MAY 8, 2011

A glorious sunlit Sunday greeted all those that stuck it
out for the weekend, or, treated "MOTHER" on an outing to either the
Magee Marsh Boardwalk, or, the auto-tour at Ottawa Wildlife Refuge which
must be pointed out!! was especially kept open in commemoration of
Mother's day.

Although the winds were subdued and erratic in both
strength and direction, what was left flirting about in the woods was
good enough to please the crowds, and kept the buzz going throughout the
day. Slow pace yet continuous birding characterized by those arm length
sightings that both Magee Marsh and the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge woodlots
are famously known for set the birding tone of the day.

Crisp and bold
Prothonotaries, ubiquitous throughout the day and along the boardwalk,
klepto-parasitized gnats and other quarry from cobwebs to the delight of
young birders, mothers and firing mobs of flashing "Pajarazzi" (as I
like calling Bird Photographers back in Spain, where Pajaro stands for
bird). Inordinate numbers of ground foraging Nashvilles rendered a
unique chance to study and enjoy their delicate terracotta crowns.
Yellowrumpeds were dominant by far, but a partial leucistic individual
harnessed the crowds' interest for a while. Black-throated Greens and
Chestnut-sided Warblers saw their numbers halved from days prior, but
there were still several breathtaking males bringing a refreshing dash
of colour to the willows and cottonwoods. Black beret Wilson's Warblers
flitted briskly through the brush on several occasions leaving most in
tow hungry and ready for seconds. Crowd magnets included several
Tennessee, a few Orange-crowned, a single Pine Warbler, several
Bay-breasted, a handful of Magnolias , leaf-litter lurking Ovenbirds, a
few fleeting Canada Warblers and the always dazzling Blue-winged Warbler
and energetic Blackpoll that were seen on the Ottawa Bus Trips only. All
in all.... a very pleasant and productive day, that tallied no less than
twenty four warblers.

A seemingly resident family of American
Woodcocks, has hung about for the last three days, and continued to
deliver great views and heart warming moments as "mutha" Woodcock fed
long juicy earthworms to her two woodcocklets. Another crowd pleaser was
a carefree Virginia Rail, that had everyone hanging, sitting, lying,
standing over and below the boardwalk rail, in what I thought was true
"railing" fashion. A shy push of Veery and Swainson's thrush caught
everyone's eye as they hopped and tossed leaves about in the
undergrowth. Late in the day a flare of colour brought about by hulking
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and juicy tangerine Baltimore Orioles brought
the canopies alive. An immature male Blue Grosbeak and a few Dark-eyed
Juncos fed throughout the day along the beach next to the car park.


The Ottawa Bus Tours yielded a smattering of enjoyable sightings that
included both Red breasted and Hooded Merganser, handsome Bufflehead,
smart Horned Grebe, elusive Least Bittern, Black-bellied and American
Golden Plover, the always impressive Peregrine Falcon and dazzling
Scarlet Tanagers to mention a few.

With not many changes in weather
patterns predicted over the next 48 hours, the pickings of the first
wave are presumed to diminish significantly over Monday and Tuesday
until Wednesday or Thursday when we hope to greet the first advances of
the second wave.

CHRISTIAN BOIX


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