Hello Ontbirders Spent a few hours yesterday birding along the Ottawa River from Andrew Haydon Park to Constance Bay. There was lots of activity with 15 species of warblers including numerous Wilson's, Canada, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue and Magnolia Warblers. At Shirley's Bay along the road 5 species of vireo's were observed including 1 Yellow-throated, 2 Philadelphia and 3 Blue-headed. With the recent sunny weather and no rain, the water levels along the Ottawa River are finally dropping. There is a little mudflat/sandbar at Andrew Haydon Park, and Shirley's Bay has a bit at the mouth of Watts Creek. A Great Egret was resting in a tree off the dyke. Lots of other land birds including Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Further up river at Constance Bay there was some mudflats with a few shorebirds, Greater Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpiper. The breeding Red-headed Woodpeckers were successful again and 2 juvenile birds were observed at the "Old Burn Site" This is the 8th consecutive year the woodpeckers have bred. The woodpeckers were fly catching and easy to see. If you require additional information, please email me privately.
good birding, 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 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 Mobile 613-715-2571 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
