Dynamic times with a lot of birds!

Bald Eagle -Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Photo courtesy of Tony Beck

Snow & Canada Geese at Casselman Lagoons Sep. 27 - 2011

Merlin - Falco columbarius

Tuesday Sep. 27:

We started our excursion at Petrie Island where we spent about 30 minutes together with a beautiful and cooperative Merlin! At Casselman Lagoons we had about 14.000 Canada Geese (see movie) included 11 Snow Geese. On the way there we passed Milton Road where we had 31 Sandhill Cranes.

Day list:

1. American Black Duck
2. American Crow
3. American Pipit
4. American Robin
5. Black-capped Chickadee
6. Blue Jay
7. Blue-winged teal
8. Canada Goose        
9. Common Grackle
10. Common Moorhen
11. Common Raven
12. Downy Woodpecker
13. Eastern Phoebe
14. European Starling
15. Great Blue Heron
16. Green-winged Teal
17. Hairy Woodpecker
18. Herring Gull
19. House Sparrow
20. Killdeer
21. Lesser Yellowlegs
22. Mallard
23. Merlin
24. Mourning Dove
25. Northern Cardinal
26. Northern Pintail
27. Red-tailed Hawk
28. Red-winged Blackbird
29. Ring-billed Gull
30. Ring-necked Duck
31. Rock Pigeon
32. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
33. Sandhill Crane
34. Semipalmated Plover
35. Snow Goose
36. Song Sparrow
37. Swamp Sparrow
38. Turkey Vulture
39. Wild Turkey
40. Wood Duck
41. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Digiscope Image with Coolpix P300 through Nikon Fieldscope ED82 and 50X wide DS eyepiece
Merlin - Falco columbarius, Photo courtesy of Tony Beck

Geese

Thursday Sep. 29:

This day started with heavy mist which vanished as soon as the sun came out.
Andrew Haydon Park and Ottawa Beach revealed an American Golden Plover.
We went to Richmond Lagoons where we had a Long-billed Dowitcher amongst Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Pectoral Sandpipers.
At the Moodie Drive Quarry Pond we had 5 Cackling Geese, 2 Snow Geese and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Of course it was Canada Geese in the thousands as well.

Day list: 

1. American Black Duck
2. American Crow
3. American Golden Plover
4. American Pipit
5. American Robin
6. Black-capped Chickadee
7. Blackpoll Warbler
8. Blue Jay
9. Blue-winged teal
10. Brown Creeper
11. Cackling Goose
12. Canada Goose        
13. Common Merganser
14. Double-crested Cormorant
15. Eastern Phoebe
16. European Starling
17. Golden-crowned Kinglet
18. Great Black-backed Gull
19. Great Blue Heron
20. Greater Yellowlegs
21. Green-winged Teal
22. Grey Catbird
23. Hairy Woodpecker
24. Herring Gull
25. Horned Lark
26. House Sparrow
27. Killdeer
28. Lesser Black-backed Gull
29. Lesser Scaup
30. Lesser Yellowlegs
31. Mallard
32. Mourning Dove
33. Northern Cardinal
34. Osprey
35. Pectoral Sandpiper
36. Pied-billed Grebe
37. Red-tailed Hawk
38. Red-winged Blackbird
39. Ring-billed Gull
40. Ring-necked Duck
41. Rock Pigeon
42. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
43. Ruddy Duck
44. Snow Goose
45. Song Sparrow
46. Turkey Vulture
47. White-throated Sparrow
48. Wood Duck
49. Yellow-rumped Warbler

High Falls, Photo courtesy of Josh McCullough

High Falls, Photo courtesy of Josh McCullough

Saturday Oct. 1:

Although the weather was unfavorable for humans we still tallied a list of 53 species.
We started at Petrie Island, and birded the surrounding area. We also went to High Falls where we had Rusty Blackbird. Highlights of the day were American Golden Plover, Bay-breasted Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Siskin, Sandhill Crane, Snow Goose and White-crowned Sparrow.
Day list: 

