Lush Green Spring!

Cerulean Warbler

Grassy fields in search of Sparrows

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Mer Bleue Bard Walk

Mer Bleue Bard Walk

Thursday May 24:

It was a fantastic morning with blue skies and bright sunshine.

We went to the grassy fields south of Ottawa to explore the open habitats around Ottawa International Airport.

Not surprisingly, we had all our target sparrows such as Grasshopper, Field, Clay-coloured and Vesper Sparrow. We also had Eastern Bluebird, Bobolink, Indigo Bunting and Brown Thrasher.

After the fields we ventured out to Mer Bleue for even more targets such as Yellow Palm Warbler, Lincoln and Swamp Sparrow. While observing a Swamp Sparrow, we enjoyed a Sandhill Crane and three  Broad-winged Hawks fly over.

1. Alder Flycatcher
2. American Crow
3. American Goldfinch
4. American Robin
5. Baltimore Oriole
6. Barn Swallow
7. Black & White Warbler
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Blue Jay
10. Bobolink
11. Broad-winged Hawk
12. Brown Thrasher
13. Brown-headed Cowbird
14. Canada Goose        
15. Chestnut-sided Warbler
16. Chipping Sparrow
17. Clay-colored Sparrow
18. Common Grackle
19. Common Yellowthroat
20. Eastern Bluebird
21. Eastern Kingbird
22. European Starling
23. Grasshopper Sparrow
24. Gray Catbird
25. Great Blue Heron
26. Great-crested Flycatcher
27. Indigo Bunting
28. Lincoln's Sparrow
29. Mallard
30. Mourning Dove
31. Northern Flicker
32. Northern Waterthrush
33. Ovenbird
34. Palm Warbler
35. Purple Finch
36. Red-tailed Hawk
37. Red-winged Blackbird
38. Ring-billed Gull
39. Rock Pigeon
40. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
41. Sandhill Crane
42. Savannah Sparrow
43. Scarlet Tanager
44. Song Sparrow
45. Swamp Sparrow
46. Tree Swallow
47. Turkey Vulture
48. Vesper Sparrow
49. White-throated Sparrow
50. Wild Turkey
51. Wood Thrush
52. Yellow Warbler

Scenery at Chaffey's Locks

Golden-winged Warbler

Yellow-throated Vireo

Lush green forest at Chaffey's Locks

Tony trying to squeak in Barred Owls...

And guess what; there they were! Barred Owl

Saturday May 26:

We started bright and early for our carolinian adventure to Chaffey's Locks.

We had a hot and wonderful day exploring the area, where some of our best songbirds were Yellow-throated Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Black-billed Cuckoo, Cerulean & Golden Winged Warbler. On the raptor side we had several Red-shouldered Hawks, a few Broad-winged Hawks and Coopers Hawk.

But, the highlight of the day was seeing a Brewster's Warbler and on our last trail, we encountered 3 Barred Owls! It was an amazing site and a big surprise!

1. American Crow
2. American Goldfinch
3. American Redstart
4. American Robin
5. American Kestrel
6. Baltimore Oriole
7. Bank Swallow (Sand Martin)
8. Barn Swallow
9. Barred Owl
10. Black & White Warbler
11. Black-billed Cuckoo
12. Blackburnian Warbler
13. Black-capped Chickadee
14. Black-throated Green Warbler
15. Bobolink
16. Brewster's Warbler
17. Broad-winged Hawk
18. Canada Goose        
19. Cedar Waxwing
20. Cerulean Warbler
21. Chimney Swift
22. Chipping Sparrow
23. Common Grackle
24. Common Raven
25. Common Yellowthroat
26. Coopers Hawk
27. Double-crested Cormorant
28. Downy Woodpecker
29. Eastern Bluebird
30. Eastern Kingbird
31. Eastern Meadowlark
32. European Starling
33. Gadwall
34. Golden-winged Warbler
35. Great Blue Heron
36. Great-crested Flycatcher
37. Green Heron
38. Hairy Woodpecker
39. House Finch
40. Indigo Bunting
41. Mallard
42. Mourning Dove
43. Nashville Warbler
44. Northern Cardinal
45. Northern Flicker
46. Northern Waterthrush
47. Osprey
48. Ovenbird
49. Pine Warbler
50. Purple Finch
51. Red-eyed Vireo
52. Red-shouldered Hawk
53. Red-winged Blackbird
54. Ring-billed Gull
55. Rock Pigeon
56. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
57. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
58. Ruffed Grouse
59. Savannah Sparrow
60. Scarlet Tanager
61. Song Sparrow
62. Spotted Sandpiper
63. Tree Swallow
64. Turkey Vulture
65. Warbling Vireo
66. White-breasted Nuthatch
67. White-throated Sparrow
68. Wild Turkey
69. Wilson's Snipe
70. Yellow Warbler
71. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
72. Yellow-throated Vireo

Giant Swallowtail

Hunting Lincoln's Sparrow at Mer Bleue

Home sweet Home

Sunday May 27:

Another Sparrow day in the lush green area around Ottawa International Airport.

