What is the best Provincial Campground for birding in July

[fill23ca]

I always take the family (wife and two kids, 12 and 7) to a provincial campground in July every summer for one or two weeks.  Last summer we spent 8 days at Bronte Creek which is where I really got started with birding.  Robins, orioles, warblers, blackbirds and more were everywhere.  I took lots of pics of them and then bought Sibley's Birds of Eastern North America to try and i.d. all of them and have been hooked ever since.
I was wondering what provincial sites some of you might recommend for its birding and why (quality of trails, different species, unique birds etc).

Thanks

[Photoman]

Greetings Mr.Jill23ca

        I find birding at Carden Alvar in July is fantastic. I've seen Blue Birds, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Commen Snipes, Eastern Toehees, Loggerhead Shrikes, American Bitterns, Blue Jays, Wild Turkeys, many Sparrows, Blue Herons, Ospreys, Turkey Vultures, Hawks, Thrashers, Upland Sandpipers, Whitetail Deer, Racoons and many birders. To reach Carden, follow Hwy 48 to Kirkfield and head north on Hwy 6 to Wylie Rd off of McNamee Rd. This road is about 10km long and you can do your birding from your car. You can camp at Balsam Lake Provicial Park about 20Km East from Kirkfield. Also you can check out other birding spots in the area. Eldon Station Rd, Prospect Rd and Centennial Park Rd. All these roads are great for birds, alot of open fields and fence posts to spot them. I would suggest to get a MapArt Road Atlas of Ontario, it would help you very much on finding these roads.
Good luck

Good birding to all

Mr"X"
Clemens

[Dr. John]

The Pinery is on Lake Huron, just near Sarnia. It is a good provincial park for kids because it has toilets and running water at campsites, few mosquitoes (sandy soil that drains), a great beach, and a nice visitor centre with activities. It also is quite good for birds, with multiple nature trails through the Carolinian forest, along the river and marsh habitat, and near the beach. We've seen catbirds, orioles, various warblers, nuthatches, various woodpeckers, turkey vultures, and lots more. Not necessarily a park to go to just for birding, but a good park for families that also has birds.

-John

[Mark D]

Algonquin is a great park.  It has 13 different trails along the highway 60 corridor of varying length and difficulty, many of them good for birding.  As for the birds, Algonquin has decidious forests with wood thrush, scarlet tananger, and other sothern birds.  It also has northern forests with spruce grouse, boreal chickadee ect. (although i've had the most luck with these species arount thanksgiving).  But it is also a good overall park, with a visitor centre, evening programs and good swimming beaches.

Mark

[Tyler]

If you  family has not alot of experince with camping I would suggest Darlington P.P. just east of Oshawa. It is one of the better places in Ontario for august fall migration of warblers. In June/July there are nesting Cooper's Hawks, Mourning Warblers, and Indigo Buntings  to entertain you in the campground. and a short hike to the west of the park brings you to the largest coastal wetland remaining in the GTA . Oshawa Second Marsh. It is easy to see 50+ species here in mid summer including Sedge, Marsh, and House Wrens, 10+ waterfowl species, Black, Common and Caspian Terns, Clay -coloured Sparrows, Northern Mockingbirds and Orchard Orioles. plus lots of dragonflies, butterflies and mammals  and sand beaches

Also there is usually 1-2 pairs of Red-headed woodpeckers nesting within 5km of the park.  Other locations such as Thickson's wood and Cranberry marsh are within 20 mins of the park. Carden Plain is just over an hour north of the park as well

[fill23ca]

Thanks for the imput guys. My family and myself are experienced campers. No deep woods stuff but camp about 5 times each summer with one being for 10-12 days in July.  My fav is Aweneda but that was before I was interested in birding and I'm not sure if it is good for that.  That being said, camping is mainly for my kids who show very little interest in the birding (yet) so thanks for the opinions on Darlington and Pinery and everyone else who answered and any more that may.

[christie]

I really like Presquille (sp?) in Brighton. It has some reallt nice trails. we go there all year round for bird watching.

[adonbirder]

I would second the Pinery ,great for kids and some neat wildlife around even in summer, you can get tufted titmice to feed out of your hand with the chickadees
There are nesting Bald Eagles on the river through the park, one of the best spots for nesting red-headed woodpeckers aand a great visitor center.