2023 OFO Peterborough Convention : September 21-24, 2023

Day 2: Havelock Lagoons and Rice Lake


On Friday morning we had early breakfast at the Super 8, then headed east to Havelock to meet the group and our leaders for the day, Dave Milsom and Cathy Douglas.
While waiting for the gate to open, we saw a Gray Catbird.



There were lots of really good birders on this outing, including 13-year-old phenom, Leo Weiskittel.

We went into the lagoons where we saw lots of Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals. We stopped at the first corner where Cathy played a tape of Chickadees mobbing owls for a few minutes. This successfully drew in Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Blue-headed Vireos.



We proceeded down the side of the cell, until Jeff Skevington spotted some sparrows jumping about, including a Nelson’s Sparrow. Andrew Keaveney, wearing high boots, waded into the grass growing in the water to flush another.



Cathy played the tape for Virginia Rail and Sora, and got a quick response from both, and also a surprise call from a rare King Rail.
At the back of the cell, Cathy played the chickadee alarm tape again, and got a good response from Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatches and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.



On the hike out, someone noticed a Canada Darner on the back of Colin’s jacket. By then, it was time for a coffee break at Tim Horton’s in Havelock.



Refreshed, we drove south to Hastings and reconvened at the pavilion near the bridge. Then we went a short way west along River Road, parked, and birded a section of the Lang-Hastings Trail. At one point we found a very active tree with lots of sparrows, yellow-rumps and phoebes. It was hard to tear ourselves away.



We stopped at Asphodel Heights Park and then proceeded to the Ouse River bridge on River Road. These sites were excellent for woodpeckers, including Hairy, Red-bellied, Red-headed and Sapsucker.



Our last stop was at Keene on Mill Street, where the taped call brought us a Black-throated Green Warbler, more Blue-headed Vireos and a loudly calling Carolina Wren that refused to pop into the open for us.



It was time to return to our hotel to freshen up, then head over to Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd., for the OFO Birds & Beers event. There was a buffet meal, introduction to Peterborough Hot Spots by Mike Burrell, and the famous (infamous?) diabolical quiz by Sarah Rupert, this year delivered by Zoom. MC Henrique presented the winner’s trophy to the table of crafty veterans led by Mark Peck.


 

Havelock--Sewage Lagoons (no access), Peterborough, Ontario, CA
Sep 22, 2023 8:55 AM - 11:33 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.304 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:     OFO convention
46 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  3
Blue-winged Teal  21
Mallard  5
Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid)  1
Green-winged Teal  22
Mourning Dove  1
King Rail  1     Heard by group -ID by J Skevington
Virginia Rail  3     Counted
Sora  1     Responded to tape
Wilson's Snipe  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Broad-winged Hawk  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue-headed Vireo  2
Philadelphia Vireo  1
Blue Jay  12
American Crow  4
Common Raven  1
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  6
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Brown Creeper  1
House Wren  2
Marsh Wren  2
European Starling  7
Gray Catbird  2
Hermit Thrush  1
American Goldfinch  2
Nelson's Sparrow  1     Seen by Jeff, Sharron & Angela Skevington
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  8
Red-winged Blackbird  11
Nashville Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  1
Northern Parula  1
Magnolia Warbler  1
Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  9
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150690935

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

 

 

Trent River--River Rd/LHT Lookout, Peterborough, Ontario, CA
Sep 22, 2023 12:29 PM - 12:56 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.499 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:     OFO Convention
19 species

Wood Duck  1
Mourning Dove  1
Ring-billed Gull  30
Turkey Vulture  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Hairy Woodpecker  1
American Kestrel  1
Eastern Phoebe  6     Counted
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Gray Catbird  2
Cedar Waxwing  5
American Goldfinch  5
Chipping Sparrow  5
Field Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  1
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  10
Northern Cardinal  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150727040

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

 

 

Asphodel Heights Park, Peterborough, Ontario, CA
Sep 22, 2023 1:17 PM - 1:38 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     OFO Convention
17 species

Ring-billed Gull  50
Turkey Vulture  4
Bald Eagle  1
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  2
Common Raven  1
Black-capped Chickadee  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Swainson's Thrush  1
Cedar Waxwing  1
American Goldfinch  6
Swamp Sparrow  1
Tennessee Warbler  1
American Redstart  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  10
Northern Cardinal  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150727055

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

 

 

Ouse River--River Road, Peterborough, Ontario, CA
Sep 22, 2023 1:53 PM - 2:14 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     OFO Convention
15 species

Mallard  6
Osprey  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Red-headed Woodpecker  1     Juv- White wing patches
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  3
Common Raven  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  4
Cedar Waxwing  4
Scarlet Tanager  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150727097

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

 

 

Keene--Mill St, Peterborough, Ontario, CA
Sep 22, 2023 2:36 PM - 3:03 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     OFO Convention
11 species

Canada Goose  3
Great Blue Heron  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue-headed Vireo  2
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  4
Black-capped Chickadee  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  1     Heard by all seen by Leo
Black-throated Green Warbler  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150727123

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)