Today Ian Cannell and I went down to Port Weller in St. Catherines to look for
the adult male King Eider reported earlier.
We found this beautiful bird close in on the lake beside the right hand end of
the canal. We also had an adult bald Eagle fly past in this area and all along
the trails were about 35 Robins.
On the canal we came up with many Common Mergansers, a male N. Pintail, 5 A.
Coots and an adult Lesser black-backed Gull and off Jones Beach where we parked
we found a young male Snowy Owl on the piles of ice.
On our way back from driving along the escarpment on Yonge St. we stopped at
the lake at the end of Fifty Road and here were all 3 Scoter species
(Along Yonge St. we spotted a Rough-legged Hawk, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers and
a N. Flicker).
We then went along to the Burlington ship canal where we spotted the female /
juvenile King Eider on the lake off the east end of the canal,
>From here we motored to Colonel Sam Smith Park in Etobicoke and thanks to
>Ian's hard work with his scope he spotted the adult male Harlequin Duck on the
>outer edge of a large G. Scaup raft.
PORT WELLER EAST SIDE
>From the Hamilton direction exit the QEW Highway at exit # 43 (Niagara Street)
>and drive north across the QEW and up Niagara St. to Lakeshore Road. Turn
>right (east) on Lakeshore and cross the Welland Canal bridge and immediately
>after crossing the bridge turn left (north) on Broadway. Continue up Broadway
>until you bump in to the lake and you will see a small parkette on your left
>with a small parking lot, the beach here is Jones Beach.
Park here (it is safer here than at the gate at the start of the trail). Walk
across the road to the marina gate (it looks like a prison camp gate) to the
gravelled path. Follow this path for about 250 yards to the gate at the start
of the main trail (Seaway Haulage Road). From this gate you walk straight ahead
for about 2 km to the lake and lighthouse checking the trees and bushes along
the way.
There is also a gravelled trail just inside the gate running parallel to the
main trail (between the main trail and the canal) that also goes towards the
point and also a dirt path at the north end of the marina fence that goes to
the bay or east side of the area. This path also goes all the way to the point.
BURLINGTON SHIP CANAL IN BURLINGTON
Exit the QEW Highway at Brant Street and drive south towards the lake to
Lakeshore Road. Turn right (west) and drive along past the Travelodge Hotel
towards the Joseph Brant Hospital. Just short of the hospital Lakeshore Road
goes left at the traffic lights, turn here and drive south along the road to
the lift bridge over the canal. Cross the bridge and look for the parking areas
on your left. The lighthouse at the lake end of the canal and the canal are
visible on your left as soon as you climb up onto the sand dunes that run
parallel to the road here.
COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK IN ETOBICOKE -TORONTO
To get to Col. Sam Smith Park from Queen & Yonge Streets. Take the Queen
Street Car #501 (Long Branch) west to Kipling Ave. The park is across from the
street car stop behind the Humber College buildings. Depending on which Queen
Street streetcar you board you may or may not have to transfer from one car to
another at the Humber Loop, but this is no big deal.
You can also take the Kipling South #44 TTC bus from Kipling subway station
directly to the Col. Sam Smith Park loop.
By automobile from downtown Toronto drive west on Lakeshore Blvd, cross the
Humber River Bridge at Sunnyside and drive to Kipling Ave. turn left (south)
and your in Colonel Sam Smith Park.
If you go to Colonel Sam or Port Weller be careful as the trails/paths are very
icy.
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill
Ontario, Canada
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