NeilyWorld  Birding Ottawa - Southeast - Rideau River East Side


RIVERAIN PARK

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

         Independent Directions to this Site: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 117 (Vanier Parkway). Go northwest 1.2 km to Donald Street and turn left or west onto. Proceed 0.5 km to the west end of Donald at the Rideau River. Park here for access to Riverain Park.
         Rideau River East Side Route Directions: From Kingsview Park, at the end of River Road, return the 0.5 km SSE to Montreal Road at the Cummings Bridge. Continue straight across the intersection on River Road and proceed an additional 0.7 km to Donald Street. Turn right or west on Donald and go 0.1 km to the end at the Rideau River. Park here for access to Riverain Park.
Map of the Riverain Park area
Map of the Riverain Park area
         Site Description and Birding Information: There are good views of the Rideau River here, including a small section of rapids, where a female Harlequin Duck has stayed each winter since 1999-2000. It had returned again by November 15, 2003 for its fifth winter here, but something untoward may have happened to it, as it was not reported after Nov. 27. A male Barrow's Goldeneye was found here on November 17, 2004. A hybrid male Barrow's X Common Goldeneye was seen here from Feb. 6 to at least Feb. 21, 2005. A male Barrow's Goldeneye was seen here fairly regularly in the winters of 2006-07 and 2007-08. Other less usual overwintering waterfowl are sometime found here, such as Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Hooded, Common & Red-breasted Merganser. A bicycle path follows the river both to the north and south of Donald Street. Small areas of marsh along the riverbanks sometimes attract migrants or hangers-on in the early winter, such as a Common Yellowthroat in December of 2001.
Common Goldeneye Feeding at the Rapids - Dec. 1, 2007
Common Goldeneye Feeding at the Rapids - Dec. 1, 2007
         Rare birds seen here include: Harlequin Duck (wintered in 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, and the beginning of the following winter); Great Egret (Apr. 23, 2006).
         This site is directly across the Rideau River from the Strathcona Park site on the Rideau River West Side route.
        Rideau River East Side Route Directions: From Riverain Park, at the end of Donald Street, return the 0.1 km east to River Road and continue straight across it, following Donald east for another 0.4 km to the Vanier Parkway. Turn right or south onto Vanier and go 2.6 m to Hincks Lane. Turn left or east on Hincks and drive 0.1 km to the old Riverside Drive. Turn left or north and find a spot to park for the next site on this route, the Hurdman (Rideau River) Park.
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Copyright © 2000 - 2009     Larry E. Neily
Last update:  October 28, 2009