Alps Woods: Just outside Cambridge and just off Dumfries Road is a large forest area that I have visited many times over the years. There can be quite a lot of dog walking traffic here, but it is also one of the few areas that somewhat rarer species can be found including the elusive Hooded Warbler, so worth the "inconvenience" of these other trail users. Other species that are quite common here, in the spring and summer, are Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanagers and a few others.
43.326669, -80.386911
43.326669, -80.386911
Happy Valley: Just south of Pottageville (near Schomberg) and along 7th Concession Road is one of the entrances to the Happy Valley Forest complex, that I have found to be reasonably good for finding songbirds, especially in the spring and early summer. There are a few trails that run off 7th Concession, but even patrolling the road itself (there is little traffic) can be quite effective.
43.969814, -79.617444
43.969814, -79.617444
Silver Creek: Not too far from the Halton Tracts is a little known Conservation area (Silver Creek Conservation Area), that is often quite a good spot for birds ... especially in the spring and early summer. I have often had quite good luck at a few spots in this general location. Some of the Warblers and other songbirds you would usually expect much further north can often be found breeding here (eg, Blackburnian, Nashville, Black-throated Greens to name a few)
43.691950, -79.966920..... is a good place to start
43.691950, -79.966920..... is a good place to start
Halton Tracts: Halton Region should be commended for their awesome Trail management endeavors. They manage and maintain several excellent Tracts, many of which can be very "birdy" at certain times of the year. These Tracts include Acton, Conley, Coulson, Cox, Finney, Elliott, Frank, Britton, Currie, Mahon, Robertson, Turner, Laking & Snyder. All of these trails are located north of the 401 and on the west side of Milton and many of them are co-joined. I have included a link for each one, so for more info and location, click the appropriate Tract name above.
A link to a map showing all of the Tracts can be found HERE
I have to admit that they are not all equally good, and my personal preferences are Robertson, Currie, Britton & Acton. Then again you never know, and all of them are worth exploring
Carden Alvar: Less than two hours north of Toronto Carden Alvar offers globally rare alvar habitat supporting an abundance of grassland birds, including the endangered Loggerhead Shrike and the rare Golden-wing Warbler plus Osprey, Black Terns, Sedge Wrens, Yellow Rails, Upland Sandpipers, Blue Birds, Eastern Towhees, Brown Thrashers and many more ...
I have found, like most other hot spots, that the best time is May & June, but still productive right through the summer. There are a few spots in the area, but I've found Wylie Road the best
Old Cut Banding Station: Located on Old Cut Blvd, close to the entrance of Long Point Provincial Park, near Port Rowan, Ontario. On a good day during migration, the Old Cut woodlot is alive with small birds of every description. Spring songbird migration begins in early April and builds steadily. Swallows and sparrows arrive first, followed by the hardier warblers. In mid-May, when bird diversity reaches its peak, more than 100 species can be seen here in a single day, including more than 25 warbler species. Parking is across from the Bird Studies building
Backus Woods: Concession Roads 3 &4, Walsingham. On any birding/photo trip in the Long Point area, I always make time to go to Backus Woods. I personally like to park at the small parking lot on Concession Rd 3 and then head into the forest along the trail north from the parking lot. I have always had the best sightings in the clearing near the Turkey Release Monument. Common are, Indigo Buntings, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Eastern Towhees, as well as a good selection of Warblers & Vireos. On Concession Road 4, Hooded Warblers can be heard & seen. Personally, I have heard & seen this little gem, but have yet to photograph one here. Look for the Turkey Release signpost on Highway 59, and follow that to the parking lot about a kilometer on.
Thickson Woods: Located at the end of, and east of Thickson Road South, this small wooded area is another of those songbird traps that produce great sightings mainly during spring and fall migration. However a walk through in the winter can also be interesting, with decent chances of seeing one of the owl species. Parking is usually done along the side of the road near the entrance to the Waterfront Trail.
