The PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was present today (Wednesday April 28). I watched it from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. as it slept on the shore slightly east of the viewing blind (see directions below). It frequently raised its head, and twice stood up briefly with a stretch of the wings, affording good views by scope of all field marks. I saw no leg bands and no sign of clipped or worn flight feathers. I was told it was seen in the morning by others, and had also been resting where I saw it since at least 2:00 p.m.
The 2 male EURASIAN WIGEON remain not far to the west from the Pinkfoot site (see directions below). I saw them in the company of perhaps 25-30 American Wigeon, at the far west end of Lac Carpentier, around 6:00 p.m. Late afternoon with the sun getting low on the horizon off to the right made viewing rather difficult from where I watched them. DIRECTIONS: PINK-FOOTED GOOSE: Take Hwy 417 to downtown Ottawa, exit #118 (Lees Ave./Nicholas St. exit) continue north along the Rideau Canal. Turn right on Laurier St. then left on King Edward St. Take King Edward north to the Macdonald-Cartier bridge and cross over the Ottawa River to Quebec. Follow the signs to Hwy 50 east towards Montreal. The 50 ends at Masson-Angers. At the T-intersection turn left (south) and the go east along Hwy 148. Continue through the communities of Masson and Thurso to the town of Plaisance. In Plaisance, turn right onto Chemin de Presqu'ile, proceed south through the park booth (entry fee $3.50 per adult) then continue to the split in the road and take the the left (north) road. A short distance along the road and up the hill there is a spacious parking lot on the right and a viewing blind on the left. The goose has apparently been seen near the blind as well as in other parts of the bay for over 1 week. EURASIAN WIGEONS: Follow the above directions BUT ...when you arrive in Masson-Angers (after turning south @ the T-intersection), look for the signs to Hwy 148 WEST. Take the 148 west until you see the sign for Lac Carpentier and Petit Baie Clement. Turn left (south) off the 148 onto Ch. Ruisseau and drive through the small residential area. Keep going until the paved road turns into a pot-holed gravel road and park where it ends (otherwise you'll end up in the Baie). There are two gravelled cul-de-sacs at the end. The one to the right (west) was where I stopped, and from where I looked further west for the Euro-wigeons. -- Christopher J. Escott 1 Shouldice Court, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M2L 2S3 Home phone: 416.444.8055 Cellular 416.788.8055
