Birding Ontario coming summer

[nijnoss]

Hi,

I'm from the Netherlands, that's why my english isn't so good. Therefore sorry. I will visit coming summer Ontario. Mainly I will be in Toronto and Exeter (a small village about 30 miles north of Londen). I've read a lot birding reports last time and I've got a lot of information. But there are still a couple of things I don't know. Especially I want to know nice bird areas in the surroundings of Toronto. I think I know enough about Leslie Street Spit. But I read something about Humber bay, it must be good for sandpipers and that kind of stuff. Can anyone tell my more about that? The same applies to the Toronto Islands. And are there some other nice bird areas in/near be Toronto?

I even had read something about the lagoons by Parkhill, Strathroy, Tedford and Grand Bend. But I can't find more information about that. And it's sounds attractive  because it's near be Exeter. These things are the most important thins I wanna know at this moment. When I've questions, I'll post here again. In the mean time thanks.

[Andreas Jonsson]

Hi,

Central Toronto isn't great for sandpipers, at least not compared to what you are probably used to in the Netherlands. You can find some at the Leslie Street Spit and at the beach on Toronto Islands. But, I have never seen great numbers there, and these are areas with lots of people moving around, so wading birds tend to take off rather quickly. The other option is to visit lagoons outside the city, but I have no experience from that, since I don't own a car. Other people on the forum may be able to advice you.

When exactly are you coming? Mid summer can  be a little dull in terms of birds. Well, you have all the local residents, which I'm sure will be interesting to you if you've never been here before, but there won't be much migrants.

Let us know when you arrive here (send me a pm), if you want to join up and go for a hike to the Spit or the Island.

[nijnoss]

Thanks for the reply, I'll be in Toronto in the Middle of August.

[Bird Brain]

Hello.

How long will you be visiting Toronto for?

If you have time, definitely check out High Park.  Colonel Samuel Smith Park is great too!

Humber Bay Park and the Toronto Islands are beautiful places as well!

Jo-Anne  

[Kin Lau]

For the middle of August, it's probably best to check out the reports from last August in the Ontbirds archives

http://mailman.hwcn.org/pipermail/ontbi ... /date.html
http://mailman.hwcn.org/pipermail/ontbi ... /date.html
http://mailman.hwcn.org/pipermail/ontbi ... /date.html
http://mailman.hwcn.org/pipermail/ontbi ... /date.html

For sandpipers in August in Toronto, I usually go to beaches that don't have a lot of people. Oshawa's Second Marsh usually works well, and that's a pond there with good mudflats.

But Exeter does have a good sewage lagoon. Here's the directions from one of the reports

Directions:

Exeter lagoons are west of Exeter (30 miles north of London on Highway #4).
Go west to the first concession (Airport Line) and turn left, south.
Proceed to the second gate on the left, park without blocking the gate and
walk in. Just a reminder that you are required to have and display on your
dashboard, a valid, free, yearly pass to the lagoons which can be obtained
at the municipal office in Exeter during business hours. Office is at the
corner of Main and Sanders, in the same building as the library. By the
way, the library has a pretty decent bird section, with even a Sibleys and
a Tavener's Birds of Canada....

[nijnoss]

So Toronto isn't the best place to watch sandpipers? Is Long Point ore Hamilton better for shorebirds? Kin lau, can you post the link from your Quote? At this moment we don't know for how long we stay in Toronto, but that would be sure a couple of days. But I'am sure i've read that Humber bay is a good pleace for shorebirds. Do you know more about Long Point and de places around the Niagara falls? And are there some people who know more about places around Londen? Thanks a lot for al te replies. It helps me a lot!

[Kin Lau]

If you're here by Aug 8, there's an OFO field trip near London. Emailed Dave Milsom www.ofo.ca , and look at the "Field Trips" on the right side, especially at the "Past Field Trip Reports".

[Andreas Jonsson]

Since moving to Toronto more than 5 five years ago (from Sweden), I've tended to switch my birding interests from waders to passerine species (for which Toronto is great, particularly during migration) because of the lack of easily accessible shorebird habitat in the vicinity of Toronto. Maybe I'm being a bit negative, but honestly when it comes to shorebirds Toronto simply cannot compete with coastal sites with vast mudflats. Here, you are limited to finding migrating shorebirds in various lagoons around the city.

Maybe other Toronto birders have different experiences?

All I am saying is that you may want to design you birding according to what the sites here are best at offering in terms of birds. For example, in the second half of August you will start seeing some movements of migrating songbirds through the area. Toronto Island acts as a migrant trap, and can be pretty awesome on some days (20+ warbler species are not unusual). Hawk watching in High Park during migration can also be pretty amazing, but I believe you may be visiting a bit too early in the season for that.

