Hi Ontbirders: Based on people who went there today and eBird (you can sgn up for eBirds and as a member, you can read more detailed comments regarding the sightings) reports, 3 Great Gray Owls were still being seen at the same location today. I have uploaded a map of the area which may be helpful. See this link. http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/148451934/original You cannot park along (even off the side) the Rockclife Parkway. Just drive 1 kilometer past the owl location and park at NCC parking lot P8. The parking lot is on the same side of the road as the owls. Then what most people do is walk back to the owls using the narrow shoulder/bike path on the edge of the road. Of course you do this at your own risk and is not a recommendation....but that's how most people do it including cyclists and joggers. Some do it facing traffic on the other side of the road. A second way to get back to the owls after parking at P8 is to cross the road (Rockcliffe Parkway) and use the snowshoe/ski trail. Walk down the trail and turn right on the trail and when the trail forks, take the right fork. This takes you back to the bridge that crosses over Green's Creek on the Rockcliffe Parkway. Cross the road and into the field on the other side. A third option is only for those who are adventurous or know the area well, and that is to walk back to the owl location straight from the parking lot P8 via "trails" there. But if you do not know the area well, you could end up lost there. I heard from two young ladies on the weekend that someone charged them $80 to see or find great gray owls. Apparently, the person charging them did not find any. So, they werequite excited to see the ones at the Rockcliffe Parkway at Green's Creek. Happy owling.
Photo of a great gray owl taken there. http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/148427359/original An infomative story about the return of the Great Grey Owls in Tuesday's Ottawa Citizen newspaper which can also be read online at the following link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Return+great+grey+owls/7848863/story.html W. Hum http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/some_recent_shots Directions: >From the west end or downtown Ottawa, go east on the Queensway and take the >left fork toward Orleans. Exit at the Montreal Road exit. Turn right at St >Joseph Blvd. Continue along St Joseph Blvd. until you come to the lights where >you turn left onto the Rockcliffe Parkway (at this intersection on St Joseph >Blvd., the Rockcliffe Parkway is on the left and Bearbrook Road is to the >right). Continue along the Rockcliffe Parkway. The first bridge you cross is >the one going over the highway. Continue quite a ways along and the second >bridge you see is the one that crosses over Green's Creek. The owls are >located in the field on the left side of that bridge. It is public NCC park >land so open to all. However, do not park alongside the road there or you may >get ticketed. Instead, drive 1 kilometer past that spot and park at parking >lot P8 on your left. Then walk back to the bridge. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
