Spring Birding 11-17 April 2011

Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx Serripennis

Tuesday 12th April :

The first day of the spring program started at Petrie Island.

It was cool and fresh but that didn’t scare the birds away. The activity was high, and it seemed like most of the action was happening overhead.

16 Wood  Duck drakes chasing a single female, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 13 Sandhill Cranes, and the day’s highlight the fantastic Northern Goshawk .

Day list: 

1. Mallard
2. Canada Goose
3. Red-Tailed Hawk
4. Ring-billed Gull
5. Rock Pigeon
6. American Crow
7. Common Raven
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. American Robin
10. European Starling
11. American Tree Sparrow
12. Song Sparrow
13. Red-winged Blackbird
14. Common Grackle
15. American Goldfinch
16. House Sparrow
17. Turkey Vulture
18. Hairy Woodpecker
19. Downy Woodpecker
20. Common Goldeneye
21. White-breasted Nuthatch
22. Mourning Dove
23. Killdeer
24. Herring Gull
25. Common Merganser
26. American Black Duck
27. Coopers Hawk
28. Hooded Merganser
29. Ring-necked Duck
30. Tree Swallow
31. Wood Duck
32. Sandhill Crane
33. Northern Harrier
34. Great Blue Heron
35. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
36. Eastern Phoebe
37. Northern Pintail
38. American Kestrel
39. Barn Swallow
40. Bufflehead
41. Brown-headed Cowbird
42. Pileated Woodpecker
43. Common Loon
44. Northern Flicker
45. Sharp-shinned Hawk
46. Evening Grosbeak
47. Horned Lark
48. Northern Goshawk

Beaver

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius

Thursday 14^th April – Photo day

New to the spring program this year are “Wildlife Photography Days”, which started at Britannia Conservation Area.  We were thrown into action almost from the beginning, experiencing a Coopers Hawk catching his meal, a European Starling.

The class occupied with the Coopers Hawk

Later in the morning we moved over to Shirley’s Bay and the Hilda Road feeders, where we had a beautiful White-throated Sparrow singing his heart out. We also had the pleasure of watching a porcupine slowly eating fresh leaf buds.   

Day list:

1. Canada Goose
2. Mallard
3. Ring-billed Gull
4. Rock Pigeon
5. Blue Jay
6. American Crow
7. Common Raven
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. American Robin
10. European Starling
11. American Tree Sparrow
12. Song Sparrow
13. Northern Cardinal
14. Red-winged Blackbird
15. Common Grackle
16. American Goldfinch
17. House Sparrow
18. Turkey Vulture
19. Hairy Woodpecker
20. Common Goldeneye
21. White-breasted Nuthatch
22. Mourning Dove
23. Killdeer
24. Herring Gull
25. Common Merganser
26. American Black Duck
27. Coopers Hawk
28. Hooded Merganser
29. Tree Swallow
30. Black-crowned Night Heron
31. White-throated Sparrow
32. America Wigeon
33. Wood Duck
34. House Finch
35. Dark-eyed Junco
36. Great Blue Heron
37. Barn Swallow
38. Osprey
39. Brown-headed Cowbird
40. Pied-billed grebe
41. Great Black-backed Gull
42. Merlin
43. Northern Flicker
44. Northern Rough-winged Swallow 

Porcupine 

Saturday 16^th April :

The morning started with a magnificent Great Egret flying overhead at Mud Lake. Strong winds gave promises of interesting birds, and we had 4 different kinds of Swallows in addition to another welcomed spring migrant, the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle). A Belted Kingfisher and several Fox Sparrows were  other highlights of the day.

