Oakville

[JTF]

I will be in Oakville visiting family from 24-31 March and would to visit some birding areas in that area. No issues with driving a couple of hrs if needed. Thanks for any info.

[Moira]

I'm not the expert (living in Durham Region), but you would be handy to all the wonderful places along the lake (or close by):
Humber Bay East & West, High Park, Lambton Woods
Port Credit
LaSalle Marina/Burlington Lift Bridge

I'll let others chime in as well.

[Luv2Bird]

Humber bay , Lambton woods and High Park etc. are in  Etobicoke and heart of Toronto respectively.
Oakville area has many little parks along the lake ... one being Coronation Park.  There's also access to the lake from a street called Holyrood -- west of Winston Churchill.  There are several lakefront promenades .. access through walkways between houses.  You need to drive a bit and if you have a GPS you can see which roads go down to the lake.
You might also try Bronte Harbour at the foot of Hwy. 25, and the marina right in Oakville , South off Forsythe Rd. / Chisholm.  I think it's  the mouth of Sixteen mile creek.  Good luck.

[Bird Brain]

Arkendo Park - Oakville.  (Arkendo Dr., 1 street West of Winston Churchill, runs South off Lakeshore Rd.).  Nice spot by Lake Ontario and interesting woods here.  

Perhaps check out the following places in South Mississauga:

Rattray Marsh
Riverwood Park
Erindale Park

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North Mississauga:

Lake Wabukayne ... male Wood Duck will probably still be there.    You might luck out and see the Mink too.  

Lots of hawks lately at Lake Aquitaine and Maplewood Park.

Timothy Street Park.

Meadowvale Conservation Area.

Osprey Marsh and Woods.

Jo-Anne  

[Ron Luft]

Additional to Arkendo Pk. on N. side of Lakeshore 40M to the west is an Oakville Sewage treatment facillity with park/trail around it. is northerly continuation of Arkendo Park along Joshua Creek. May not be it's best time of year but also try Shell Park further west (W.of Bronte Harb). All these posts and Google maps and I think your covered and busy! Good luck.

[Tyler]

" No issues with driving a couple of hrs if needed."

If that is the case then Get your backside down to Long point area (1-1.5 hrs sw of oakville) for a day. Alot of the previously mentioned areas will still have good sightings. However by that time the ice is gone an birds are scattered or left on migration. (the liftbridge Peregrines obviously will still be there)

Long Point Fisherville area from mid march to late May is well worth the trip. End of march there will be species there like Tundra Swans (prrbably a 1000+ still loitering) mid march is when one can see 5000+ Tundras,  Breeding Sandhill Cranes and Bald Eagles, 10,000+ waterfowl including ALOT of Canvasbacks (thousands), the yearly 1-3 Eurasian wigeons, One can easily get 20 species of waterfowl down there in  morning. Early migrants like Tree Swallows, Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe, Little Gulls, Yellow-rumped and Pine warblers, etc. and etc. As much as I live inthe local wetlands of oshawa area in spring, I make sure I get to Long point at least 3 times a spring. Never dissappointed.  Also the carolinian forests around long point are quite impressive as well.

Late March In fisherville will have breeding Screech owls, Bald eagles, Great horned Owls, Turfted titmice, eastern bluebirds, Wintering bird such as Red-headed Woodpecker (irish line and river road), Short-eared owl, both phases of rough-legged hawks and golden Eagle should still be around. and the RBwoodpeckers now are in every woodlot down there it seems.

Closer to oakville other good spots are the beamer C.A. Hawkwatch in Grimsby. In the right weather it is quite enjoyable.
NW of Oakville is Mountsberg C.A. the large shallow reservoir is a great spot for migrants from late march to early may.

Cheers

 tyler

[JTF]

Thanks alot Moira; Luv2Bird; Bird Brain; Ron, & Tyler. Much appreciated.

[Misty01]

I work in oakville Paul, but I'm on nights; if you want to go to beamers for the hawk watch I head back to hamilton 630am each morning. We could stop at the lift bridge and windamere basin on the way.
You should check out rattray marsh, bronte creek and if you go up trafalgar there are a lot of good spots on country roads once you pass the 407. Crystal
PS Tyler I'd love to go to long point/fisherville pm next time you go I wouldn't mind tagging along  

[niani.gil]

This topic is an absolutely wonderful resource for birding in this area. I am going to save this for future use. Thanks to all for contributing. Nigil

[niani.gil]

Just a quick query about the Burligton lift bridge area. I am thinking of going to get some shots of the peregerines. The last time I was there, I could not find a good parking area. And somebody well versed with area, if you could advise me when would the light be best - morning or eveing.

Thanks.

Nigil

[Misty01]

hey Nigil, the parking lot is closed due to construction so you have to park in the lift bridge lot, as soon as you get off the bridge (heading towards Niagra) there is a driveway on your right hand side. It's a pretty big lot and will put you on the right side to view the nest. Afternoon/evening would be your best chance for light or atleast that's what I have found. GL   Crystal

[niani.gil]

Thanks Crystal. This is very helpful advice.

Shall post if I am lucky
Nigil