NeilyWorld  Birding Ottawa - Southeast - Rideau River East Side


VINCENT MASSEY PARK

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

         Independent Directions to this Site: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 121A (Bronson Avenue). Go SSE on Bronson for 3.1 km, crossing the Rideau River on the Dunbar Bridge and going over Riverside Drive, before bearing right to take the Heron Road exit. Be careful here as the Riverside Drive exit also leaves Bronson from the same lane a few metres earlier. In 0.3 km or so, turn right onto Heron Road and drive 0.8 km to the turnoff on the right for parking at Vincent Massey Park. Pay parking is in effect in the warm months.
         Rideau River East Side Route Directions: From Billings Bridge Park, return to Riverside Drive and turn right or southwest onto it. Go southwest 1.4 km to Heron Road and turn right or west on it. Drive 0.3 km to the turnoff on the right for parking at Vincent Massey Park. Pay parking is in effect in the warm months.
Map of Vincent Massey Park
Map of Vincent Massey Park
         Site Description and Birding Information: A perennial spring migration favourite of Ottawa birders, this beautiful park is just large enough to maintain some excellent natural areas, despite being subject to enormous people pressure. A paved bikepath goes along the Rideau River for the full 1.2 km length of the park. This trail passes some wonderful woodlands and swampy areas great for migrant passerines. Various other trails criss-cross the park, which is used by many, many non-birders for picnics, sports, dog-walking, etc.
         This site is a green magnet for tired migrants and has had many uncommon and its share of rare birds over the years. Most species of uncommon migrant warblers, vireos, thrushes, etc. have been seen here in the second to fourth weeks of May, including Canada, Wilson's, Bay-breasted, Mourning, Cape May and Blackpoll Warblers, Yellow-throated Vireo, Swainson's Thrush and Scarlet Tanager. Rare species seen here include: Connecticut Warbler (Aug. 27, 1979), Prairie Warbler (singing male May 14, 1988), Summer Tanager (May 8, 1996).
         An article regarding Vincent Massey Park appeasred in the OFNC's Trail and Landscape publication in Vol. 16, pages 106 to 110.
Black Ducks at Vincent Massey Park
Black Ducks at Vincent Massey Park
        Rideau River East Side Route Directions: From Vincent Massey Park parking area, return to Heron Road. To do this requires following the signs carefully. You must drive west from the parking lots 0.3 km, follow the road as it makes a U-turn under Heron Road, and proceed another 0.3 km to the reach Heron Road going east. Drive east on Heron for 0.3 km to Riverside Drive and turn right or south onto it. Go south 0.4 km to Hog's Back Road and turn right or west onto it. Proceed 0.5 km to the turnoff on the right for parking at the next site on this route, the Hog's Back Park.
Return to Rideau River East Side.    Return to Birding Ottawa Table of Contents.


Copyright © 2000 - 2009     Larry E. Neily
Last update:  October 28, 2009