PEC/Algonquin (82-85)

Sorry I've been away folks. Five days canoeing, and now the unfun stuff: lots of unpacking, photo editing, having to go to work, etc!

Aside from the famous duck in PEC, I also saw these guys, which are pretty common but new to me! I enjoyed watching their antics!

#82: House Wren; outside Consecon; July 27, 2010

I also saw a Black Tern at Sandbanks, but didn't manage to get a picture. Oh well!

After a few lovely days in PEC, we headed north to Algonquin Park. One of the best shots (ok, the best shot) I got was of a loon, but I'm torn over whether to post it ....it's a long story. You may see it yet.
Anyways, here are the new birds I got while I was there!

#83: Brown Creeper; Campsite on White Trout Lake; July 30, 2010
I heard about these but could not for the life of me manage to spot one. There were 2 on the site, and the only reason I spotted is because I could hear this rustling on the tree. Very funny birds to watch.

#84: Herring Gull; Joe Lake; August 1, 2010
I guess these guys aren't in Ottawa yet. This was the nice thing about being in Algonquin: it's kind of a different zone so you get to see some different stuff! I'm sure he'll be in Ottawa but I'm still learning migration patterns/timing and all that jazz. He was s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g I guess (or he was about to fly off but decided I wasn't as intimidating as he thought)!

Also of interest.....ducks in a row.

While in the park, I saw other birds that could have made the list....sandhill cranes and ravens being a few, but I missed getting shots. Guess that just means I have to go back!
Saw this guy on the way out of the park. I can't for the life of me tell what it is. It was maybe a bit bigger than a kestrel. I'm thinking Merlin, but maybe a Peregrine? Any comments on this one would be appreciated. What it's eating is a dragonfly (should help not just with diet but also with scale!)!

***UPDATE***
A couple of readers have helped me identify this as a Merlin. Thanks!
#85: Merlin; Hwy 60, just outside of Algonquin Park (east); August 1, 2010

So now I have to figure out my plan for this weekend and decide on what I'll go out looking for. Thanks to those who have left me comments and given me tips on where to find some the birds. I do apreciate it!

one of these things is not like the others....(81)

I had read some reports about a Black-bellied whistling duck in Milford, and since were in PEC on vacation anyways (good timing huh?) I figured we might as well try and find it. Our first attempt on Monday morning was unsuccesful, but we tried again later on in the evening. There were a bunch of cows that had wandered off and I thought for sure our chances would be blown since I thought the cows would have scared it off. We didn't see it at first, but lo and behold, after a few moments, a bunch of ducks emerged from the reeds closest the road. And indeed, one had a bright orange bill.
This duck is totally out of its range (it's from pretty far south....i.e. Mexico and Florida...escaping the oil spill?), and it's a mystery as to how it got here. It was hanging out with a bunch of mallards. It was so strange to watch, as it seemed so intent on "fitting in" with the mallards--it followed them around, preened when they preened, ate when they ate. But it was quite clear the others were giving it a hard time and nipping at it once in a while!
I know I only post one photo per bird, but I figure this is a special case and other birders may be interested!

#81: Black-bellied whistling duck; July 26, 2010 (6:30 pm); Milford, Ontario

All preening.
 
Duck, duck, duck, cow.

Look close! I'm different. Even birds need to go on vacation once in awhile.

One of these things just isn't the same...

Mom trying to get special duck to bugger off. But it's persistent, and rejoined the group.
Can you say identity crisis?!
I'll be off in Algonquin for the next 5 days. Watch for updates when I get back!

a quick trip to Shirley's Bay (78-80)

I'd read several reports that there were some Great Egrets at Shirley's Bay, and wasn't sure if I had missed them or not but I went over there to check it out after work. Ok, I have been on the dyke at DND before but today it was TEEMING with birds...in the bay, on the dyke and in the woods. I definitely wish I had more time, and it was also not the best time since the sun was setting across the bay so all the shorebirds were backlit. I'm definitely heading back sometime soon in the early morning.

First off, I found the egrets! There were 6 that I saw. One was quite close but I wasn't sneaky enough and scared it off to the other side of the bay where the rest of them were. No worries though! I hope I get to see them again, but hopefully closer.

#78: Great Egret; Shirley's Bay; July 21, 2010

I also caught a belted kingfisher, which I have been having a hard time getting goos shots off. The money shot is still out there, but this one will definitely do for now.

#79: Belted Kingfisher; Shirley's Bay; July 21, 2010

On the way out, this bird was singing so loud, and the song is SO familiar that you feel like an idiot not being able to name the bird.
#80 (aka eighty, eight-zero, 4/5, 80% there!!!): Wood Thrush; Shirley's Bay; July 21, 2010
(not too sure why this pic went all pixelly on me...I'll have to try and fix it...)

Ok, so there were SO many birds there that I think if I had stayed long enough I might have been able to come close to filling out my 100. But I will have to go back and hope it's as busy. There were lots and lots of shorebirds but my 300mm is just not going to cut it--most of the people I have seen there use spotting scopes, and the birds scare off so easily so you really can't get close.

**For anyone thinking of birding in this area, please remember to call the range control office (613-991-5740 ) to get permission to enter the dyke area! This will ensure that birders continue to have access. Plus, you don't want to get shot at, do you?

seventy-seven (77 ha!)

I found myself in the east end of lovely Ottawa again this weekend at Petrie Island. Wish I'd had more time there as it was bustling with birds, including this one, which was sneakily (and stubbornly) hiding behind this blade of grass but making an awful lot of noise for such a little dude. I was very excited to finally see "one of the ones with the tail way up!" Also, it is very interesting to know that the males makes about 10 nests in their breeding territory....or something like that.

