Art Prints

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

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
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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
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Digiscope Image with Coolpix P300 through Nikon Fieldscope ED82 and 50X wide DS eyepiece
Merlin - Falco columbarius, Photo courtesy of Tony Beck
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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
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High Falls, Photo courtesy of Josh McCullough
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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
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Thistle
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Josh bonding with a Black-capped Chickadee @ Jack Pine Trail
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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
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Bald Eagle -Haliaeetus leucocephalus
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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
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Digiscope Image with Coolpix P300 through Nikon Fieldscope ED82 and 50X wide DS eyepiece. 
Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica, Photo courtesy of Tony Beck
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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
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Tony Beck bonding with a Canada Goose
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Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus
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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!!


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All excursions organized by Always An Adventure
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