1. American Black Duck
2. American Crow
3. American Golden Plover
4. American Robin
5. American Wigeon
6. Bay-breasted Warbler
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. Blue Jay
9. Brown Creeper
10. Canada Goose        
11. Cedar Waxwing
12. Common Merganser
13. Common Raven
14. Double-crested Cormorant
15. Downy Woodpecker
16. Dunlin
17. Eastern Phoebe
18. European Starling
19. Great Blue Heron
20. Greater Yellowlegs
21. Green-winged Teal
22. Hairy Woodpecker
23. Herring Gull
24. Hooded Merganser
25. Horned Lark
26. House Sparrow
27. Killdeer
28. Lesser Yellowlegs
29. Mallard
30. Merlin
31. Mourning Dove
32. Northern Cardinal
33. Northern Flicker
34. Northern Pintail
35. Palm Warbler
36. Pectoral Sandpiper
37. Pine Siskin
38. Red-tailed Hawk
39. Red-winged Blackbird
40. Ring-billed Gull
41. Rock Pigeon
42. Rusty Blackbird
43. Sandhill Crane
44. Semipalmated Plover
45. Snow Goose
46. Song Sparrow
47. Swamp Sparrow
48. Turkey Vulture
49. White-breasted Nuthatch
50. White-crowned Sparrow
51. White-throated Sparrow
52. Wood Duck
53. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Thistle
   
Josh bonding with a Black-capped Chickadee @ Jack Pine Trail

Eastern Gray Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

Tuesday Oct. 4:

Today we had this season’s photo day at Jack Pine Trail.

Weather was better than predicted and the mist cleared up as the morning progressed.

Most of the leaves have changed color or were about to do so. Fall was all around us.

So were the birdies. To our great surprise we had Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Magnolia and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Other highlights of the day, besides pictures, were Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Winter Wren.

Day list: 

1. American Black Duck
2. American Crow
3. American Goldfinch
4. American Robin
5. American Wigeon
6. Belted Kingfisher
7. Blackburnian Warbler
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Black-throated Green Warbler
10. Blue Jay
11. Blue-headed Vireo
12. Blue-winged teal
13. Brown Creeper
14. Canada Goose        
15. Common Raven
16. Double-crested Cormorant
17. Downy Woodpecker
18. European Starling
19. Gadwall
20. Golden-crowned Kinglet
21. Great Blue Heron
22. Greater Yellowlegs
23. Green-winged Teal
24. Hairy Woodpecker
25. Hermit Thrush
26. Herring Gull
27. House Sparrow
28. Magnolia Warbler
29. Mallard
30. Merlin
31. Mourning Dove
32. Pectoral Sandpiper
33. Pied-billed Grebe
34. Pileated Woodpecker
35. Red-breasted Nuthatch
36. Red-winged Blackbird
37. Ring-billed Gull
38. Ring-necked Duck
39. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
40. Ruddy Duck
41. Sharp-shinned Hawk
42. Snow Goose
43. Song Sparrow
44. Swamp Sparrow
45. Turkey Vulture
46. White-breasted Nuthatch
47. White-crowned Sparrow
48. White-throated Sparrow
49. Winter Wren
50. Wood Duck
51. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Bald Eagle -Haliaeetus leucocephalus

 

Great Horned Owl - Bubo virginianus, Photo courtesy of Tony Beck

Saturday Oct. 8:

A big day dedicated to the Photo Enthusiasts at Always An Adventure.

We started early and headed for Parc Omega in Montebello, Quebec.We arrived a few minutes after they opened the park, and went straight for the Timber Wolfs and Black Bears. From there on we went two times around the park, with a break at noon to attend the raptor show organized by Canadian Raptor Conservancy. We had the fantastic pleasure to be only centimeters away from a Great Horned Owl, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Turkey Vulture and a 4 year sub-adult Bald Eagle. An entire new gallery will be dedicated to this day on our Facebook Page. Stay tuned!

Day list:

1. American Bittern
2. American Black Duck
3. American Crow
4. American Robin
5. American Wigeon
6. Black-capped Chickadee
7. Blue Jay
8. Bonaparte's Gull
9. Brown Creeper
10. Canada Goose        
11. Cedar Waxwing
12. Common Raven
13. Dark-eyed Junco
14. Double-crested Cormorant
15. Downy Woodpecker
16. European Starling
17. Gadwall
18. Great Blue Heron
19. Hairy Woodpecker
20. Herring Gull
21. Mallard
22. Mourning Dove
23. Northern Cardinal
24. Northern Harrier
25. Pied-billed Grebe
26. Pine Siskin
27. Red-breasted Nuthatch
28. Red-tailed Hawk
29. Red-winged Blackbird
30. Ring-billed Gull
31. Ring-necked Duck
32. Rock Pigeon
33. Song Sparrow
34. Turkey Vulture
35. White-breasted Nuthatch
36. White-throated Sparrow
37. Wild Turkey
38. Wood Duck
39. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Digiscope Image with Coolpix P300 through Nikon Fieldscope ED82 and 50X wide DS eyepiece. 
Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica, Photo courtesy of Tony Beck

Tony Beck digiscoping with Coolpix P300 and Nikon Fieldscope ED82

Sunday Oct 9:

We had a beautiful and bird-filled autumn day in Ottawa's west end today.