Dryden Tract: Once belonged to Andrew Dryden, a Scottish immigrant who purchased 900 acres outside of Ayr back in 1834. Today, it’s managed by the Grand River Conservation Authority, and this little-known forest, accessed off Alps Road east of Dumfries Road, is a location I often visit in the late spring & early summer. Indigo Buntings and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, as well as Scarlet Tanagers & Brown Thrashers can be found here relatively easy.
Tiny Marsh: Tiny Marsh is Ontario’s first provincially owned and managed wetland. It is one of approximately 1,200 important bird areas recognized in Canada. It offers the visitor year-round use of 600 hectares of marsh and 300 hectares of field and forest. Apparently 250 bird species have been recorded at Tiny marsh, including species like Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Sora, Virginia Rail, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Blue-winged Teal.
Windermere Basin: One of Hamilton's long time birding landmarks, Windermere Basin can be a fantastic place to visit, especially in the winter and early spring. It's not the best spot for photographers as quite often most of the birds are a bit far for most camera/lens combinations, but in saying that the channel that runs along the side the edge of the facility (west of the parking lot) often have some interesting species and surprising close. Access to the area is off Eastport Drive in Hamilton. The green space that is bordered by the QEW to the east and the channel to the west is also a great spot for some grassland species and other open area birds. A small colony of Tree Swallows can also be found.
Tommy Thompson Park: Located on the Toronto waterfront, Tommy Thompson Park is a unique urban wilderness minutes from downtown. The park is located on a man-made peninsula, known as the Leslie Street Spit, which extends five km into Lake Ontario and is over 500 hectares in size.TTP is an amazing spot to bird watch - 316 species of birds have been recorded at TTP, including at least 55 breeding species. The park is an important stopover during migration for many bird species that need to rest and refuel to continue their migration. In addition to many species of songbirds, migrations also include raptors, waterfowl and shorebirds. The only drawback to this location is the distance from parking lot to the tip .. as mentioned it's 5km. Quite a few of the visitors do this on a bicycle (might do that next trip)
Mountsberg Reservoir: is a large water control reservoir and important natural waterway in the watershed. The reservoir was created by building a dam on Bronte Creek where it flows through the park on its way to the Lake Ontario. The wetlands, within the park and to the north of the reservoir are considered provincially significant, as they various habitats for uncommon birds, amphibians and reptiles. Mountsberg Raptor Centre, located on the Milton side of the park, has over two dozen caged birds of prey, which I have photographed in the past, but ... I tend tend to visit the dam side which I've found to be truly excellent in the spring, with several species nesting downstream of the dam, with lots of photo opportunities during this time. Baltimore Orioles, Catbirds, Redstarts, Warbling Vireos, Black & White Warblers, etc. One of my personal favorite places to go!
Point Pelee: Point Pelee, a 10-kilometre sandspit with its southern point equal in latitude to the northern border of California, contains one of Canada's smallest but most unusual national parks. A thin triangle jutting into Lake Erie at the extreme southernmost point of Canada. Point Pelee National Park has long been recognized as a world-class birding site with more than 390 species recorded in the park's birding area. Bird migration was the reason Point Pelee became a national park in 1918 and has since garnered international recognition as an “Important Bird Area” and a UNESCO designated “Wetland of International Significance”. While significant breeding birds call the park home, Point Pelee's greatest is to migratory species moving through in spring and fall. This is most definitely my most favorite birding spot in Ontario, especially during the Festival of Birds in the first 3 weeks of May every year. It's my, never to be missed venue, and during migration I'm seldom disappointed, with sightings of Blackburnian Warblers, Orchard Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, Henslow Sparrows, Magnolia Warblers, Palm Warblers, Yellow-throated Vireos, Golden-winged Warblers ... I could go on for another couple of dozen excellent sightings, but you get the idea.
