Although many of the waterways in Ottawa remain frozen to one extent or
another, I ventured to the Sarsaparilla Trail in Stony Swamp to look for some
migrating waterfowl. Much of the large pond at the end of this trail is
covered with a paper-thin sheet of ice, but small patches of open water
harboured several species of ducks, including HOODED MERGANSER, WOOD DUCK, and
RING-NECKED DUCK. Although unseen, a single PIED-BILLED GREBE made its
distinctive call at the pond.
The most unexpected sighting while I was there was a SANDHILL CRANE, which
managed to remain hidden in the brush along the far shore of the pond, until I
noticed it flying off over the trees, heading westward. At first I thought it
was a great blue heron, but once I had it in binoculars, its overall gray
coloration, lack of a dark margin on the wings, lack of a plume on the back of
the head, and the fact that the bird never retracted its head during its
flight, led me to conclude that it was a sandhill crane. The angle of flight
did not allow me to see the face of the bird, which would have cleared up the
ID immediately. I wouldn't expect the bird to be relocated here (I never
expected it to be there in the first place), but its westward path may take it
towards the more agricultural areas outside the city.
Good birding!
Pat
DIRECTIONS: From the 417, take exit 134, turning south onto Moodie Drive.
Follow for 4km - the entrance is well marked on the right, immediately before
the intersection of Richmond Road and West Hunt Club Drive.
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