Even though I am living in Ottawa for quite a while now, it took me until today to go and see the Deschênes Rapids on the Ottawa River near Aylmer, Québec, from a closer vantage point.
There were a number of Cormorants nesting on the little island. I did not get a close enough picture but from what I can see when I zoom in a lot, they might be double-crested Cormorants. I could not see the whispy feathers on the head but an orange throat on the adults.
The waterlevel of the Ottawa River is high right now and I was really impressed by this fast running enormous body of energy. Looking down into the water, especially when standing next to it with no metal railing inbetween gave me the feeling as if it wants to pull me along.
The area is popular with whitewater kayakers but they run those rapids up only from below the ruins, since it is way to dangerous from above due to underwater rebars sticking out here and there.
The ruins used to be a hydro-electric plant.
"A few minutes downstream along the path you’ll come to the remains of a dam. Robert Conroy, an Irish settler, harnessed these rapids in the mid-1800s to run his flour and saw mills. In 1895, Conroy’s sons Robert and William built the region’s first hydro-electric plant here. It powered the Hull Electric Railway, which began service between Ottawa and Aylmer in 1896." from Quebec Heritage Web
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To make use of the time before the star gazing, I made my way to Andrew Haydon Park. I wanted to see how the young geese came along. There were only a few families of geese there to be seen, not like in previous years.
I also found a Brant goose. That was a first for me. I don't think that I encountered one of those yet but they also blend in with the Canada geese very well, I might just not have recognized the difference.
They breed in arctic salt marches along ocean or in estuary systems, according to my Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America.
The baby ducks are just so cute. They scare very easily but Mom or Dad duck is never far away, they really keep a close eye on their little ones. :)
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Then it was finally time to find a spot from which to enjoy the star show.
Today I was waiting for the Jupiter, Venus and Mercury conjunction.
First, I was treated to a beautiful sunset with mesmerizing colors.
All of the sudden I noticed the triangle. A really pronounced triangle and at the beginning the only thing visible in the sky.
I stayed as long as I could but next to the river the wind was a constant companion and I eventually got too cold to keep picturing this beautiful sight.