Rondeau: Rondeau, an Ontario Provincial Park, is on the North shore of Lake Ontario. It is a great spot to view the spring migration. It is quieter than the super popular Pelee National Park. A great place for the spring songbird invasion and some say even better than Pelee ... I prefer Rondeau over the super busy Pelee and have found that on any given day it can out-perform it's big cousin. However it's a common (and very good) plan to go to both locations ( they are only an hour apart) during your spring birding long weekend or extended visit. During the season, there are guided morning and evening walks and the visitor centre is a very good source of information. A must visit location!
Hendrie Valley: This 100-hectare sanctuary, part of the Royal Botanical Gardens, is centered on the Grindstone Creek Valley. The area features forested slopes with towering trees, a 60-hectare river-mouth marsh complex and four creeks. HV is one of my later in the year destinations, especially in late fall & winter, and along the excellent boardwalk, which can produce some excellent birds. Popular with the public - hand feeding the Chickadees, Cardinals, Tree Sparrows, Nuthatches and even Blue Jays during the winter months, so it's the abundance of food, brought in with the visitors that attract the more exotic species ... Black-throated Green Warblers, Cuckoos, Carolina Wrens, to name but a few. Downstream of the boardwalk is Valley Inn, which is a pretty good spot during the warmer months Spring - Fall, for lots of Aquatic species - Green Herons. Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Great Blue Herons etc.
Riverside Park: Cambridge's largest community park (102 Hectares) is popular with local nature photographers year round. Most of the time it can be generally common species, but on occasion something special shows up. In the last 12 months I've seen and photographed Green Heron, Northern Shrike, Piliated Woodpecker, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Yellowthroats, Merlin, etc etc. For me, it's more of a Fall & Winter location, but I've heard great things about Spring as well... worth a try!
Ruthven House: This often overlooked little gem is situated down towards Cayuga, in Haldimand County. It's the site of an impressive Greek Revival country house and estate grounds, that are managed by the Lower Grand River Land Trust. The grounds are significant is size (1500 acres) and run alongside the Grand River , which as well as making the area very pretty assist in bringing birds to the location. Some of the more notable species to be found here are a good colony of Purple Martins and several Tufted Titmouse. Can be a good Warbler/songbird location in the spring and early summer and in fact this spot is on my get to in 2018 list. Bird banding takes place here at certain times of the year but visitors are generally welcome while that takes place. Worth a visit !
Grass Lake: Located on Shouldice Road in the Township of North Dumfries, Grass Lake is one of my favorite late Spring & Summer destinations. Well known locally as the place to see Sandhill Cranes, Bobolinks, Grasshopper & Savannah Sparrows, Bluebirds and a few other species.
Edgelake Park: A small woodlot located between Church Street and Frances Avenue in Stoney Creek, is another of the seasonal spots, both spring and fall, that attracts migrating songbirds. Best parking is at a small nose-in parking along Church Street and the birds are typically found along either shore of the swampy creek area, and along the pathways which wind through the forest. Often a few rarities show up here, so always worth a visit during migrations.
Algonquin Park: Located 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto, Algonquin Park is well know as a popular Ontario bird watching destination. The blend of northern and southern forest result in a diversity of species found within the Park. Most birders coming to Algonquin Park are interested in observing Gray Jays, Spruce Grouse, Boreal Chickadees, and Black-backed Woodpeckers. All four species are found in the Park year-round. In the Winter (my favorite time in the park) the most productive spots are the Visitor Centre (they set up feeders to attract many species - Hoary & Common Redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, Crossbills, etc), Spruce Bog Boardwalk, which is a good spot to find the Boreal Chickadee, especially around the feeder and the Grey Jay, commonly known as the Whiskey Jack, Opengo Road, Mizzy Lake Trail and the Highway 60 corridor where the Great Grey Owl can be seen. Summer time can also be pretty good, and I've found that one of the better spots is along the Rail bed section of the Mizzy Lake trail. Best parking and access is along a side trail that cuts right a few miles along Arohon Road at 45.577018, -78.702050.
