Trans-Canada trip, Sept. 16-30
Oct 1, 2020 18:39:54 GMT -8
denisknopp, oldfulica, and 4 more like this
Post by kestrel on Oct 1, 2020 18:39:54 GMT -8
My parents and I drove out to Ontario to visit family. The weather was fantastic throughout most of the drive. During this road trip, I was able to do a good amount of birding. An overnight stop at Monck Provincial Park produced, among other species, a Common poorwill and a Great Horned owl (both heard only). In Edmonton, I was able to check out a nice park called the Grey Nuns Spruce Park, which had a decent variety of species.
ebird.org/checklist/S73853044
Probably the biggest highlight was a day trip with a local birder, north of Saskatoon. Our main target was the Whooping crane, and we were not disappointed. We counted about 80 of these incredible birds. This, along with Franklin's gull and Ross's goose, was a lifer for me. Between the two of us, we saw 47 species in total.
The cranes were aways off, but we still had great views:
Whooping cranes by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
It was fun trying to tell the Ross's geese apart from their lookalikes:
Ross's geese & Snow geese by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
ebird.org/checklist/S73952424
ebird.org/checklist/S73952457
ebird.org/checklist/S73952482
ebird.org/checklist/S73952524
On our way east, we made a brief stop at Big Quill Lake. Here, I had scope views of lots of waterfowl, including several Tundra swans.
ebird.org/checklist/S73959910
In Winnipeg, I was able to spend some time at Assiniboine Park. The place is right along the Assiniboine River, and was quite birdy.
Saw my first American black duck here:
American black duck by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
ebird.org/checklist/S74005838
After entering northern Ontario, we stayed by this really nice lake near Kenora for 2 nights. During an afternoon walk to a nearby point, I stumbled upon some Lapland longspurs; another lifer.
Lapland longspur by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Lapland longspur by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
While camping near Thunder Bay, I just happened to look up and see this Palm warbler foraging on the ground:
Palm warbler by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
At a burn area near Gogama, I tried (unsuccessfully
) for Black-backed woodpecker. It wasn't a total loss however, as I was able to get
my lifer Eastern bluebirds.
Eastern bluebird by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
ebird.org/checklist/S74215862
By the time we arrived in Ottawa, I had recorded 87 species, including 8 lifers.
ebird.org/checklist/S73853044
Probably the biggest highlight was a day trip with a local birder, north of Saskatoon. Our main target was the Whooping crane, and we were not disappointed. We counted about 80 of these incredible birds. This, along with Franklin's gull and Ross's goose, was a lifer for me. Between the two of us, we saw 47 species in total.
The cranes were aways off, but we still had great views:
Whooping cranes by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrIt was fun trying to tell the Ross's geese apart from their lookalikes:
Ross's geese & Snow geese by Joel Schmidt, on Flickrebird.org/checklist/S73952424
ebird.org/checklist/S73952457
ebird.org/checklist/S73952482
ebird.org/checklist/S73952524
On our way east, we made a brief stop at Big Quill Lake. Here, I had scope views of lots of waterfowl, including several Tundra swans.
ebird.org/checklist/S73959910
In Winnipeg, I was able to spend some time at Assiniboine Park. The place is right along the Assiniboine River, and was quite birdy.
Saw my first American black duck here:
American black duck by Joel Schmidt, on Flickrebird.org/checklist/S74005838
After entering northern Ontario, we stayed by this really nice lake near Kenora for 2 nights. During an afternoon walk to a nearby point, I stumbled upon some Lapland longspurs; another lifer.
Lapland longspur by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrLapland longspur by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrWhile camping near Thunder Bay, I just happened to look up and see this Palm warbler foraging on the ground:
Palm warbler by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrAt a burn area near Gogama, I tried (unsuccessfully
) for Black-backed woodpecker. It wasn't a total loss however, as I was able to getmy lifer Eastern bluebirds.
Eastern bluebird by Joel Schmidt, on Flickrebird.org/checklist/S74215862
By the time we arrived in Ottawa, I had recorded 87 species, including 8 lifers.
