[Ontbirds]Ottawa Barrows Goldeneye at Riverain

[Michael Broughton]

For people looking to spot the Barrows, the Rideau river freezup really has made this easier. Each of the past three mornings it has been swimming with the flock of common goldeneyes in the small bit of open river relatively close to shore at the rapids by the Rideau Tennis Club. I snagged the following picture this morning with only 200mm of lens on my camera:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2118/2089682141_1cfbdf873d_o.jpg

The goldeneye seem to generally congregate at the north end of the open stretch, pretty much right at the tennis club, and there is a bit of a peninsula you can walk out on off of the pathway - which the city is actually plowing thus far this year!

To get to the Rideau Tennis Club, exit the Queensway at the Vanier parkway and head north. Turn left (West) at Donald, and follow Donald all the way to the end at the Tennis Club. To get to the little peninsula, from the parking area go west towards the river to get on the path, and turn right going past the club house. You will almost immediately see a clearing to your left with a large tree at the shoreline (and lots of footprints heading in there). That tree is pretty much at the shoreline, so do't go much further as the ice is not very strong yet. The Goldeneyes seem to usually be right opposite or a bit north of this point.