University of Guelph Arboretum:
Port Rowan: Further back in my list I mentioned Backus Woods and Old Cut Banding Station. Near to these locations are another two that are worth a mention - Bird Studies HQ and Port Rowan Wetlands in the small town of Port Rowan. The map is generally pointing to the Bird Studies HQ, but the wetlands are pretty much directly north of this location, along Hunter Drive. Bird Studies: A small loop that takes you to a lookout point across Lake Ontario, then circles around back to the parking lot at the main building. Lots of good sightings can be expected. I found this spot to be a pretty good spot to find Black-billed Cuckoos. At the Wetlands, the trail begins just off of Hunter Drive North, and continues around the former Sewage Lagoon, with a short loop going out through the restored tall grass prairie and towards the municipal drain. This spot is known for plentiful waterfowl as well as Marsh Wrens and other little gems.
Skunks Misery: Skunk's Misery is one of the largest and most significant forested blocks remaining in the Carolinian Region of southern Ontario. Located 60 km southwest of London, ON and close to the small town of Newbury, it has been identified as a Carolinian Canada site, Provincially Significant Wetland, an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, an Important Bird Area, and a key biodiversity area within the Great Lakes. This large tract of deciduous forest and farmland situated along the Thames River is surrounded by the communities of Newbury, Wardsville and Bothwell. Skunk's Misery is noted for its diversity of upland and wetland plant communities, some of which are globally rare. It is home to a great diversity of animal and plant inhabitants, including many that are rare or at risk. One of the few spots around where you can occasionally find a Cerulean Warbler.
Tilt's Bush: After several visits over the last two or three years I've decided to add this location to my list. Located in a sub division in the Pioneer Park area of Kitchener. Accessed generally from Sabrina Crescent, then along a rickety boardwalk down to a narrow creek. Excellent birding in the spring but tends to fall away later in the year.
Thornapple Loop: Located in the south side of Rock Chapel on Patterson Road and part of the RBG properties. The trail generally goes around in a loop accessed from a small pull in parking location. The trail undulates along a well manicured trail that has on occasions been very "birdy". I've birded this area both in the spring and early fall and have been disappointed and amazed on different occasions. The habitat has the right feel for birding - dense thickets, sunny open pockets, wet marshy spots and has steep and rolling patches of pathway. Worth a try :) UPDATE: Alternate access and parking at the very end of Wesley Road. (Wesley Road is 0.5 km or so east along Patterson Road).
Colonel Sam Smith Park: The park can be found at the end of Col Samuel Smith Park Drive, an extension to Kipling Avenue, and just past Humber College in Toronto (Etobicoke). Parking is free, but limited, but birders like us tend to be early, so shouldn't be a problem. The park is frequented by walkers, joggers, and dog walkers - a bit of an annoyance, but the park can be quite productive at the right time of year - more specifically in spring and fall. Lots of hidden pathways and mini trails that pass through thickets and along the edge of inlets and open water areas next to the marina.
Humber Bay East + West: Located along the Toronto shoreline just off Lakeshore Blvd West are the two adjacent parks - Humber Bay East & Humber Bay West. They are accessed separately from each other and offer similar birding opportunities. These locations are quite excellent for birding at almost any time of the year - Warblers and small birds in the three warmer seasons and ducks, grebes, etc in the colder winter months
Sedgewick Forest: This small forest tract tucked into a sub division in Oakville and next to a City of Oakville Water Treatment Plant. It would appear that the reason for the seasonal abundance of birds is that the water treatment process has some heated outdoor tanks that allows certain bugs to breed and ultimately hatch into tasty bird type flying morsals, which drift into the forest area adjacent. Most people think of Sedgewick as a winter spot, but it can be equally productive in the spring & fall. Easiest parking (at this time) is along the side of Sedgewick Crescent north of the WWTP and the forest area.
I found this link on another site and thought it interesting - a negative side to my Hot Spots .... http://www.blog.peregrineprints.com/2013/12/top-10-disappointing-birding-locations.html .... ;)