Day list:

1. Canada Goose
2. Mallard
3. Red-Tailed Hawk
4. Ring-billed Gull
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Blue Jay
7. American Crow
8. Common Raven
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. American Robin
11. European Starling
12. American Tree Sparrow
13. Song Sparrow
14. Northern Cardinal
15. Red-winged Blackbird
16. Common Grackle
17. House Sparrow
18. Bohemian Waxwing
19. Turkey Vulture
20. Hairy Woodpecker
21. Downy Woodpecker
22. Common Goldeneye
23. Brown Creeper
24. White-breasted Nuthatch
25. Mourning Dove
26. Killdeer
27. Herring Gull
28. Common Merganser
29. American Black Duck
30. Hooded Merganser
31. Ring-necked Duck
32. Lesser Scaup
33. Tree Swallow
34. Black-crowned Night Heron
35. White-throated Sparrow
36. Wood Duck
37. Wild Turkey
38. Dark-eyed Junco
39. Northern Harrier
40. Great Blue Heron
41. Barn Swallow
42. Bufflehead
43. Ruddy Duck
44. Osprey
45. Brown-headed Cowbird
46. Pied-billed Grebe
47. Common Loon
48. Northern Flicker
49. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
50. Cliff Swallow
51. Golden-crowned Kinglet
52. Yellow-rumped Warbler
53. Northern Flicker
54. Fox Sparrow
55. Great Egret
56. Belted Kingfisher

Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus 

Sunday 17^th April :

We witnessed a most fantastic event this morning at the Dewberry trail. For the first time in my life I observed the full display of an adult male Ruffed Grouse. Clearly something that will never be forgotten.

We also had big numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos, and again we spotted the Sandhill Cranes, flying majestically on the strong winds.

Day list:

1. American Black Duck
2. American Crow
3. American Goldfinch
4. American Robin
5. American Wigeon
6. Belted Kingfisher
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. Broad-winged Hawk
9. Brown Creeper
10. Brown-headed Cowbird
11. Bufflehead
12. Cackling Goose
13. Canada Goose        
14. Common Grackle
15. Common Merganser
16. Common Raven
17. Dark-eyed Junco
18. Downy Woodpecker
19. European Starling
20. Fox Sparrow
21. Gadvall
22. Golden-crowned Kinglet
23. Great Blue Heron
24. Green-winged Teal
25. Killdeer
26. Mallard
27. Mourning Dove
28. Northern Flicker
29. Northern Harrier
30. Northern Pintail
31. Osprey
32. Pileated Woodpecker
33. Red-tailed Hawk
34. Red-winged Blackbird
35. Ring-billed Gull
36. Rock Pigeon
37. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
38. Ruffed Grouse
39. Sandhill Crane
40. Song Sparrow
41. Tree Swallow
42. White-breasted Nuthatch
43. Wild Turkey
44. Wood Duck
45. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura

The first week of the spring program is over, and O’boy, did we ever have a lot of new birds!

Keep them coming... !! ;o)

Excursions organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure

Weekend Excursions April 9th and 10th – 2011

Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia

It was the last days of the winter birding program, and what a Grand Finale we had!!

Saturday morning, we started at the Dewbarry Trail achieving a list of 30 species before 8am.

From there we went to the Mer Bleue boardwalk, a conservation area in Ottawa with almost 5000 acres of peat bog. Not as productive as the morning it was still a most relaxing and refreshing walk.

Saturday's enthusiastic crowd

Mer Bleue Boardwalk

Highlights amongst the 61 species were Eastern Bluebird, Barn and Tree Swallows, Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Phoebe and Osprey.

Day list:

