Art Prints

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Thank You, 2011, for all the awesome birdies!


Cedar Waxwing
Northern Shrike
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Snow Geese
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Snow Geese
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Iceland Gull, Photo Courtesy Helena G.
Saturday Dec. 17:
Always An Adventure’s WINTER Program started today east of Ottawa looking for raptors and open country birds. 2-300 Snow Geese, perhaps the last of the season, were seen close to the village of St. Isidore. Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Shrike and Harrier were spotted several places.
At Casselman we had 5 species of gulls; Glaucous, Great Black-backed, Herring, Iceland and Ring-billed Gull.
Day list:
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Tree Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Canada Goose        
Common Merganser
European Starling
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Horned Lark
Iceland Gull
Northern Harrier
Northern Shrike
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Rough-legged Hawk
Snow Bunting
Snow Goose
Carolina Wren
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Cedar Waxwing
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Downy Woodpecker, Photo Courtesy Bill Bowman
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Monday Dec. 19:
We met at Carling Avenue for today’s excursion - Twitcher’s Delight.
Sheltered by the trees around Britannia Conservation Area and Mud Lake, we explored the area for rarities such as Northern Flicker and Carolina Wren. The Wren was a life birds for a couple in the group, me included. Another great surprise today was a small flock of about 16 Cedar Waxwings.
Day-list:
American Black Duck
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Canada Goose        
Carolina Wren
Cedar Waxwing
Common Goldeneye
Common Loon
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Great Black-backed Gull
Hairy Woodpecker
Herring Gull
Hooded Merganser
House Finch
Lesser Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Purple Finch
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Rough-legged Hawk
White-breasted Nuthatch
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Lesser Scaup, Photo Courtesy Roger Cobbledick
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White-breasted Nuthatch, Photo Courtesy Deanna Wright
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American Robin, Photo Courtesy Tony Beck
Thursday Dec. 22:
We met along Cassles Road, at Britannia Conservation Area and Mud Lake. We managed to relocate the overwintering Northern Flicker and Carolina Wren.
Moving over to Dick Bell Park we could see two Snowy Owls on the other side of Lac Deschennes through the scope. We also had 2 White-winged Scoters and a Lesser Scaup.
Later we went to Shirley’s Bay area where we had Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk and Common Loon.
Day-list:
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
Bald Eagle
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper
Canada Goose        
Carolina Wren
Common Goldeneye
Common Loon
Common Raven
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Hairy Woodpecker
Herring Gull
House Finch
Iceland Gull
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rough-legged Hawk
Snowy Owl
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-winged Scoter
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Red-tailed Hawk, Photo Courtesy Helena G.
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Snowy Owl, Photo Courtesy Bill Bowman
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Britannia Conservation Area
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Britannia Conservation Area, Winter Wonderland
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Merlin
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Black-capped Chickadee, Photo Courtesy Tony Beck
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Black-capped Chickadee
Thursday Dec. 29:
Today was the very last excursion of the year.
We ended the excellent birding year at the west end of Ottawa, looking for raptors and open country birds.
Most birds were hiding from the extreme cold, but nevertheless we had Cedar Waxwing, dozens of American Robins and Black-capped Chickadee, mostly feeding on frozen berries. We also had Snowy Owl and Merlin. At Hilda Road feeder, the 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds were still present.
Day-list:
American Black Duck
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Common Goldeneye
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
House Finch
House Sparrow
Merlin
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Rock Pigeon
Snowy Owl
White-breasted Nuthatch
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American Robin
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Red-tailed Hawk


According to Tony, 2011 was one of the best years for birding in the Ottawa area.
We had many fantastic birds, and also lots of great photo-opportunities.
Thank you everyone for joining us in 2011. See you all in 2012!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


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4 comments:

  1. I really like the Chickadee sitting on the red sumac. Happy New Year everyone!
    Janet W.

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  2. Nina, your blog is exquisite and you have an amazing eye as seen in your photos. Thanks for sharing. Happy Happy New Year to you both!!
    Brenda McCrea

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  3. Thank you Janet! We hope to see you soon! All the best for 2012! :o)

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  4. Thank you Brenda for your kind comment.
    All the best from us in 2012 to you and Ed as well. Cheers!

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