We started at Ottawa Beach where we came close to 5 Hudsonian Godwits (we had a total of 33 between Constance Bay and Ottawa Beach by the end of the day).
We then moved over to Shirley’s Bay where we had a nice flock of White-rumped Sandpipers, 6 Great Egrets and a flock of 11 Hudsonian Godwits. Another flock of 5 Hudsonians came in later.
We then went to the Moodie Drive Quarry Pond where we had a single Ross’s Goose. Going there we had a Cackling Goose flying over.
We ended the excursion at Constance Bay, where we had a Long-billed Dowitcher and 2 Nelson’s Sparrows and one more Hudsonian Godwit. What a fantastic Thanksgiving Weekend!
Day list: 

1. American Black Duck
2. American Crow
3. American Goldfinch
4. American Pipit
5. American Robin
6. American Wigeon
7. Black-bellied Plover
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Blue Jay
10. Brown Creeper
11. Cackling Goose
12. Canada Goose        
13. Common Merganser
14. Common Raven
15. Double-crested Cormorant
16. Downy Woodpecker
17. Dunlin
18. European Starling
19. Golden-crowned Kinglet
20. Great Black-backed Gull
21. Great Blue Heron
22. Great Egret
23. Greater Scaup
24. Greater Yellowlegs
25. Green-winged Teal
26. Hermit Thrush
27. Herring Gull
28. House Finch
29. Hudsonian Godwit
30. Lesser Scaup
31. Lesser Yellowlegs
32. Long-billed Dowitcher
33. Mallard
34. Nelson's Sparrow
35. Northern Cardinal
36. Northern Harrier
37. Northern Pintail
38. Pectoral Sandpiper
39. Pileated Woodpecker
40. Red-breasted Merganser
41. Red-necked Grebe
42. Red-tailed Hawk
43. Ring-billed Gull
44. Ring-necked Duck
45. Rock Pigeon
46. Ross's Goose
47. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
48. Ruddy Duck
49. Snow Goose
50. Song Sparrow
51. Swamp Sparrow
52. Turkey Vulture
53. White-breasted Nuthatch
54. White-crowned Sparrow
55. White-rumped Sandpiper
56. White-throated Sparrow
57. Yellow-rumped Warbler

 

Tony Beck bonding with a Canada Goose

 
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus

Eastern Gray Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

Tuesday Oct. 11:

We had an extremely rewarding morning birding areas east of Ottawa.

It started with a single Nelson's Sparrow amongst Song, Swamp and Lincoln’s Sparrows at the south end of the causeway of Petrie Island.
At the Giroux ponds we had 3 Ross's Geese - one juvenile and two adults, with a flock of 150 Snow Geese. Also present at the pond were 8 Hudsonian Godwits, 11 Pectoral Sandpiper, 11 White-rumped Sandpipers, 60 Killdeer and one Red-necked Grebe. At Milton Road we had yet another 33 Snow Geese amongst a flock of lazy and resting Canada Geese. While we were studying the Snow Geese, 2 Sandhill Cranes flew in.
Day list: 

1. American Black Duck
2. American Crow
3. American Pipit
4. American Robin
5. Black-capped Chickadee
6. Blue Jay
7. Brown Creeper
8. Canada Goose        
9. Common Raven
10. Dark-eyed Junco
11. Double-crested Cormorant
12. Downy Woodpecker
13. European Starling
14. Golden-crowned Kinglet
15. Great Blue Heron
16. Green-winged Teal
17. Hairy Woodpecker
18. Horned Lark
19. House Finch
20. Hudsonian Godwit
21. Killdeer
22. Lincoln's Sparrow
23. Mallard
24. Mourning Dove
25. Nelson's Sparrow
26. Northern Shoveler
27. Pectoral Sandpiper
28. Pine Siskin
29. Purple Finch
30. Red-necked Grebe
31. Red-tailed Hawk
32. Red-winged Blackbird
33. Ring-billed Gull
34. Rock Pigeon
35. Ross's Goose
36. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
37. Sandhill Crane
38. Snow Goose
39. Song Sparrow
40. Swamp Sparrow
41. Turkey Vulture
42. White-breasted Nuthatch
43. White-rumped Sandpiper
44. Wilson's Snipe
45. Wood Duck
46. Yellow-rumped Warbler

There will now be a short break in the local fall program.
We will continue the adventures on Saturday October 29.
See you then!!

All excursions organized by Always An Adventure
Find us on Facebook