NeilyWorld  Birding Ottawa - Southwest - Ottawa River West: Ontario


KITCHISSIPPI LOOKOUT

Spring: **  Summer: **  Fall: *  Winter:

        Independent Directions to this Site: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 123 (Island Park Drive) if travelling west or exit 124 (Carling Avenue) if driving east. Using the Carling exit requires a bit of manouvring. Immediately upon exiting, in 250 metres, you will merge with Carling Avenue. As left turns are prohibited onto Merivale Road, which joins Island Park Drive, you will want to cross the traffic lanes and turn left onto Kirkwood Avenue and have only another scant 250 metres in which to do it. Be careful! Avoid rush hours, traffic can slow to a crawl, especially crossing the bridge to Quebec. Go NNW on Kirkwood for 1.2 km and turn right on Byron Avenue. Proceed 0.4 km ENE on Byron to the traffic light at Island Park Drive. Here you will join the route of those travelling west on the 417, who had only to exit onto Island Park Drive and go 0.9 km NNW along it to reach Byron. From Byron and Island Park continue NW along Island Park 1.3 km to the Ottawa River Parkway. Turn left or west on the Parkway and follow it southwest for 0.9 km to the Kitchissippi Lookout turnoff. Turn right or west into the parking lot.
        Ottawa River West: Ontario Route Directions: From Bate Island turn right or south onto the Champlain Bridge and go 0.7 km to the Ottawa River Parkway. Turn right or west on the Parkway and follow it 0.9 km southwest to the Kitchissippi Lookout turnoff. If you parked at the base of the bridge on the Ontario side, turn right or west on leaving the parking lot onto the Ottawa River Parkway, then proceed 1.0 km southwest to the Kitchissippi Lookout turnoff. Make a right-hand turn to the west into the parking lot for the Kitchissippi Lookout.
Map of the Kitchissippi Lookout area
Map of the Kitchissippi Lookout area
        Site Description and Birding Information: The Ottawa River widens dramatically just northeast of this site, so, although there is an unobstructed view of the river here, it is not as productive as the former site. Furthermore, this wide section freezes over most winters, except for areas adjacent either the Deschênes or Remic Rapids. Despite its shortcomings, this site is usually checked for gulls and waterfowl "because it’s there". Depending on the extent of the freeze up, the area along the ice edge to the north and west may be use by large numbers of roosting gulls in winter.
         This stop has rewarded a few lucky birders with rarities like Whimbrel (Jul. 27, 1973), Cattle Egret (Oct. 11, 1975) and Parasitic Jaeger (Jun. 14, 1979).
Google Maps satellite view of Kitchissippi Lookout area
Google Maps satellite view of Kitchissippi Lookout area
        Ottawa River West: Ontario Route Directions: When leaving Kitchissippi Lookout, turn right or south onto the Ottawa River Parkway and go 2.6 km southwest to the Deschênes Rapids Lookout. Make a right-hand turn to the north into the next site Deschênes Rapids Lookout.
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Copyright © 2000 - 2009     Larry E. Neily
Last update:  October 28, 2009