Hello Ontbirders, The Snowy Egret is still present, with a few interesting developments reported by Jack Romanow, and Ken Garrett & Lois Knaggs.
On the 25th (Jack) and 26th (Ken & Lois) observed the egret on the partially-submerged gravel bar at the north end of Dow's Lake near the Dow's Lake Pavilion - this is the 1st time it has been reported north of the Arboretum. Also, since its discovery on April 19th, the bird has been frequently reported as "disappearing to the south", i.e. flying off and not seen beyond the Hartwell Locks at Carleton University...Ken & Lois may have solved the mystery of this "frequently disappearing" egret. After they watched the bird disappear to the south today ~10:00 AM, they went to the Billings Bridge area along the Rideau River to check out the "duck place"(where many Mallards, Ring-billed Gulls and sometimes other duck spp's hang out)...and there was the Snowy Egret!...and why not? Good habitat & good fishing here. Also this may be the longest time that a Snowy Egret has spent in Ottawa. DIRECTIONS: DOW'S LAKE - from Hwy 417 in Ottawa, take the Parkdale Ave. exit #122 and go south on Parkdale, then left (east) on Carling Ave. Follow Carling down the hill to Preston St./Prince of Wales Dr. Turn right (south) on Prince of Wales and proceed to the traffic circle, keeping left, then immediately right into the parking lot at the Arboretum (free parking for 90 minutes). Walk down to the canal (the Dow's Lake Pavilion is obvious to the south of this location). BILLINGS BRIDGE - from the Arboretum, get back onto Prince of Wales and head south, turn left (east) on Heron Rd. and proceed east to Riverside Dr. Continuing east on Riverside, you'll pass the Billings Bridge Shopping Centre on your right. The "duck place" is immediately across from the shopping centre. Free parking also at this location. Good birding, Chris Lewis Ottawa [EMAIL PROTECTED]