1.       Canada Goose

2.       Mallard

3.       Red-tailed Hawk

4.       Ring-billed Gull

5.       Rock Pigeon

6.       Blue Jay

7.       American Crow

8.       Common Raven

9.       Black-capped Chickadee

10.   American Robin

11.   European Starling

12.   American Tree Sparrow

13.   Northern Cardinal

14.   Red-winged Blackbird

15.   Common Grackle

16.   American Goldfinch

17.   House Sparrow

18.   Bohemian Waxwing

19.   Turkey Vulture

20.   Downy Woodpecker

21.   Common Goldeneye

22.   White-breasted Nuthatch

23.   Mourning Dove

24.   Killdeer

25.   Herring Gull

26.   Common Merganser

27.   American Black Duck

28.   Coopers Hawk

29.   Hooded Merganser

30.   Ring-necked Duck

31.   Lesser Scaup

32.   Tree Swallow

33.   Black-crowned Night Heron

34.   White-throated Sparrow

35.   American Wigeon

36.   Wood Duck

37.   House Finch

38.   Double-crested Cormorant

39.   Red-necked Grebe

40.   Wild Turkey

41.   Dark-eyed Junco

42.   Common Redpoll

43.   Purple Finch

44.   Sandhill Crane

45.   Cackling Goose

46.   Northern Harrier

47.   Great Blue Heron

48.   Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

49.   Eastern Phoebe

50.   Northern Pintail

51.   American Kestrel

52.   Eastern Bluebird

53.   Barn Swallow

54.   Bufflehead

55.   Ruddy Duck

56.   Snow Goose

57.   Green-winged Teal

58.   Osprey

59.   Wilson's Snipe

60.   Brown-headed Cowbird

61.   Pied-billed Grebe

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus

Sunday, the last day of Tony's Winter program, started with approximately 5000 Bohemian Waxwings! We barely had time to leave our cars before the most impressive flock came flying over head at the corner of Blvd Gamelin and Promenade du Portage in Gatineau.

Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - Photo courtesy of Heather Pickard 

We were mesmerized and spent quite some time photographing and admiring the birds, whereof we also had the pleasure of viewing a Leucistic Bohemian Waxwing in addition to a single Cedar Waxwing.

Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - Photo courtesy of Tony Beck

After indulging with the flock, we drove east to the Plaisance Wildlife Reserve.

Before the end of the excursion we had again 61 species on our day list, with highlights like Barrow’s Goldneye, Common Loon, Bufflehead, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawk.

Day list:

1. Canada Goose
2. Mallard
3. Red-Tailed Hawk
4. Ring-billed Gull
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Blue Jay
7. American Crow
8. Common Raven
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. American Robin
11. European Starling
12. American Tree Sparrow
13. Song Sparrow
14. Northern Cardinal
15. Common Gracle
16. American Goldfinch
17. House Sparrow
18. Bohemian Waxwing
19. Turkey Vulture
20. Downy Woodpecker
21. Common Goldeneye
22. White-breasted Nuthatch
23. Mourning Dove
24. Killdeer
25. Herring Gull
26. Common Merganser
27. American Black Duck
28. Hooded Merganser
29. Ring-necked Duck
30. Ring-necked Duck
31. Lesser Scaup
32. Tree Swallow
33. Black-crowned Night Heron
34. White-throated Sparrow
35. American Wigeon
36. Wood Duck
37. House Finch
38. Red-necked Grebe
39. Wild Turkey
40. Dark-eyed Junco
41. Common Redpoll
42. Cackling Goose
43. Northern Harrier
44. Great Blue Heron
45. Eastern Phoebe
46. American Kestrel
47. Bufflehead
48. Green-winged Teal
49. Osprey
50. Brown-headed Cowbird
51. Pied-billed Grebe
52. Great Black-backed Gull
53. Merlin
54. Cedar Waxwing
55. Hermit Thrush
56. Pileated Woodpecker
57. Common Loon
58. Peregrine Falcon
59. Barrow's Goldeneye
60. Bald Eagle
61. Red-shouldered Hawk

~ Always An Adventure ~

American Robin - Turdus migratorius

Pussy Willow

Tapping for Maple Syrup

Now, we are ready for the next wave of SPRING Migration!!

Bring it on!

Weekend Birding 2-3 April 2011

Pussy Willow

Winter lingers on, and we’re still feeling its icy grip.

Nevertheless, birds are arriving, buds are blooming and Crocus’s are seeing the light of day.

And, we are out there watching it all happen.

We explored the Jack Pine Trail on Saturday and as all the chickadees and nuthatches were on territory preparing for the breeding season the trail itself was very quiet.

