breasted Nuthatch
  22. Mourning Dove
  23. Killdeer
  24. Herring Gull
  25. Common Merganser
  26. American Black Duck
  27. Coopers Hawk
  28. Hooded Merganser
  29. Tree Swallow
  30. Black-crowned Night Heron
  31. White-throated Sparrow
  32. America Wigeon
  33. Wood Duck
  34. House Finch
  35. Dark-eyed Junco
  36. Great Blue Heron
  37. Barn Swallow
  38. Osprey
  39. Brown-headed Cowbird
  40. Pied-billed grebe
  41. Great Black-backed Gull
  42. Merlin
  43. Northern Flicker
  44. Northern Rough-winged Swallow 
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Porcupine 

Saturday 16th April :
The morning started with a magnificent Great Egret flying overhead at Mud Lake. Strong winds gave promises of interesting birds, and we had 4 different kinds of Swallows in addition to another welcomed spring migrant, the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle). A Belted Kingfisher and several Fox Sparrows were  other highlights of the day.

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Day list:
  1. Canada Goose
  2. Mallard
  3. Red-Tailed Hawk
  4. Ring-billed Gull
  5. Rock Pigeon
  6. Blue Jay
  7. American Crow
  8. Common Raven
  9. Black-capped Chickadee
  10. American Robin
  11. European Starling
  12. American Tree Sparrow
  13. Song Sparrow
  14. Northern Cardinal
  15. Red-winged Blackbird
  16. Common Grackle
  17. House Sparrow
  18. Bohemian Waxwing
  19. Turkey Vulture
  20. Hairy Woodpecker
  21. Downy Woodpecker
  22. Common Goldeneye
  23. Brown Creeper
  24. White-breasted Nuthatch
  25. Mourning Dove
  26. Killdeer
  27. Herring Gull
  28. Common Merganser
  29. American Black Duck
  30. Hooded Merganser
  31. Ring-necked Duck
  32. Lesser Scaup
  33. Tree Swallow
  34. Black-crowned Night Heron
  35. White-throated Sparrow
  36. Wood Duck
  37. Wild Turkey
  38. Dark-eyed Junco
  39. Northern Harrier
  40. Great Blue Heron
  41. Barn Swallow
  42. Bufflehead
  43. Ruddy Duck
  44. Osprey
  45. Brown-headed Cowbird
  46. Pied-billed Grebe
  47. Common Loon
  48. Northern Flicker
  49. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
  50. Cliff Swallow
  51. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  52. Yellow-rumped Warbler
  53. Northern Flicker
  54. Fox Sparrow
  55. Great Egret
  56. Belted Kingfisher
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Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus 


Sunday 17th April :
We witnessed a most fantastic event this morning at the Dewberry trail. For the first time in my life I observed the full display of an adult male Ruffed Grouse. Clearly something that will never be forgotten.
We also had big numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos, and again we spotted the Sandhill Cranes, flying majestically on the strong winds.

Day list:

  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Goldfinch
  4. American Robin
  5. American Wigeon
  6. Belted Kingfisher
  7. Black-capped Chickadee
  8. Broad-winged Hawk
  9. Brown Creeper
  10. Brown-headed Cowbird
  11. Bufflehead
  12. Cackling Goose
  13. Canada Goose        
  14. Common Grackle
  15. Common Merganser
  16. Common Raven
  17. Dark-eyed Junco
  18. Downy Woodpecker
  19. European Starling
  20. Fox Sparrow
  21. Gadvall
  22. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  23. Great Blue Heron
  24. Green-winged Teal
  25. Killdeer
  26. Mallard
  27. Mourning Dove
  28. Northern Flicker
  29. Northern Harrier
  30. Northern Pintail
  31. Osprey
  32. Pileated Woodpecker
  33. Red-tailed Hawk
  34. Red-winged Blackbird
  35. Ring-billed Gull
  36. Rock Pigeon
  37. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  38. Ruffed Grouse
  39. Sandhill Crane
  40. Song Sparrow
  41. Tree Swallow
  42. White-breasted Nuthatch
  43. Wild Turkey
  44. Wood Duck
  45. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
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Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura

The first week of the spring program is over, and O’boy, did we ever have a lot of new birds!
Keep them coming... !! ;o)

Excursions organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure




Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Weekend Excursions April 9th and 10th – 2011

Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia

It was the last days of the winter birding program, and what a Grand Finale we had!!

