NeilyWorld  Birding Ottawa - Southeast - Mer Bleue / French Hill Loop

        Independent Directions to this Site: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 113, bear left to get onto Regional Road 174 or old Highway 17. Proceed 11.8 km northeast on 174 to the exit ramp for St. Joseph Boulevard and 10th Line Road (Regional 47). Turn right or SSE onto it and drive 0.3 km to St. Joseph. Turn right or southwest onto St. Joseph and go 0.2 km to 10th Line Road. Turn left or SSE onto it and proceed 5.7 km to Wall Road. Turn left or ENE onto it and scan carefully along the first couple kilometres of Wall Road.

        Mer Bleue - French Hill Loop Route Directions: From the junction of Frank Kenny and Wall Roads, go WSW on Wall 4.3 km to 10th Line Road. Scan carefully, especially along the last couple of kilometres before the junction.

        Site Description and Birding Information: This site has, at the moment, until urban growth forces them away, a small breeding population of Short-eared Owls. These birds are most easily seen at dusk, when they leave their roosting spots and begin exploring the fields for food. Scan the field edges carefully and frequently. If you are lucky, one or more may fly directly over you or perch on a fence post to be admired. A good scope could help here.

         Check all along Wall Road's extensive farmland. Some of the fields are a bit overgrown. Check field edges and isolated trees for perching raptors. Watch the fields themselves for Gray Partridge, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and maybe even Lapland Longspurs.

        Mer Bleue - French Hill Loop Route Directions: From the junction of Wall and 10th Line Roads, go SSE on 10th Line 1.7 km to Navan Road. Take a sharp right and proceed northwest 4.1 km to Renaud Road (old 4th Line Road). Turn left or WSW onto it and drive 0.3 km to view the fields on both sides of the next site on this loop, the Renaud Road area for the next 1.4 km.