But, there are always birds which demand to be fed.

Even the Chipmunks popped up after winters hibernation looking at you with their cute little faces.

The ice covered ponds have slowly cracked open inviting all manner of waterfowl.

Northern Cardinals are singing their beautiful song from the tree tops while Brown Creepers run up the tree-trunks searching for food. Their high pitched ‘sree’ note rings throughout the forest.

Everywhere along the trail, American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds are in a constant choir with Blue Jays. 

A trail hike is absolutely refreshing and soul soothing.

Saturday we had 31 different species:

1. Canada Goose        
2. Mallard
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. Ring-billed Gull
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Blue Jay
7. American Crow
8. Common Raven
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. American Robin
11. European Starling
12. Song Sparrow
13. Red-winged Blackbird
14. Common Grackle
15. American Goldfinch
16. Turkey Vulture
17. Hairy Woodpecker
18. Downy Woodpecker
19. Common Goldeneye
20. Brown Creeper
21. White-breasted Nuthatch
22. Mourning Dove
23. Dark-eyed Junco
24. Killdeer
25. Herring Gull
26. Great Black-backed Gull
27. Northern Harrier
28. Cackling Goose
29. Common Merganser
30. American Black Duck
31. Northern Pintail

Female breeding Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa)

After the excursion Saturday, Tony and I stopped along the Ottawa River.

We had a great time playing with some Ring-billed Gulls which left their autograph on my jacket.

I also finally got to photograph the ever-so-magnificent Wood Duck.

Male breeding Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa)

At the beginning of April, almost all the winter birds have left us. A few redpolls are still flying around.

And on Sunday in Britannia we were surprised with a flock of 30 Bohemian Waxwings.

We also had an early adult Black-crowned Night Heron, in addition to an adult Coopers Hawk.

The Ottawa River is opening up fast, bearing promises of bird action on the water. We can’t wait!

Song Sparrows are flying from shrub to shrub along the shoreline while American Goldfinches are getting more and more yellow each day that passes.

We are on the brim of an explosion of life, not only avian, but all life forms.

Sunday’s species list as follows:

1. Canada Goose        
2. Mallard
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. Ring-billed Gull
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Blue Jay
7. American Crow
8. Common Raven
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. American Robin
11. European Starling
12. American Tree Sparrow
13. Song Sparrow
14. Northern Cardinal
15. Red-winged Blackbird
16. Common Grackle
17. American Goldfinch
18. House Sparrow
19. Bohemian Waxwing
20. Turkey Vulture
21. Hairy Woodpecker
22. Downy Woodpecker
23. Common Goldeneye
24. Brown Creeper
25. White-breasted Nuthatch
26. Mourning Dove
27. Killdeer
28. Herring Gull
29. Common Merganser
30. American Black Duck
31. Coopers Hawk
32. Hooded Merganser
33. Ring-necked Duck
34. Lesser Scaup
35. Tree Swallow
36. Black-crowned Night Heron
37. White-throated Sparrow

Excursion organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure

Sunday Excursion 27th March 2011

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) 

15 enthusiastic birders and photographers gathered together on this clear, yet brisk morning in Gatineau Park. Our goal was to look for lingering winter-birds in the hills of Quebec.

Yet again the day started out perfectly with 2000+ Bohemian Waxwings having a feast on the remaining berries in the trees, occasionally coming to the ground to eat snow. Their soft trill had a soothing quality.

We car-pooled for a long ride along the base of the Gatineau escarpment.

We cut through the park north from the village of Eardley.

Along the way  we observed about 20 Turkey Vultures, a few Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, 4 Bald Eagles, 2 American Kestrels, and 2 Merlins.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

To end a great birding day, and make it complete, we had an Eastern Screech-Owl, which I now can proudly add to my lifelist.

