Hi Ontbirders,

This morning Ed Daudrich and I birded Mud Lake. Our highlight was a
great up-close view of an Orange-crowned Warbler on the trail that
connects the main trail around Mud Lake with Rowatt Street. At least 9
Hermit Thrushes were also in the area along with at least 7 Black-
throated Blue Warblers including 5 males and 2 females. Out on Mud
Lake we noted a good number of American Wigeon and Wood Ducks and one
Lesser Scaup. An immature Black-crowned Night Heron was perched along
the shore directly opposite (towards the east) the viewing platform in
the pine woods.

A quick stop at Ottawa Beach turned up only one Brant among the Canada
Geese. No Snow Goose or Rusty Blackbirds today. No sparrows in the
rushes either. Yesterday's rain has eliminated much of the habitat at
Ottawa Beach except for a small area around the sandbar. Rubber boots
are now a must to visit this site.

Good luck,

Chris Bruce

Directions

Mud Lake

Exit highway 417 at Pinecrest Road and head north. At Richmond Road
turn right and immediately merge into the far left lane. The left lane
defaults into a left turn lane onto Poulin Ave after Carling. Turn
left onto Poulin and continue north until the road makes a 90 degree
left and becomes Howe. Continue west along Howe a short distance until
the first four way stop. At this four way stop turn right onto
Britannia Road and follow Britannia Road until its end at Cassels.
Turn right onto Cassels and park on the side the road near the
entrance to Mud Lake.

Ottawa Beach

From the west exit highway 417 at Acres Road and head north about 1km
to Carling. Turn right on Carling and immediately merge to the far
left to turn left into the Andrew Haydon Park Water Park & Picnic
Ground parking lot. A well worn path just north of the playground
leads to Ottawa Beach. From the east exit highway 417 at Richmond Road/
Bayshore Drive and follow Bayshore Drive north to Carling. Turn left
at Carling and watch for the above mentioned parking lot on your right
approximately 1.5km down the road.

After the resounding success of the second Ontario Atlas, we are hoping that many Ontario birders will be experiencing atlas withdrawal and may consider travelling to neighbouring provinces to help out. Both Manitoba and Québec start Breeding Bird Atlases this year and need MANY volunteers.

If you enjoyed participating in the Ontario atlas, or even if you didn’t but think you might enjoy birding in Manitoba or Québec, why not consider taking a holiday to do some atlassing in a remote boreal forest square, or a grassland area, or even a square on the Hudson Bay coast or the Gulf of The St. Lawrence.  In some cases, we may be able to arrange for in-kind support or make special logistical arrangements to facilitate this and have a small pot of money available to reimburse atlassers who travel long distances.

To learn more about atlassing in general or about the first Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas or the second Québec Breeding Bird Atlas, go to www.biratlas.mb.cahttp://www.biratlas.mb.ca/  or http://www.atlas-oiseaux.qc.ca/index_fr.jsp.

When you register let us know you’re coming from afar and we will provide all the assistance we can in ensuring you enjoy your time while you are making such a generous donation.  We hope to hear from you!

Christian Artuso (Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator)
Michel Robert (Québec Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator)

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