Magnolia Warbler
Osprey
Richmond Lagoons
Tuesday June 12:
Under
drizzling skies, a small group of enthusiastic birders and photographers met
this morning at Andrew Haydon Park. From here we went straight for the Moodie
Drive Quarry Ponds where we had Common Tern, Bank Swallow and Belted Kingfisher.
At the
Richmond Lagoons, we had great views of Black-billed Cuckoo, Warbling Vireo,
Alder and Willow Flycather. In the distance, we could hear the sweet song of a
Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Unfortunately,
the rain got slightly heavier. But, we weren’t ready to finish yet.
We went for
a short coffee break to dry up, and fulfill our caffeine needs. We ended the
day checking out the area of Constance Creek for Virginia Rail and Osprey.
Despite the
nasty weather, we had a day list of 56 species.
Canada Goose
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Wood Duck
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Mallard
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Wild Turkey
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Common Loon
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Double-crested Cormorant
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Great Blue Heron
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Osprey
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Northern Harrier
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Killdeer
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Spotted Sandpiper
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Wilson's Snipe
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Ring-billed Gull
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Herring Gull
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Common Tern
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Rock Pigeon
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Mourning Dove
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Black-billed Cuckoo
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Belted Kingfisher
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
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Hairy Woodpecker
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Northern Flicker
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Alder Flycatcher
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Willow Flycatcher
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Eastern Phoebe
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Great Crested Flycatcher
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Eastern Kingbird
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Warbling Vireo
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Red-eyed Vireo
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American Crow
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Common Raven
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Purple Martin
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Tree Swallow
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Bank Swallow
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Barn Swallow
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White-breasted Nuthatch
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Eastern Bluebird
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American Robin
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Gray Catbird
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Brown Thrasher
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European Starling
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Cedar Waxwing
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Common Yellowthroat
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Yellow Warbler
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Chipping Sparrow
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Savannah Sparrow
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Song Sparrow
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Swamp Sparrow
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Northern Cardinal
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak
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Bobolink
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Red-winged Blackbird
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Eastern Meadowlark
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Common Grackle
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American Goldfinch
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House Sparrow
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Alfred Lagoons
Alfred Lagoons
Bill scouting @ Alfred Lagoons
Alfred Bog
Soy Bean Field
Thursday June 14:
It was a
glorious morning with full sunshine and heat. With the heat came the stillness.
Although many animals took cover from the direct sun, we had waterfowl galore
at Alfred Lagoons. Some of the species we observed included as Gadwall,
American Widgeon, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Common Gallinule, Blue
& Green-winged Teals, Virginia Rail and Pied-billed Grebe. Along the
periphery of the lagoon, we heard two Soras.
After the
lagoons we ventured out to the Alfred Bog where a very eager Vesper Sparrow
greeted us near the entrance to the boardwalk. Unfortunately, very few
creatures came out into the open and the orchids had passed their prime. In the
woodlot at the entrance, we had a cooperative Chestnut-sided Warbler and a
White-throated sparrow. In the nearby grassy fields, we had plenty of Bobolinks
and a pair of Northern Harriers in courtship.
We ended this
awesome day with 55 species.
Canada Goose
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Wood Duck
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Gadwall
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American Wigeon
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Mallard
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Blue-winged Teal
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Northern Shoveler
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Green-winged Teal
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Redhead
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Ruddy Duck
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Wild Turkey
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Pied-billed Grebe
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Double-crested Cormorant
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Great Blue Heron
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Turkey Vulture
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Northern Harrier
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Broad-winged Hawk
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Virginia Rail
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Sora
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Common Gallinule
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American Coot
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Killdeer
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Spotted Sandpiper
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Wilson's Snipe
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Ring-billed Gull
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Rock Pigeon
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Mourning Dove
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Belted Kingfisher
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Hairy Woodpecker
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Eastern Kingbird
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Warbling Vireo
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American Crow
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Common Raven
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Tree Swallow
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Bank Swallow
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Barn Swallow
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Black-capped Chickadee
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Marsh Wren
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American Robin
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European Starling
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Cedar Waxwing
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Ovenbird
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Common Yellowthroat
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Yellow Warbler
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
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Chipping Sparrow
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Vesper Sparrow
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Savannah Sparrow
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Song Sparrow
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White-throated Sparrow
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Bobolink
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Red-winged Blackbird
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Common Grackle
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American Goldfinch
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House Sparrow
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Common Ringlet, Photo Courtesy Tony Beck
Scarlet Tanager
Red Squirrel
Photo Day @ Stony Swamp
Stony Swamp
Stony Swamp
Photo day participant @ Stony Swamp
Saturday June 16:
The weather
was calm and the skies dark when we first met at Stony Swamp for our PHOTO day.
