NeilyWorld  Birding Ottawa - Northeast - Ottawa River East: Quebec

        Independent Directions to this Site: Going north on Autoroute de la Gatineau or Highway 5 take Exit # 2, the Autoroute 50 east exit. Follow the long, 1.0 km, ramp over Brewery Creek and onto Autoroute 50 headed north. Proceed 17.8 km to exit 154, taking the Boulevard de l'Aéroport exit. Follow the 0.3 km exit to it and turn right or south. Go 0.9 km south to Boulevard Maloney Est or Highway 148. Turn left or ENE onto it and drive 2.0 km toward Angers. Turn right or south on a single lane gravel road between numbers 1974 and 1976 Boulevard Maloney Est. This is the Marais des Laîches West.

        Ottawa River East: Quebec Route Directions: From the junction of Boulevard de l'Aéroport and Chemin Industriel, at the entrance to the Gatineau Airport, return 1.2 km south on Boulevard de l'Aéroport to Boulevard Maloney Est or Highway 148. Turn left or ENE onto it and drive 2.0 km toward Angers. Turn right or south on a single lane gravel road between numbers 1974 and 1976 Boulevard Maloney Est. This is the Marais des Laîches West.

        Site Description and Birding Information: Marais des Laîches is a recent initiative of Quebec Parks and Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The dirt road leads, in about 1 km, to a parking area at the edge of the marsh, which is scored by ditches. No trails are evident, but there is a large sign with a map of the project. Just before reaching the parking area, there is a small pond providing some easily visible habitat for water birds. In summer Black Terns can be seen feeding there. Shorebirds may be seen along the edges. A larger linear pond and marsh is just to the north of this, just south of the zig-zag in the road. A little used track parallels it to the south, providing some elevation for viewing. A few dead trees in the marsh provide a roosting site.

        Rare birds found here include: Great Gray Owl (3 during the 2004 - 05 "invasion" on Feb. 2, 2005); Eurasian Wigeon (April 12, 2006; Apr. 17 to May 7, 2009); Great Egret (2 to 3 - May 16 to 21, 2006; 2 - Aug. 15, 2006; 4 - Apr. 22, 2009); Mute Swan (Apr. 14, 2009).

        Ottawa River East: Quebec Route Directions: From the single lane gravel road between numbers 1974 and 1976 Boulevard Maloney Est, go east on Highway 148 another 0.9 km to where Boulevard Maloney Est becomes Chemin de Montréal Ouest and turn right or south down a dirt road between 2170 Boulevard Maloney Est and 2130 Chemin de Montréal Ouest to the next site on this route, the Marais des Laîches East.