Champlain Street in Orleans & Petrie Island

May 30, 2020

We decided to check out this park and Ottawa River access in Orleans at the north end of Champlain St.  Least Bitterns had been reported there a few days ago.  We did not see the bitterns, but we did find a delightful birding location and an easy place to launch a canoe.

It is just meters off a busy bike path, but it was quiet and full of birds.  We first saw a Warbling Vireo, then a Yellow Warbler, then a few American Redstarts.  On the river, there was a sentinel Great Blue Heron and two more flew overhead.  There was a large beaver lodge with a beaver sitting outside,  There were also a few Wood Ducks visible in the distance.

We then moved on to nearby Petrie Island, but there were so many people around, we just checked out the turtles and left.  Next time we will bring our canoe!