NeilyWorld  Birding Ottawa - Southeast - Rideau River East Side


HURDMAN (RIDEAU RIVER) PARK

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

         Independent Directions to this Site: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 117 (Riverside Drive). Go SSW 1.4 km 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 Hurdman (Rideau River) Park site.
         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 Hurdman (Rideau River) Park site.
Map of Hurdman (Rideau River) Park
Map of Hurdman (Rideau River) Park
         Site Description and Birding Information: This park would be easier to bird on bicycle or by bus, than by car. Finding a parking spot is challenging. The best situation seems to be on the Old Riverside Drive apartment building access segment. There, from the north end, you can mount the sidewalk ramp switchback to follow the transitway across Riverside Drive and straight north to the Hurdman transit station. Continue straight across the bus lanes to reach the trails on the northeastern side of Hurdman (Rideau River) Park. There are a series of loop trails here between the transitway, the Queensway and the Rideau River. The riverside trail continues north to Riverain Park and southwest, under the downtown transitway, to the southwestern section of Hurdman Park, which extends along the river to the McIlraith Bridge (Main Street & Smyth Road). To return to your car from the south end of Hurdman (Rideau River) Park, you can cross Riverside Drive where Smyth Road exits onto it, and then cross the transitway through the Smyth transit station. This puts you near the south end of the Old Riverside Drive apartment building access segment, just less than a kilometre from where you parked at the north end. If you wished to bird the south end of Hurdman (Rideau River) Park, you could park at the south end of the Old Riverside Drive apartment building access segment.
         The northeastern section of the park is mostly second growth deciduous. The trail leading north from the transit station has a small feeding station near its north end. Berry bushes also occur here, hence it is a good spot to check in winter. In Dec. 2007 both a Gray Catbird and Hermit Thrush were seen here. The southern section has more habitat variety, with the riverside trail traversing a length of treed tangles along the riverbank and maturing deciduous on the other side. An excellent spot to watch for migrant landbirds. A Great Egret was seen here Apr. 24, 2006.
Story in the Snow of Hurdman Park Rock Dove Reduced to Raptor Repast
Story in the Snow of Hurdman Park    Rock Dove Reduced to Raptor Repast

Size Reference: Pen Top is 5 cm Long
Size Reference: Pen Top is 5 cm Long
        Rideau River East Side Route Directions: From Hurdman (Rideau River) Park, return to your car on Old Riverside Drive. Go south 0.1 km to Hincks Lane and turn right or west on it. Drive 0.1 km to Riverside Drive. Turn left or south on Riverside and go 2.8 km and turn right or northwest into the parking area for the next site on this route, the Billings Bridge Park.
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Copyright © 2000 - 2009     Larry E. Neily
Last update:  October 28, 2009