As the meltwater pond is midway between the 2nd and 3rd line roads the waterfowl are typically quite distant and a spotting scope is essential. The best vantages are on the hilltops to the west and east of the location on the 2nd Line. Although the distance between the pond and 2nd and 3rd lines is roughly equidistant, the vantages and morning lighting are generally better from the 2nd Line. Locate a safe spot to pull your vehicle to the side of the road, allowing a sufficient distance from the hill crests for oncoming traffic to see and manoeuvre around you. Note that the roadsides at this time of year can be very wet and muddy, so take care in choosing a spot to pull your vehicle to the side.

Waterfowl are the primary attraction at this site. A good variety of geese and dabbling ducks congregate here in large numbers in years with extensive flooding. Large numbers of Canada Geese are usually present with a maximum of 1300 counted on one occasion. Among the Canada Geese flocks are occasional Cackling and White-fronted geese. Similarly impressive numbers of dabbling ducks also occur with up to 300 Mallard and half as many Northern Pintail. Sandhill Crane are often present in the flooded pastures as well. Although the flood fields are attractive to early-arriving shorebirds like Wilson’s Snipe and both yellowlegs, the flood waters have usually long receded by the time most northbound shorebird species pass through the area.

This site is located roughly midway between Scriven Rd and CR 2 on Otonabee-S Monaghan 2nd Line. It is an area of low, wet pasture and adjacent maple-ash swamp in the valley between Otonabee-S Monaghan 2nd and 3rd lines that is subject to vernal flooding. In some years the flooding can be quite extensive forming a meltwater pond 10-15 ha in extent. The period of flooding can extend from as early as late February through March and into early to mid-April.