Saturday morning, we started at the Dewbarry Trail achieving a list of 30 species before 8am.
From there we went to the Mer Bleue boardwalk, a conservation area in Ottawa with almost 5000 acres of peat bog. Not as productive as the morning it was still a most relaxing and refreshing walk.

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Saturday's enthusiastic crowd

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Mer Bleue Boardwalk

Highlights amongst the 61 species were Eastern Bluebird, Barn and Tree Swallows, Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Phoebe and Osprey.

Day list:
1.       Canada Goose        
2.       Mallard
3.       Red-tailed Hawk
4.       Ring-billed Gull
5.       Rock Pigeon
6.       Blue Jay
7.       American Crow
8.       Common Raven
9.       Black-capped Chickadee
10.   American Robin
11.   European Starling
12.   American Tree Sparrow
13.   Northern Cardinal
14.   Red-winged Blackbird
15.   Common Grackle
16.   American Goldfinch
17.   House Sparrow
18.   Bohemian Waxwing
19.   Turkey Vulture
20.   Downy Woodpecker
21.   Common Goldeneye
22.   White-breasted Nuthatch
23.   Mourning Dove
24.   Killdeer
25.   Herring Gull
26.   Common Merganser
27.   American Black Duck
28.   Coopers Hawk
29.   Hooded Merganser
30.   Ring-necked Duck
31.   Lesser Scaup
32.   Tree Swallow
33.   Black-crowned Night Heron
34.   White-throated Sparrow
35.   American Wigeon
36.   Wood Duck
37.   House Finch
38.   Double-crested Cormorant
39.   Red-necked Grebe
40.   Wild Turkey
41.   Dark-eyed Junco
42.   Common Redpoll
43.   Purple Finch
44.   Sandhill Crane
45.   Cackling Goose
46.   Northern Harrier
47.   Great Blue Heron
48.   Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
49.   Eastern Phoebe
50.   Northern Pintail
51.   American Kestrel
52.   Eastern Bluebird
53.   Barn Swallow
54.   Bufflehead
55.   Ruddy Duck
56.   Snow Goose
57.   Green-winged Teal
58.   Osprey
59.   Wilson's Snipe
60.   Brown-headed Cowbird
61.   Pied-billed Grebe

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Osprey - Pandion haliaetus

Sunday, the last day of Tony's Winter program, started with approximately 5000 Bohemian Waxwings! We barely had time to leave our cars before the most impressive flock came flying over head at the corner of Blvd Gamelin and Promenade du Portage in Gatineau.

April's-Bohemian
Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - Photo courtesy of Heather Pickard 

We were mesmerized and spent quite some time photographing and admiring the birds, whereof we also had the pleasure of viewing a Leucistic Bohemian Waxwing in addition to a single Cedar Waxwing.

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Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - Photo courtesy of Tony Beck

After indulging with the flock, we drove east to the Plaisance Wildlife Reserve.
Before the end of the excursion we had again 61 species on our day list, with highlights like Barrow’s Goldneye, Common Loon, Bufflehead, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawk.

Day list:
  1. Canada Goose
  2. Mallard
  3. Red-Tailed Hawk
  4. Ring-billed Gull
  5. Rock Pigeon
  6. Blue Jay
  7. American Crow
  8. Common Raven
  9. Black-capped Chickadee
  10. American Robin
  11. European Starling
  12. American Tree Sparrow
  13. Song Sparrow
  14. Northern Cardinal
  15. Common Gracle
  16. American Goldfinch
  17. House Sparrow
  18. Bohemian Waxwing
  19. Turkey Vulture
  20. Downy Woodpecker
  21. Common Goldeneye
  22. White-breasted Nuthatch
  23. Mourning Dove
  24. Killdeer
  25. Herring Gull
  26. Common Merganser
  27. American Black Duck
  28. Hooded Merganser
  29. Ring-necked Duck
  30. Ring-necked Duck
  31. Lesser Scaup
  32. Tree Swallow
  33. Black-crowned Night Heron
  34. White-throated Sparrow
  35. American Wigeon
  36. Wood Duck
  37. House Finch
  38. Red-necked Grebe
  39. Wild Turkey
  40. Dark-eyed Junco
  41. Common Redpoll
  42. Cackling Goose
  43. Northern Harrier
  44. Great Blue Heron
  45. Eastern Phoebe
  46. American Kestrel
  47. Bufflehead
  48. Green-winged Teal
  49. Osprey
  50. Brown-headed Cowbird
  51. Pied-billed Grebe
  52. Great Black-backed Gull
  53. Merlin
  54. Cedar Waxwing
  55. Hermit Thrush
  56. Pileated Woodpecker
  57. Common Loon
  58. Peregrine Falcon
  59. Barrow's Goldeneye
  60. Bald Eagle
  61. Red-shouldered Hawk
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~ Always An Adventure ~

