Ottawa Area Birding: Cycloparc PP&J

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Cycloparc PP&J

April 15, 2012

We decided to spend the weekend biking on the PP&J, since our trip to Manitoulan Island was cancelled. We had previously biked a couple of other sections of this trail.

We went up on the Ontario side, crossing at Chenaux, which was very scenic. We passed the Bryson Turkey Vulture roost, and saw dozens swirling overhead. We had a small section of trail to complete between Campbell’s Bay and Shawville to complete, so did that 13 km round trip on the way to our bed and breakfast in Waltham. The Riverside B&B was on the shore of the Black River (Riviere Noire).

We had dinner on Alumette Island and turned in early. The next morning we did some birding before breakfast, then after, borrowed a canoe and paddled out to the Ottawa River, then back up to the dam. We explored some oxbows and had nice sightings of Wood Ducks and a Rough-legged Hawk. After returning the canoe, we saw a couple of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers along the road.

We picked up our bikes at the B&B and biked south to Ch. Thomas Lefebvre West – a round trip journey of 22.8 km. It was mostly along the Ottawa River – very scenic.

We drove home crossing at Pembroke and Morrison Island. Since we met Hwy 17 just north of Cobden, we decided to check out our Phoebe nest on the Snake River. No luck there, but further along Snake River Line, we saw a pair of Northern Pintails and three Tundra Swans.

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