#77: Marsh Wren; July 18, 2010; Causeway to Petrie Island

where did the weekend go? sigh.... (#74-76)

A four-day weekend has just breezed right by and I'm really not looking forward to going in to work early tomorrow to go to French class!

I stuck around in Ottawa for Canada Day and didn't do too much special aside from some lovely outdoor yoga, a little of my fave new hobby (other than birdwatching) and hanging out with some friends.

We were supposed to be camping all weekeng in New York state but our plans got derailed and we had to drive to Toronto and back to visit Matt's aunt in the hospital. 9 hours of driving in one day...boo.

That left us with Saturday and Sunday so we ended up near Morrisburg/Ingleside at the Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary. We camped there for the night and did some birdwatching on Sunday morning before heading back to Ottawa. Identified about 25 different kinds of birds, including a few new ones.

I was very excited to see an American Redstart, but the picture is lousy...so will need to get that one again.

We went for a short hike the night we arrived and saw this little guy. I almost didn't take a picture thinking it was an Eastern Phoebe, but something seemed a little different. Glad I did because it turns out it is an Eastern Wood Pewee--a similar, but different bird!
#74: Eastern Wood-Pewee; Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary (Ingleside, Ont); July 3, 2010

Another new bird there was a Common Tern, which we watched fish for quite a while! There were a few of them hanging out at the causeway that links the sanctuary to the campground.
#75: Common Tern; Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary (Ingleside, Ont); July 3, 2010

Of course I have seen cormorants but this is the first time one posed nicely and close enough for me
#76: Double-Crested Cormorant; Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary (Ingleside, Ont); July 4, 2010

I got so close to one more, but couldn't figure this one out between Alder Flycatcher and Willow Flycatcher. I think it's an Alder, but that's ok!!

Matt also got this amazing shot of an Eastern Kingbirds with its babies. Awesome!!!

More than three quarters there!

#73: Pied-billed awesomeness

I'd been wanting to go to Orleans for a while now to find the Pied-Billed Grebes that nest there. First of all, I'm so jealous that they aren't out in the west end. Second of all....I freaking love these birds. But they were skittish so it was really hard to get close enough for decent shots.

The babies look nothing like the parents. They look like little tigers! I wish I had seen them when they were even smaller. There were two families that I saw in the pond.

#73: Pied-billed Grebe; Orleans (Aquaview), June 28, 2010




Mom feeding one of the babies.....ahhhhh!

After that, we went to Mer Bleue, first to look for birds, but instead decided to try geocaching and found one! Turns out it's an activity that I can pair up quite nicely with birdwatching. Sweet!

new bird...la la la la la! 2 for 1 special: Great Crested Flycatchers (#72)

#72: Great Crested Flycatcher; Mud Lake; June 27, 2010
I had seen a Great Crested Flycatcher at Mud Lake before but the picture was truly terrible. I'm so glad I FINALLY saw another...actually saw two! I couldn't manage to get both of them in one frame despite them being so close together since there were a bunch of trees in the way. It was quite strange: They did not fly off or make any noises, just patiently posed for about 5 minutes while I stood there!



Also of note today, a couple of Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers were were making quite a ruckus in the park, but posed nicely together for me.


And a juvenile American Robin, with a very spotty breast!

#71

#71: Chipping Sparrow; June 26, 2010; Cattail Creek Park
Found this pair nice and close to home. They definitely do "chip."
Today is the first day I saw cedar waxwings from my window. So exciting! I think they might have been babies.
I have a little more time to do some birding now that my photo class is done and dragonboating is sort of on pause. I was hoping to check out Mer Bleue and the east end lagoons but I'm car-less this weekend, so I'm stuck with bike/rack n roll. Hopefully I'll have something to add tomorrow!

#70 - mmmmmbugs!

I went to an OFNC outing on Sunday morning at Jack Pine trail. I learned lots of songs and calls, and we heard quite a few birds that aren't on my list, but we didn't see them. Also lots of pretty dragonflies, which is a new thing for me, and a snapping turtle laying eggs, which I got video of! I may post it in the near future if I can find 5 minutes of time somewhere.
#70: June 13, 2010; Common Yellowthroat; Jack Pine Trail.
Another silly name for a bird: clearly this one should have been called "Yellow-bellied Bandit."
I find it a little nuts that this is the "common" yellowthroat. How is it possible that a "common" bird is entirely new to me? Am I really that ignorant?
I'm at a sort of scary part of my challenge. There are few birds left I can think of ever having seen before that aren't on my list, and I have most of what I consider "the easy ones" out of the way. That means that the next 30 are going to be a lot harder to see and, for the most part, new to me. I still have a few in mind that should be around and that I have an idea of where to find, so that should get me a little closer to 100.

#67-69

#67: Great Blue Heron; June 5, 2010; near Godfrey, ON
Finally got a GBH to pose for me for a few seconds! I had seen another one earlier in the day with an injured wing. It's wing was just hanging down very awkwardly :( 68: Wilson's Snipe; June 5, 2010; Hwy 10
So apparently the common snipe and the Wilson's snipe basically look the same, but one has a couple extra tail feathers and stripes on its underwing. They used to be classified as the same bird. I'm 90% sure this is a Wilson's, since I guess the common snipe is not in this region. I hope I'm right.

#69: Common Loon; June 5, 2010; 13 Island Lake, Ont

A little Canadiana here. I know this is a lame shot...bad light (light was fading fast...what could I do?), chromatic aberration, etc....and I'm sure I'll get way better shots of loons when I go to Algonquin this summer, but I'm antsy. Plus by that time, the babies are going to be much bigger and I love that they are riding on the parent's back in this picture....how adorable is that? I never really looked at loons this closely before (and didn't realize they are so big?!)