A flock of 100+ Bohemian Waxwings descended on the Hilda Road feeders in the
Shirley's Bay area on Saturday feeding on the many berries there. There
were Bohemian Waxwings everywhere it seemed. They stayed for much of the
day just feeding from tree to tree and offering great close-up looks.
Suddenly late in the day a flock of the waxwings just took off all at once.
I suspected a predator and a birder there said a small hawk had just flown
over. Also at the feeders were Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls, Pileated,
Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers and White-Breasted Nuthatches. Sunday at the
feeders saw a Merlin drop by for a visit. We saw a fast moving bird fly
overhead and I was alerted that it may be a Merlin because the chickadees
made a racket with their alarm call. Sure enough a Merlin was soon perched
overlooking the feeders. It deliberately flew down to where a few Mourning
Doves were perched. Not long after it did that, what looked like a Mourning
Dove took to the air and the Merlin gave chase.
PS. I saw and also heard of a number of vehicles that had gone off the road
in the past weeks where the Great Gray Owls have been reported around the
Thomas Dolan, Greenland and Torwood block. The snow is sometimes plowed
over ditches or inclines making the road or shoulder look wider than it
really is. Just a heads up if you're headed out there.
Bohemian Waxwings
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/108769967/original
Common Redpoll
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/108770756/original
Merlin
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/108769213/original
W. Hum
www.pbase.com/golfpic
Directions:
From Ottawa, drive west along Carling Avenue past Moodie Drive until Rifle
Road. Turn right on Rifle and right on Lois and then to Hilda.
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