Wayne Renaud and I birded Cootes Paradises around noon. In the marsh near Rat Island, we say 2 white pelicans, 9 great egrets and 12 great blue herons all in the same area. We saw the birds from the North Shore Trail area but they could likely also be seen from Princess Point.
To Princess Point - Take Hwy 403 through Hamilton. Heading westbound, take the York Blvd. exit; follow York Blvd. to Dundurn St.; turn right onto Dundurn; go to King St., turn right. At the first light past the overpass, turn right onto Macklin Ave. Follow this to the end to the parking area for Princess Point. From the parking lot, walk north onto the point and view from one of the clearings through the trees to the west onto the marsh at Cootes Paradise. From eastbound on Hwy 403, take the Aberdeen St. exit; turn left on Longwood Ave.; follow this to the very end which meets up with Macklin at the entrance to Princess Point. To North Shore Trails - Take Hwy 6 between Hwy 403 and Clappisons Corners; turn west on York Rd. towards Dundas; turn left at the four-way stop onto Old Guelph Rd.; follow this to the the entrance to the Royal Botanical Gardens Arboretum and Nature Centre (entrance fee may be required); from the parking area, take the Captain Cootes Trail out to the Marsh Boardwalk (about a 30 min. walk). Thanks Jacques Giraud
