It looks like spring has finally arrived, even if this weekend's weather says otherwise. I took a tour of some of Ottawa's hot spots for birds, namely the Stony Swamp Conservation Area. I checked out the Jack Pine Trail first. There were still unusually high numbers of DARK-EYED JUNCOS throughout much of the trail. A little ways past the OFNC feeder I hit paydirt with a FOX SPARROW feeding amongst two SONG SPARROWS. While watching these, a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET made a brief appearance.
The next stop was the Beaver Trail just down the street. Here, once again, were a number of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, probably 25 in all. Right near the Wild Bird Care Centre I came across a pair of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS. They seemed to be foraging specifically around the WBCC, since, although they flew around from tree to tree, they stayed in the general vicinity of the building. Moving on along the trail, I found a single male PILEATED WOODPECKER. The real highlight of this trail was a BELTED KINGFISHER near the boardwalk overlooking the swamp. The water is still mostly frozen over, but there he was trying to find a meal. I also saw an EASTERN PHOEBE among the brush. Of course, SONG SPARROWS and CHICKADEES were fairly common. On to Dick Bell Park - where unfortunately most of the river is still frozen. Approximately 35-45 CANADA GEESE have taken to the small area of open water near the shore. There was also a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS in the mix, with three MALLARDS for good measure. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and EUROPEAN STARLINGS could be heard and seen periodically around the Yacht Club, and there were a few AM. ROBINS, SONG SPARROWS, and HOUSE SPARROWS, near the Yacht Club as well. There were no PURPLE MARTINS are the nesting boxes...yet. Lastly, I went by Earl Armstrong Rd. to check on a few reports I had heard about. I did not come across any EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, but I did see a single male EASTERN BLUEBIRD on a fence post near Earl Armstrong and High Rd. Also, a single female ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and an adult RED-TAILED HAWK flew overhead while I was there. Good birding! Pat _________________________________________________________________ Try Chicktionary, a game that tests how many words you can form from the letters given. Find this and more puzzles at Live Search Games! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/207_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
