[Ontbirds]Britannia (Mud Lake) in Ottawa. N. Waterthrush and more

[Jay Peterson]

Hello Ontbirders,

A rather brisk walk through this morning netted quite a few good birds. Six warbler species in the area including a Northern Waterthrush combing the south end of Mud lake about 200m from the pond bridge. I was hoping for a Louisiana but I'll take my FOS Northern. Another first for warblers in the Ottawa area this spring (for me anyway) were 2 YELLOW, one along the south fence by the bike path (near the tennis courts) and the other observed by quite a few people along Cassels Rd in with the parked cars. A BLACK & WHITE was in the woods along with 8 PALM, 8 PINE and countless YELLOW-RUMPED. 

A nice one for April 27 was a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, also in the south woods. Two WARBLING VIREO, one by Cassels Rd and one in the woods. At the pond bridge in the south woods I had flushed a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON at 7am. Another nice first for me this year was hearing the distinctive one-note call of a VEERY calling in the same vicinity. Very much the usual suspects eleswhere up on the ridge and the filtration plant. Lots of Flickers, Yellow-Rumped, a few RC Kinglets and White-Throated Sparrows. A beautiful day to go out and quite a good amount of birds around today. Keep an eye on the skies for the local Cooper's Hawks that are flying around. 

Good birding,

Jay Peterson
Britannia, Ottawa

Directions: 

Mud lake and the Britannia Conservation area are accessible from Britannia road (off Richmond/Carling). Follow that road down to the river and meet Cassels, turn right and you will see the parked cars. The woods are actually pretty dry and almost every area is easily walkable without the use of boots.