Windy conditions and unseasonably cold temperatures didn't freeze out the enthusiasm of about twenty participants as they explored several locations west of Ottawa. We started by sending two scouts to look for terns at Britannia Point. None appeared to be present, so we headed directly to the Carp Hills, a 10km X 3 km outcrop of the Canadian Shield, rich in breeding species. The main targets were Golden-winged Warbler and Eastern Towhee.
We made a brief stop at marsh just below the ridge and noted a Green Heron and a calling Virginia Rail. Once on the ridge, we managed to locate three Golden-winged Warblers at two locations. Only one of the birds sang persistently, and from a location well back from the road. The group exercised great patience and were rewarded when the bird flew to a bare tree from which it sang for over 10 minutes. Everyone was afforded excellent looks through telescopes. The towhees were not so cooperative, but again with patience the entire group was able hear at least one singing male. Other highlights included a Black-Billed Cuckoo, Alder Flycatchers, Field Sparrows and Ruffed Grouse. However, for the most part song was very subdued. We left the Carp Ridge and made a rest stop at the Baxter Centre near Dunrobin. Most participants (who weren't otherwise occupied!) got to see a Willow Flycatcher uttering its "wit" (sorry about that). Next stop was at a marsh on Stonecrest Road. The wind made it difficult to hear anything so we headed for Almonte. En route, on Stonecrest Road was a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks being mobbed by crows. The people at the front and the back of the convoy had great views; the people in the middle, not as great. Before we entered Almonte, we made a brief stop at the Almont Burntlands. Here most of us were able to hear a Clay-colored Sparrow and see Wild Turkey, Brown Thrasher and Northern rough-winged Swallow. Our final stop was the Almonte sewage lagoons, where 300 shorebirds had been present the previous week. This day, there were only six species and the birds were distant. A few of us managed to locate a White-rumped Sandpiper. The good news is we exited the lagoons just before the rain started; the bad news is we didn't return to Britannia Point where two Arctic Terns had put in an appearance later in the morning. That's birding - but I hope it is some consolation that these birds were spending their time on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. Some bad luck and the weather aside, it wasn't a bad a day: the leader recorded close to 90 species and group had a good time and found some good birds. Bernie Ladouceur _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
