FIELD TRIP
Mud Lake, Britannia Conservation Area
Tucked between the Britannia neighbourhood and the Ottawa River, Mud Lake is one of the city's best spots for urban wildlife photography.
This small conservation area includes marsh, pond, mature forest, and river shoreline, all connected by flat, easy trails. It attracts a wide variety of wildlife. Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Great Egrets, and Wood Ducks feed along the water's edge; turtles bask on logs, and muskrats are often active at dusk. If you're lucky, you'll even see deer, foxes, raccoons, and rabbits. The area is especially rewarding during spring and fall migration, when warblers and other songbirds pass through the woods. If you become a regular visitor, be sure to join the Facebook group page.
Black squirrel standing upright among fallen autumn leaves, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Canada goose gliding on water reflecting orange autumn colour, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Male wood duck swimming on golden autumn water, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Close portrait of a female mallard against warm autumn water, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Ruby-crowned kinglet fluttering beside a spruce branch, wings spread, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Ruby-crowned kinglet perched on a spruce branch, looking up, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Ruby-crowned kinglet with a wisp of seed fluff on its bill, in spruce, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Yellow-rumped warbler in fall plumage perched on spruce, looking up, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Yellow-rumped warbler in fall plumage on a spruce branch, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Black-capped chickadee leaning forward among spruce needles, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Black-crowned night-heron standing among logs above its reflection, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Black-crowned night-heron walking along a mossy log, reflected below, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Black-crowned night-heron crouched on a log, reaching toward the water, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Pileated woodpecker in profile against rough tree bark, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Male common merganser swimming on dark water, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Female common merganser swimming on dark water, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Male wood duck on still water with its reflection, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Close portrait of a wild turkey's bare blue and red head, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Male wild turkey displaying, feathers puffed and head turned blue
Male wild turkey facing the camera with its tail fanned in full display
Female mallard leading a line of ducklings across calm green water
Black-crowned night-heron taking flight over lily pads, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Black-crowned night-heron standing among lily pads and flowers, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Great blue heron at the edge of a duckweed-covered pond, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Eastern screech-owl resting with eyes closed in a tree cavity, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Yellow-rumped warbler in spring plumage on a spruce branch
Palm warbler perched in spruce, showing its yellow throat and rusty cap
Cape May warbler hanging upside down among white spring blossoms, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Cape May warbler reaching down through white blossoms, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Cape May warbler feeding from the white blossoms, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Cape May warbler facing the camera among white spring blossoms, Mud Lake, Ottawa
White-breasted nuthatch clinging head-down to a tree trunk, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Black squirrel peeking around a tree trunk in snow, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Female mallard raising her wings among resting mallards on snow at the edge of the Ottawa River, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Male mallard resting in falling snow, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Northern pintail drake among mallards on the Ottawa River shoreline, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Northern pintail drake swimming in icy water, backlit, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Northern pintail drake standing on ice in side profile, Mud Lake, Ottawa
Two northern pintail drakes standing back to back on snow, Mud Lake, Ottawa