Hi Everyone This morning at Shirley's Bay, Ben and I had a good number of puddle ducks close to the base of the causeway including 600+ Green-winged Teal, 150+ American Wigeon, 50+ Northern Shoveler, and 46 Gadwall. No shorebirds. The pair of Bald Eagles were roosting on their nest that was built back in the spring. Hopefully they will be successful nesting next spring. I then spent a couple of hours in the afternoon, birding along the Ottawa River. Quite a change from yesterday except for the weather. Had a few flocks of Brant, 50+ and 35+. The scoter movement/fallout of yesterday had moved on and I had only a flock of 23 White-winged Scoter and 3 single Surf Scoter. Even Red-breasted Mergansers were hard to find, only one flock of 15. Had a group of 8, 1st winter Bonaparte's Gull drop out of the sky and continue south overland. Land birds were few but more Fox Sparrows and American Tree Sparrow on the move along with Purple Finch. Water levels along the Ottawa River are on the rise after a record low fall. Good Birding, Bruce and Ben (early morning before school..........remember those days!)
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 heads into the woods, and, eventually to the dyke. There is lots of POISON IVY along the dyke. **** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE DYKE AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the dyke area for birding. Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Cell 613-715-2571 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
