Thirty-eight resilient birders faced -5 C temperatures with a really nasty
wind that made it seem much colder, and many snow flurries obscuring our
view, to see 29 species of bird. Ottawa has not been bird friendly this
winter so the going was tough, with even common birds
hard to find. That said we had a good day with the highlights being
Barrow's Goldeneye (2 m 1 f), Snowy Owl (4), Glaucous Gull, Northern Shrike
and a flock of 30 Cedar Waxwings in a "cedar"! (Juniperus sp., ornamental).
This species is usually scarce in Ottawa in winter. We also saw two
gatherings of wind-blown Snow Buntings, probably about 100 in total.
We started off at Bate Island where the Ottawa River is open, and continued
along the river to the Hilda Ave. feeders near Shirley's Bay, then March
Valley Road and then south along Moodie Dr. to the Richmond area, visiting
the Trail Rd. landfill site en route.
Thanks to all who came out!
Roy, Bev and Bob
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