[Bird Brain]

places around Londen?

If you'd been visiting in the Spring or Fall, I would have recommended Sifton Bog in London but apparently in the Summer, you will get eaten alive by mosquitos!   :shock:   So much for that idea.  Usually a wonderful place for birds, butterflies and wildlife.

[David Shilman]

...Do you know more about Long Point and de places around the Niagara falls?

Regardless of the birding opportunities, you should really see the Falls just for their natural beauty.

[killdozer]

I've never encountered a single mosquito at Sifton Bog... perhaps they don't like me. I've also found little in the way of birdlife there.

Rock Point Provincial Park is close to 3 hours by car from Exeter, though it would likely be a fruitful trip.

Much closer to London and Exeter are:

The West Perth Wetlands

The Pinery Provincial Park

Rondeau Provincial Park

Strathroy Sewage Lagoons (west of Strathroy on Pike Road between Napperton Drive (County Road 39) and Melbourne Road (County Road 9)

All good for shorebirds in fall migration, and do not require special permission to enter.

Also, consider Wildwood Conservation Area, near St Mary's and Komoka Provincial Park, near London. Hawk Cliff will also have some migration activity in August, and Port Stanley will have gulls, terns and shorebirds.

good birding

stuart

[nijnoss]

Thanks for all the replies. We know sure that we go to Toronto, surroundings of Exeter, Manitoulin Island, Pelee Island and Algonquin. I almost know enough. I've looked at the Sibley guide and there were a couple  of birds about which I want to know more about. This are the birds:
Eastern Screech-Owl (what's the best way to see/hear this bird and are there some good pleaces?)
Northern Saw-Whet Owl (what's the best way to see/hear this bird and are there some good pleaces?)
Long-tailed duck (is this bird present in August?)
Surf Scoter (is this bird present in August?)
White-winged scoter (is this bird present in August? And are the White-winged scoter in this area Deglandi ore Fusca?)
Golden eagle (Is it possible to see this bird?)
Upland sandpiper (Are there some good pleaces for it?)
Northern Hawk Owl (Can I see it for example in Algonquin?)
Whip-poorwill (what's the best way to see/hear this bird and are there some good pleaces?)
Tufted titmouse (Is it difficult to see this bird and are there some good places for it?)
Hooded warbler (Is it difficult to see this bird and are there some good places for it?)
Northern Cardinal (It would be very nice if I see this bird, is it difficult to see it and are there some good places for it?)
Pine grosbeak (Is it possible to see it for example in Algonquin?)
Thanks a lot!

[Kin Lau]

Eastern Screech Owl. There should be an easy one in Point Pelee NP. Ask at the office, the directions are very specific - you have to count the number of trees from a particular road. It was so well camoflouged that even tho I had the exact directions, it still took me a while to find it.

Your best bet for Saw-whets might be Algonquin.

Long-tailed ducks - a few are present in Lake Ontario sometimes, but not easy to find. The boat traffic doesn't help, but the Toronto Islands might be your best bet.

Scoters in Aug will be very difficult. That's usually a winter bird for us.

Upland Sandpiper - very easy in the Carden Alvar, approx 1.5hrs north of Toronto. It's on the way to Algonquin. You'll likely want to catch Carden as early as possible in Aug.

Golden Eagles and NHO are very unlikely for Aug.

I believe there's a fairly reliable Tufted titmouse in the Royal Botanical Gardens, but I don't know how easy it's going to be in Aug.

I don't know how accessible Red-necked Grebes are in the Netherlands, but there's usually an extremely accessible nest in Bronte Harbour just west of Toronto.

[Pat Hodgson]

If you can't find a northern cardinal in Exeter or London you should retire from birding. :wink:
Have you found the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas web site?  There you can see where a particular species is most common.  Hooded warbler is best found in some of the forests near Long Point.  If you are in the right place they are usually not hard to see as they stay close to ground level or low in trees.  Whippoorwill can sometimes be found in Carden (same place very good for upland sandpiper) by driving around at dusk and looking for eyeshine - I don't think they'll be calling in August.  For owls you will be very unlikely to find one at random, ask provincial park staff for tips on specific locations.   Tufted titmouse can be found in some parts (residential areas with trees and shrubs) of the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, although it is easier in the winter when they are going to feeders more, they are there all year.  Pine grosbeak is pretty unlikely in the summer in Algonquin.
Agree with previous on ducks, eagle, hawk-owl: very unlikely.