The weather was cooler this morning and the birds not so active. But we had great views of Field, Grasshopper, Clay-colored and Vesper Sparrow. In addition we had Brown Thrasher, Chestnut-sided Warbler,  Palm Warbler, Lincoln Sparrow, and just as we were leaving the parking lot at Mer Bleue, we had a Sandhill Crane fly over.

1. Alder Flycatcher
2. American Crow
3. American Goldfinch
4. American Robin
5. Baltimore Oriole
6. Black & White Warbler
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. Blue Jay
9. Bobolink
10. Brown Thrasher
11. Brown-headed Cowbird
12. Canada Goose        
13. Chestnut-sided Warbler
14. Chipping Sparrow
15. Clay-colored Sparrow
16. Common Raven
17. Common Yellowthroat
18. Double-crested Cormorant
19. Eastern Kingbird
20. European Starling
21. Field Sparrow
22. Grasshopper Sparrow
23. Gray Catbird
24. Great-crested Flycatcher
25. House Wren
26. Indigo Bunting
27. Killdeer
28. Lincoln's Sparrow
29. Mallard
30. Mourning Dove
31. Nashville Warbler
32. Northern Flicker
33. Ovenbird
34. Palm Warbler
35. Pileated Woodpecker
36. Purple Martin
37. Red-eyed Vireo
38. Red-tailed Hawk
39. Red-winged Blackbird
40. Ring-billed Gull
41. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
42. Sandhill Crane
43. Song Sparrow
44. Swamp Sparrow
45. Tree Swallow
46. Turkey Vulture
47. Veery
48. Vesper Sparrow
49. Warbling Vireo
50. White-throated Sparrow
51. Wild Turkey
52. Yellow Warbler
53. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Great-crested Flycatcher

Britannia Point, scouting Bonaparte Gulls

Tuesday May 29:

We had a good day today at Britannia and Mud Lake. The promised rain kept away all morning, and we had clear skies, although a bit humid.

We had several warblers, such as Magnolia, Nashville, Black & White, Black-throated Green, Yellow and Blackpoll Warbler.

There were Black-crowned Night Herons everywhere, and we also saw a couple of Great Egrets.

The cutest sight was when a female Hooded Merganser with her many chicks swam by a female Wood Duck, also with her chicks.

1. Alder Flycatcher
2. American Crow
3. American Goldfinch
4. American Redstart
5. American Robin
6. Baltimore Oriole
7. Belted Kingfisher
8. Black & White Warbler
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. Black-crowned Night Heron
11. Blackpoll Warbler
12. Black-throated Green Warbler
13. Bonaparte's Gull
14. Canada Goose        
15. Cedar Waxwing
16. Common Grackle
17. Common Merganser
18. Common Raven
19. Common Tern
20. Common Yellowthroat
21. Double-crested Cormorant
22. Downy Woodpecker
23. Eastern Kingbird
24. Eastern Wood-Pewee
25. European Starling
26. Gray Catbird
27. Great Blue Heron
28. Great Egret
29. Great-crested Flycatcher
30. Green Heron
31. Hairy Woodpecker
32. Herring Gull
33. Hooded Merganser
34. House Finch
35. Least Flycatcher
36. Magnolia Warbler
37. Mallard
38. Mourning Dove
39. Nashville Warbler
40. Northern Cardinal
41. Pied-billed Grebe
42. Pine Warbler
43. Red-breasted Nuthatch
44. Red-eyed Vireo
45. Red-winged Blackbird
46. Ring-billed Gull
47. Song Sparrow
48. Spotted Sandpiper
49. Tree Swallow
50. Warbling Vireo
51. Wood Duck
52. Yellow Warbler 

Let the Sunshine in!

All excursions organized by Always An Adventure

Next weekend we're off to Algonquin Park

Stay tuned & enjoy the warming season!