 Daylist:

1. Canada Goose        
2. Mallard
3. Wild Turkey
4. Red-tailed Hawk
5. Rough-legged Hawk
6. Ring-billed Gull
7. Rock Pigeon
8. Blue Jay
9. American Crow
10. Common Raven
11. Black-capped Chickadee
12. American Robin
13. European Starling
14. American Tree Sparrow
15. Song Sparrow
16. Northern Cardinal
17. Red-winged Blackbird
18. Common Grackle
19. American Goldfinch
20. Common Redpoll
21. House Sparrow
22. Bohemian Waxwing
23. Merlin
24. Turkey Vulture
25. Hairy Woodpecker
26. Downy Woodpecker
27. Red-breasted Nuthatch
28. Bald Eagle
29. Snowbunting
30. American Kestrel
31. Common Goldeneye
32. Eastern Screech-Owl

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo Jamaicensis)

Excursion organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure

Excursion Thursday 24th March 2011 - Ottawa

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

What a most perfect day!

The excursion started with a young Moose staring at us from the edge of the woods while driving to our destination.

It was a fresh and crisp day, with sunshine and blue skies.
It started out very well, already with 17 species on the day-list before 8:00am.

After some hiking, driving, stopping and scanning, we went searching for geese again.

Our goal was to repeat the great experience of last Sunday's excursion. 

Thousands of Canada Geese

Today we had a single Snow Goose together with thousands of Canada Geese. 

After a tractor flushed about 20,000 of them, we spotted a Leucistic Canada Goose in with the flock.

We ended up with 29 different species by the end of the morning:

1. Canada Goose        
2. American Black Duck
3. Mallard
4. Wild Turkey
5. Red-tailed Hawk
6. Rough-legged Hawk
7. Killdeer
8. Ring-billed Gull
9. Rock Pigeon
10. Mourning Dove
11. Blue Jay
12. American Crow
13. Common Raven
14. Black-capped Chickadee
15. White-breasted Nuthatch
16. American Robin
17. European Starling
18. American Tree Sparrow
19. Song Sparrow
20. Northern Cardinal
21. Red-winged Blackbird
22. Common Grackle
23. American Goldfinch
24. Common Redpoll
25. House Sparrow
26. Northern Pintail
27. Horned Lark
28. Snow Goose
29. Pileated Woodpecker

American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)

Although I can not get enough of the massive numbers of Canada Geese these days, I haven't forgotten the more common birds like Northern Cardinal and American Black Duck.

Thanks to Tony, I can also add American Woodcock to my life-list.
Last Wednesday evening we saw and heard its full display. 

Rough-legged Hawk / Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)

Excursion organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure

Goose overdose...?

Snow Geese

Am I on the brink of a birding overdose?
Nope, not at all!! On the contrary!!

After witnessing over 100,000 - Yes! One Hundred Thousand - Snow & Canada Geese last weekend, I am more hooked on spring migration then ever before!
It was an unbelievable sight! I was in total awe...

Scenery with Canada Geese

Nothing can compare to the experience of seeing such an abundance of life.

In addition to the goose overdose, I had Ross's Goose as a lifer, and a really nice long look at an adult  Peregrine Falcon from our balcony at the 23rd floor, which was a new bird added to my "balcony list".

Saturday we had a day-list of 32 species, and on Sunday we had 34.

The total list for the weekend was 41:

1. American Black Duck
2. Canada Goose
3. Mallard
4. Green-winged Teal
5. Bufflehead
6. Common Merganser
7. Wild Turkey
8. Turkey Vulture
9. Red-tailed Hawk
10. Rough-legged Hawk
11. Killdeer
12. Ring-billed Gull
13. Herring Gull
14. Lesser Black-backed Gull
15. Rock Pigeon
16. Mourning Dove
17. Hairy Woodpecker
18. Blue Jay
19. American Crow
20. Common Raven
21. Black-capped Chickadee
22. White-breasted Nuthatch
23. American Robin
24. European Starling
25. American Tree Sparrow
26. Song Sparrow
27. Northern Cardinal
28. Red-winged Blackbird
29. Common Grackle
30. American Goldfinch
31. Common Redpoll
32. House Sparrow
33. Hooded Merganser
34. American Wigeon
35. Ring-necked Duck
36. Cackling Goose
37. Northern Pintail
38. Northern Harrier
39. American Goldfinch
40. Horned Lark
41. Snow Goose