But, as the morning progressed, our photo conditions improved.
Photography
can be quite challenging inside a forest, so we practiced ISO, shutter and
aperture settings. It helped with cooperative wildlife such as a Scarlet
Tanager, Black-throated Green Warbler, Wild Turkey and several Eastern
Chipmunks and Red Squirrels. We also tried to be a little creative with
flowers, insects, scenery, and even people.
Although
our focus today was photography, we managed to spot 40 different species of
birds.
Wood Duck
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Mallard
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Hooded Merganser
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Wild Turkey
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Osprey
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Ring-billed Gull
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Rock Pigeon
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Mourning Dove
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
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Downy Woodpecker
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Eastern Wood-Pewee
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Alder Flycatcher
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Great Crested Flycatcher
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Eastern Kingbird
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Warbling Vireo
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Red-eyed Vireo
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Blue Jay
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American Crow
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Tree Swallow
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Barn Swallow
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Black-capped Chickadee
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Red-breasted Nuthatch
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White-breasted Nuthatch
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American Robin
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European Starling
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Cedar Waxwing
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Ovenbird
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Common Yellowthroat
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Black-thr. Green Warbler
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Chipping Sparrow
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Song Sparrow
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Swamp Sparrow
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White-throated Sparrow
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Northern Cardinal
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak
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Red-winged Blackbird
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Common Grackle
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Baltimore Oriole
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American Goldfinch
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House Sparrow
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Great-crested Flycatcher
Upland Sandpiper
Sundays Group
Water Lillie's
Bull Frog
Magnolia Warbler
Sunday June 17:
Our itinerary
for the day changed when we discovered that the Gatineau Parkway was closed
until 11am. So, instead we decided to head out along the Gatineau Escarpment.
But first, we explored the immediate area around the meeting place. Much to our
delight, we found a Cedar Waxing pair making a nest. On the way to the Gatineau
Escarpment, we stopped at Breckenridge. In the grassy fields we could hear
Upland Sandpiper. We were lucky to see at least 5 different individuals flying
around.
Then we
continued to Luskville where both warblers and insects were many. We had great
views of Veery, Indigo Bunting, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Black &
White, and Magnolia Warblers. Flying over the creek, we enjoyed several
beautiful damselflies known as Ebony Jewelwings.
After a
little pit stop, we went for a short hike inside the park. Here we had great
views of Magnolia, Blackburnian and Black-throated Blue Warblers. We ended with
a day-list of 58 species on this wonderful Father’s Day.
Canada Goose
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Mallard
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Double-crested Cormorant
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Great Blue Heron
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Turkey Vulture
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Osprey
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Red-shouldered Hawk
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Upland Sandpiper
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Ring-billed Gull
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Rock Pigeon
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Mourning Dove
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Ruby-thr. Hummingbird
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Belted Kingfisher
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
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Northern Flicker
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Eastern Wood-Pewee
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Alder Flycatcher
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Eastern Phoebe
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Great Crested Flycatcher
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Eastern Kingbird
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Red-eyed Vireo
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Blue Jay
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American Crow
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Common Raven
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Tree Swallow
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Barn Swallow
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Cliff Swallow
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Black-capped Chickadee
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Red-breasted Nuthatch
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White-breasted Nuthatch
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Eastern Bluebird
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Veery
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American Robin
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Gray Catbird
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European Starling
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Cedar Waxwing
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Ovenbird
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Black-and-white Warbler
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Common Yellowthroat
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American Redstart
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Magnolia Warbler
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Blackburnian Warbler
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Yellow Warbler
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
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Black-thr. Blue Warbler
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Black-thr. Green Warbler
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Chipping Sparrow
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Savannah Sparrow
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Song Sparrow
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Swamp Sparrow
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White-throated Sparrow
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Northern Cardinal
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Indigo Bunting
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Red-winged Blackbird
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Eastern Meadowlark
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Common Grackle
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American Goldfinch
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Black-crowned Night-Heron
Oxeye Daisy, Photo courtesy Tony Beck
All excursions organized by
