Hi Everyone Today, July 7, 2016 I spent a couple of hours birding Shirley’s Bay. With the recent drop in water levels along the Ottawa River there was a nice mudflat at the base of the causeway. Numerous species of marsh birds were enjoying the low water levels and I observed 2 families of Virginia Rails, one family of Sora Rails, and one Common Gallinule. As I watched an adult Virginia Rail probing in the mud it suddenly grabbed a frog and ran a short distance stopping and striking it numerous times. As the frog laid motionless, the rail poked at it numerous times eating bits.
There were numerous flotillas of ducklings feeding including Mallards and 9 broods of Wood Ducks. In one group I counted 23 young, likely a few families. In total I counted 123 Wood Ducks in the bay area. Other species included 4 Redhead, 3 Gadwall, 3 American Wigeon, 14 Green-winged Teal, and 2 Blue-winged Teal. There were no migrant shorebirds on the mudflats when I arrived and during the 1.5 hours, 1 adult Short-billed Dowitcher flew in along with 6 adult Least Sandpipers and one Lesser Yellowlegs. On July 5 while watching the 3 baby Piping Plovers at Presqu’ile an adult Short-billed Dowitcher flew over calling. Other species of note included 4 Great Egrets, 1 Least Bittern, two juvenile Bald Eagles and 3 Marsh Wrens. Along the trail I encountered a very tame American Woodcock and both Veery and Wood Thrush were in full song. A good morning. Cheers, Bruce Directions: Shirley's Bay: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Moodie Drive exit and turn north (right) on Moodie Drive and continue to Carling Ave. Turn left at Carling Ave. and follow Carling to Rifle Road. Turn right (north) on Rifle Rd. Park at the lot at the end (boat launch). Walk back to the road, and continue through the gate on the Department of National Defense property. There is a trail on your right (clearly marked with vehicle "No Entry" signs) which leads into the woods, and, eventually to the causeway. There is lots of POISON IVY along the dyke. **** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SHIRLEY’S BAY CAUSEWAY AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the causeway area for birding. Bruce Di Labio Carp, Ontario 613-715-2571 Sent from Windows Mail _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
