Ivy Lea Provincial Park is an easily accessed and very reliable spot to
see bald eagles which over winter near the 1000 Islands Bridge at Ivy
Lea (between Gananoque and Brockville).
While most of the Canadian Channel in the St. Lawrence remains solidly
frozen, there is plenty of fast moving open water near Ivy Lea that is
attracting some early migrant waterfowl. The mainland park is also a
great viewing spot to watch for eagles, a 5 to 10 minute walk to the
edge of the river gives an excellent view of the National Park Islands
where the eagles roost. Parks Canada generally reports at least a half
dozen bald eagles which over winter each year in the vicinity of Hill
Island.
On Saturday March 22, there was enough open water in Smuggler's Cove
(just inside the Ivy Lea park gate) to enjoy close views of common and
hooded mergansers, lesser scaup and buffleheads (and plenty of migrating
Canada Geese). Within a couple of minutes the ducks were on alert as an
immature bald eagle flew over and landed in a white pine at the entrance
of the cove. We also saw one early turkey vulture (there's still 2 feet
of snow in the bush) flying over the park gatehouse. With the receeding
snow on the shoulders of the highway, a number of raccoon casualties
were surfacing. A resident reported seeing a lone turkey vulture in
nearby Rockport about 1 week earlier (March 15) feeding at a deer
(roadkill).
And, with sunny daytime highs of only about 3C, I was astonished to see
one (little) brown bat zip out of the house attic Saturday around 4PM.
There were a few flies buzzing around the grassy base of some trees - I
suppose the bat has adapted its feeding time to align with the few hours
of insect activity on these cold early spring days, but it seems a
precarious date to emerge from winter hibernation.
Take Highway 401 exit # 659 (Reynolds Road) about 1 mile south to the
1000 Islands Parkway and park in the driveway near the gatehouse. Walk
the main road south, bearing right (west) to walk beside Smuggler's Cove
and proceed to the boat ramp for flowing open water. It's a 5 minute walk.
Dan Shire
Pickering Naturalists.
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