I birded the Kingston-Ottawa corridor yesterday with Martin Mallet, Lori Parker and Margaux Rat and we were fortunate enough to run into a number of good birds.
We started out along the Perth Road (Regional Rd. 10) heading north from Kingston and ran into 2 mixed waxwing flocks (~250 birds total, with around 75 Bohemians) alongside the road a little south of Bedford Mills. Near Bedford Mills in an open area of water to the east of the road we had 3 Trumpeter Swans, 2 adults and a 1st basic bird. We continued on 10 (Scotch Line) north of Westport towards Perth and turned off in the vicinity of the Perth Northern Hawk Owl. Here, on Upper Scotch Line east of Menzies Munroe Sideroad we had an accommodating flock of 5 Pine Grosbeaks. We proceeded north to the stretch of Cameron Sideroad were the Hawk Owl has been seen and drove it several times without success. I am not sure whether the bird is still present, but we decided to keep moving rather than stay and wait. We then drove along Highway 7 northwest to Harper Road, and just north of #7 on Harper we had 5 Ruffed Grouse feeding in a tree beside the road. North from here at McDonald's Corners Rd. and Watson's Corners Rd. we had a lone Hooded Merganser in some open water. We drove back east along Watson's Corners Rd. to 6th Concession Dalhousie and proceeded south to the end of the road at #800, where the Varied Thrush has been coming to Keith Detloff's feeder. Per prior posts, you can call him at 613-278-2386 before coming to obtain information on the bird's present status. Thanks to Keith for being friendly and willing to put up with the visitors to his place! The bird is, as previously stated, very skittish but did appear from the cedars beside the feeders to sit on the platform for about 45 seconds at 1pm and grab a bite to eat. Good views can be had when it does so. There was also a small flock of Pine Siskin at Keith's feeders. We took Wolf Grove Rd northeast from there towards Ottawa, stopping between Middleville and Almonte for a flock of 15 or so White-winged Crossbills keeping company with a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatch. From here we moved to the area just south of Almonte at Ramsey Concession 8 to look for Great Gray Owl. While we were unsuccessful in this bid, we had a flock of 14 Wild Turkey W. of Almonte along Conc 8, a flock of ~80 Bohemian Waxwings southeast of Almonte along # 8, and about 30 Snow Buntings right at the junction of Conc 8 and Wolf Grove. We then proceeded through Carp, finding another small flock of Wild Turkey but failing to locate the wintering Red-shouldered Hawk, and made our way to Grandview and Hastings to view the long-staying Northern Hawk Owl. The bird was present at around 330-4pm in a large deciduous in a backyard just north of the NCC land at the corner of Grandview and Hastings for the entire time we were there, seemingly surveying the feeders beneath. There were also about 25 Bohemian Waxwings flying about the area with a couple of Cedars mixed in. A small flock of Common Redpoll was patronizing one of the feeders beneath the Hawk Owl's perch. With light fading we headed back towards Almonte, finding 2 more Ruffed Grouse in a tree on Highway 7 just south of the 417. Again we failed to find Great Grays at Almonte, but a Great Horned Owl did produce a start as it glided across the Wolf Grove Rd. in the half-light and perched atop a large conifer across from the maintenance buildings on the southern edge of town. A fine end to a good day's birding. Varied Thrush Directions: To get to Dalhousie Conc. 6 from Ottawa, take Hwy 417 west to exit 155 and take County Road 49 to Almonte. Drive through Almonte and follow Wolf Grove Road (County Rd. 16) to the village of Hopetown. Turn south on County Rd 511 towards Lanark for about five km. and then go west on County Rd 8, through the hamlet of Watson's Corners, and another four km to Dalhousie Conc. 6. Turn south to #800. Alternatively, from the town of Perth on Hwy 7, go north on Co. Rd. 511 through the village of Lanark and then go west on Co. Rd. 8 through Watson's Corners, etc. Grandview Hawk Owl Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to Moodie Drive exit #134. Go north to Carling Ave. and turn left. Watch for Grandview Road on your right. Follow to the end and turn left on Hastings Str. and park. Other directions: All of the locations mentioned can be found quite easily using Google Maps. If you require any further info, contact me privately. Good birding, Chris Kimber Dept. of Biology Queen's University Kingston, ON [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
