Hello Ontbirders, A visit this morning to the traditional spring “floodplains” east of Ottawa (Navan, Bourget, Pendleton, Ettyville) revealed conditions totally different than last year’s flooding — no flooding at all. Cobb’s Lake Creek is still mostly frozen. Bear Brook and the South Nation River are open but very low. Though the forecast for milder temps and showers over the next few days may melt some of the snow currently in the fields, it looks doubtful for significant waterfowl habitat….but it’s still early in the season.
From 9:30 - 11:30 we observed several good-sized flocks of Canada Geese feeding and flying. A conservatively estimated total of 5,000 Snow Geese flew west to east without visibly landing. One large flock appeared to land in a field east of Cobb’s Creek but then flew up again; a smaller flock circled over fields along Frank Kenny Rd. but we did not see the birds land. All of the Snows appeared to be Greater (size comparison with nearby flying Canada Geese), with only a handful of blue morphs among them. A very small white goose was among a flock that continued eastward — I called it a Ross’s Goose at the time (based on size, neck & wing shape vs. the Greater Snow Geese) but impossible to see head or bill details so I can’t be categorical. Other spring arrivals in the area included one each of Norther Harrier, Killdeer, and Northern Pintail - the pintail was the ONLY duck we saw, but again it’s still early…. Good birding, Chris Lewis with Paul Mirsky DIRECTIONS: from Ottawa, Hwy 417 east to exit 96 (Boundary Rd.) then east from Carlsbad Springs along County Rd. 26 (Russell Rd.). The Bear Brook area along Milton Rd. and and Frank Kenny Rd. are north off Russell Rd. Continue east along Russell through Bourget to view the Cobb’s Lake Creek area. Take Plantagenet Concession 9 and then south on County Rd. 19 to Pendleton and Ettyville to view the S. Nation River area. Lots of other roads to explore as well. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
