[Ontbirds]Ruffed Grouse, Hoary Redpoll and Merlin (Ottawa)

[Ott User]

Hi OntBirders:
                        The tame Ruffed Grouse continues to show at the 
Hilda Road feeders and areas nearby.  Although I was not there when the 
Ruffed Grouse visited near the feeders mid-morning, I heard all about it 
from those who were there.  It is so tame it followed a birder around as she 
walked.  The Ruffed Grouse showed up again when I returned to the feeders at 
about 1pm.  This time it was on the corner of Hilda and Lois.  It showed up 
again later in the afternoon.  The Ruffed Grouse can be seen in the wooded 
area (a visible trail there) bordering Lois at the end of Hilda Road and was 
there for most of the late afternoon.  There are actually two Ruffed Grouse 
sighted in the wooded area (one larger than the other from what I was told). 
One of the local residents happened by in her car when the Ruffed Grouse was 
near the road at Hilda Road and Lois.  She mentioned that two of them were 
using the woodpile on her property.
                        Early in the afternoon around 1:30pm, a Merlin was 
chasing a bird (Mourning Dove I was told) aat the Hilda Road feeders and was 
very close behind it as both flew right by me and other people standing 
there.  No one saw if the Merlin caught the bird or not.  A short time later 
the Merlin returned and perched itself on a tall pole across from the 
feeders (see linked photo).   I had just finished watching the Ruffed Grouse 
on Lois when I returned to the feeders just in time to see the Merlin 
chasing the bird.
                        A Hoary Redpoll showed up at the same feeders at 
around 3pm giving everyone there great looks at it (see linked photos).  It 
was there with Common Redpolls.  After that many people went to see the 
Ruffed Grouse agaain just down the road.  The weather also cooperated by 
being on the mild side.  Happy birding.


Merlin.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/91003555/original

Ruffed Grouse.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/91003553/original
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/91003554/original


Hoary Redpoll
Side view.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/91001676/original

Front view.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/91001678

At feeders for comparison.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/91001680



W. Hum
www.pbase.com/golfpic



Directions to Shirley's Bay area (Rifle Road, Hild Road feeders) courtesy
www.NeilyWorld.com
http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/orwo21.htm