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American Robin - Turdus migratorius

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Pussy Willow

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Tapping for Maple Syrup


Now, we are ready for the next wave of SPRING Migration!!
Bring it on!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Weekend Birding 2-3 April 2011

Pussy Willow

Winter lingers on, and we’re still feeling its icy grip.
Nevertheless, birds are arriving, buds are blooming and Crocus’s are seeing the light of day.
And, we are out there watching it all happen.

We explored the Jack Pine Trail on Saturday and as all the chickadees and nuthatches were on territory preparing for the breeding season the trail itself was very quiet.
But, there are always birds which demand to be fed.
Even the Chipmunks popped up after winters hibernation looking at you with their cute little faces.
The ice covered ponds have slowly cracked open inviting all manner of waterfowl.
Northern Cardinals are singing their beautiful song from the tree tops while Brown Creepers run up the tree-trunks searching for food. Their high pitched ‘sree’ note rings throughout the forest.
Everywhere along the trail, American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds are in a constant choir with Blue Jays. 
A trail hike is absolutely refreshing and soul soothing.

Saturday we had 31 different species:
  1. Canada Goose        
  2. Mallard
  3. Red-tailed Hawk
  4. Ring-billed Gull
  5. Rock Pigeon
  6. Blue Jay
  7. American Crow
  8. Common Raven
  9. Black-capped Chickadee
  10. American Robin
  11. European Starling
  12. Song Sparrow
  13. Red-winged Blackbird
  14. Common Grackle
  15. American Goldfinch
  16. Turkey Vulture
  17. Hairy Woodpecker
  18. Downy Woodpecker
  19. Common Goldeneye
  20. Brown Creeper
  21. White-breasted Nuthatch
  22. Mourning Dove
  23. Dark-eyed Junco
  24. Killdeer
  25. Herring Gull
  26. Great Black-backed Gull
  27. Northern Harrier
  28. Cackling Goose
  29. Common Merganser
  30. American Black Duck
  31. Northern Pintail
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Female breeding Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa)

After the excursion Saturday, Tony and I stopped along the Ottawa River.
We had a great time playing with some Ring-billed Gulls which left their autograph on my jacket.
I also finally got to photograph the ever-so-magnificent Wood Duck.

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Male breeding Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa)

At the beginning of April, almost all the winter birds have left us. A few redpolls are still flying around.
And on Sunday in Britannia we were surprised with a flock of 30 Bohemian Waxwings.
We also had an early adult Black-crowned Night Heron, in addition to an adult Coopers Hawk.
The Ottawa River is opening up fast, bearing promises of bird action on the water. We can’t wait!
Song Sparrows are flying from shrub to shrub along the shoreline while American Goldfinches are getting more and more yellow each day that passes.
We are on the brim of an explosion of life, not only avian, but all life forms.

Sunday’s species list as follows:
  1. Canada Goose        
  2. Mallard
  3. Red-tailed Hawk
  4. Ring-billed Gull
  5. Rock Pigeon
  6. Blue Jay
  7. American Crow
  8. Common Raven
  9. Black-capped Chickadee
  10. American Robin
  11. European Starling
  12. American Tree Sparrow
  13. Song Sparrow
  14. Northern Cardinal
  15. Red-winged Blackbird
  16. Common Grackle
  17. American Goldfinch
  18. House Sparrow
  19. Bohemian Waxwing
  20. Turkey Vulture
  21. Hairy Woodpecker
  22. Downy Woodpecker
  23. Common Goldeneye
  24. Brown Creeper
  25. White-breasted Nuthatch
  26. Mourning Dove
  27. Killdeer
  28. Herring Gull
  29. Common Merganser
  30. American Black Duck
  31. Coopers Hawk
  32. Hooded Merganser
  33. Ring-necked Duck
  34. Lesser Scaup
  35. Tree Swallow
  36. Black-crowned Night Heron
  37. White-throated Sparrow
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Excursion organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure