In 1987, Bruce Di Labio wrote an article in Trail and Landscape entitled, "Where to see migrating waterfowl east of Ottawa", in Volume 21, #2, pp. 88-92. It featured two areas: Carslbad Springs/Bear Brook, and Cobb Lake Creek/Pendleton/Riceville.
I've been following these areas closely this year to get the timing right, because the areas are flooded from spring run-off usually only for a few days. The spectacle has just begun. In fact, Bernie Ladouceur's eBird posting of Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese and others yesterday alluded to this. *Carslbad Springs/Bear Brook* Today, April Fool's day, the flooded fields on both sides of Milton Road had 17 Wild Turkeys, several hundred Canada Geese, no Snow Geese, 5 Green-winged Teal, and 2 Sandhill Cranes, the latter about 2 km north of the intersection with Perrault Road. The cranes were likely the same as those posted by Bernie yesterday in the same area. I understand that these cranes have been nesting in the Mer Bleue over the past 3 decades or so, and that they are likely waiting for their nesting area to thaw. Smith Road had 8 American Robins and one Killdeer. A feeder on Indian Creek Rd. near Russell Rd. had a Song Sparrow. *Cobb Lake Creek* 2.5 km east of the flashing red light at Bourget is the Cobb Lake Creek area, which encompasses the fields on both sides of Russell Road, #16. Boileau Road is still open as this west side of the area is still frozen. However, the east side is flooded, including Johnson Road. It had a few dozen Canada Geese. There was also a dark phase Rough-legged Hawk. Its main interest in the area every year apparently is the small mammals that are isolated on islands in the flooded fields, making them easy prey. Yesterday and today were just the beginning, yet the end may already be very near. -- *www.babina.ca* Robert Alvo Author: "Being a Bird in North America" (2013) Tel.: 613-236-0660 219-140 Mann Ave. Ottawa Ontario K1N 1E5 Canada [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