Common Redpoll (carduelis flammea) 

Last Tuesday's birding excursion we had 36 species as follows:

1. Canada Goose        
2. American Black Duck
3. Mallard
4. Green-winged Teal
5. Wild Turkey
6. Turkey Vulture
7. Red-tailed Hawk
8. Killdeer
9. Ring-billed Gull
10. Herring Gull
11. Lesser Black-backed Gull
12. Great Black-backed Gull
13. Rock Pigeon
14. Mourning Dove
15. Hairy Woodpecker
16. Blue Jay
17. American Crow
18. Black-capped Chickadee
19. White-breasted Nuthatch
20. American Robin
21. European Starling
22. American Tree Sparrow
23. Song Sparrow
24. Northern Cardinal
25. Red-winged Blackbird
26. Common Grackle
27. Common Redpoll
28. Hoary Redpoll
29. Northern Pintail
30. Horned Lark
31. Dark-eyed Junco
32. Common Goldeneye
33. Downy Woodpecker
34. Pileated Woodpecker
35. Greater White-fronted Goose
36. Bald Eagle 

The Greater White-fronted Geese was the highlight of the day together with the Bald Eagle.

All excursions organized by: Tony Beck - Always An Adventure

Common Redpoll (carduelis flammea) chaos at the Hilda Road Feeder, Ottawa - Canada

Birding Excursion - Ottawa, Canada, 17th March 2011

Hoary Redpoll or Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni)

The taste of spring becomes sweeter each day.
Birders and photographers met at Britannia, where Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Cardinals and a single Song Sparrow entertained us with their beautiful song.
We were surrounded by spring-like activity with some birds carrying nest material, others claiming their territory and others in courtship.
The best birds of the morning were a Killdeer flying over head, Hooded Mergansers on the river and a pair of Northern Pintail near the marina.
We moved on for a little drive to March Valley Road. Here we found Pileated Woodpeckers, Green-winged Teal, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks.
As the day progressed, the fog lifted and we had beautiful blue skies with warm comfortable temperatures.
There’s not many winter-birds left, but luckily Tony spotted a Northern Shrike.
We went to the Hilda Road feeder again to see if we could relocate the Leucistic Common Redpoll from Tuesday’s excursion, but we could not. Although there was still a lot of redpolls we could only find two Hoary Redpolls.
Never the less, it was a super day, which also included Turkey Vulture and Bufflehead, amongst other things.

Daylist:

1. American Crow
2. Northern Cardinal
3. Wild Turkey
4. Canada Goose
5. Rock Pigeons
6. Ring-billed Gull
7. European Starling
8. Red-winged Blackbird
9. Red-tailed Hawk
10. Common Grackle
11. Blue Jay
12. Mourning Dove
13. American Robin
14. Common Merganser
15. Rough-legged Hawk
16. Common Raven
17. House Sparrow
18. Buffledhead
19. Common Goldeneye
20. Herring Gull
21. Black-capped Chickadee
22. White-breasted Nuthatch
23. House Finch
24. American Tree Sparrow
25. Dark-eyed Junco
26. Mallard
27. Hairy Woodpecker
28. Hooded Merganser
29. Great Black-backed Gull
30. Downy Woodpecker
31. American Black Duck
32. American Goldfinch
33. Turkey Vulture
34. Common Redpoll
35. Killdeer
36. Song Sparrow
37. Northern Pintail
38. Hoary Redpoll
39. Pileated Woodpecker
40. Northern Shrike
41. Green-winged Teal

Male Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)

Excursion organized by Tony Beck - Always An Adventure