Thank You, 2011, for all the awesome birdies!

Cedar Waxwing

Northern Shrike

Snow Geese

Snow Geese

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

Cedar Waxwing

Downy Woodpecker, Photo Courtesy Bill Bowman

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

Lesser Scaup, Photo Courtesy Roger Cobbledick

White-breasted Nuthatch, Photo Courtesy Deanna Wright

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

Red-tailed Hawk, Photo Courtesy Helena G.

Snowy Owl, Photo Courtesy Bill Bowman

Britannia Conservation Area

Britannia Conservation Area, Winter Wonderland

Merlin

Black-capped Chickadee, Photo Courtesy Tony Beck

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

American Robin



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!