Egrets, herons, etc.

[dbellilo]

Hello folks...
This is my first post here, and I hope you won't mind my asking for some advice from some of the more seasoned Toronto-area birdwatchers?
I am most interested in waterbirds, and wonder where I might go to see the greatest numbers of egrets and herons this time of year? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I live in the GTA but am certainly willing to travel a little ways. Also, what times of day are best to see the greatest number of egrets, herons, etc?
Thank you so much for your time and trouble!

[Andreas Jonsson]

Hi,

welcome to the forum. Have you seen the herons and egrets on Leslie Street spit? It is not my specialty, so others can perhaps recommend more locations. Use the search functionality to search for "egret" as I remember colonies have been discussed before. Don' t remember where.

As this is not a "report" I moved your post to the "Birding areas" section. Please read the guide in the "Toronto reports" section.

[dbellilo]

The Leslie Spit is terrific, of course. I've seen the cormorants and BCN herons nesting in trees, and a few egrets too. To see a stately egret nesting in a skinny tree is quite a thing! I'm wondering if anyone knows of any interesting marshy environments where one can go and take pictures. I recently traveled to Long Point and was terribly disappointed with the lack of access to any of the good spots there. I understand, of course, that the wildlife must be protected, but why that spot is touted as such a magnificent birding destination is quite lost on me...
Anyhow folks, any egret/heron hot-spots would be highly appreciated!

[Photoman]

Greetings

And welcome to the site, I find that G.Ross Reservoir located at Finch and Dufferin is a great place to see Egrets and 3 types of herons (blue, night and green). I have got my best heron shots there. It my be hit or miss with the egrets and green herons, but last year near the end of spring and the begining of summer was just fantastic. Right after work was the best time. To reach the reservoir head north on Dufferin passed Finch and take the second entrance and your right and follow it all the way to the horse stable parking lot and walk down toward the water. Bring your rubbers so you can walk out on the mud flats, you may also see shore birds as well. Hope that this info helps you. But do not go to the reservoir after a heavy rain fall, it fills up very quickly and will take 2-3 days to drain out.

Clemens

[dbellilo]

Thanks so much for the tip, I certainly appreciate it. I'll put the Finch/Dufferin spot on my list, and I'll keep you posted about that one.  Any other tips from other folks will be highly appreciated, and of course I'll share tips of my own as I further ensconce myself in the world of waterbird photography...

[Cody]

If you are ever in the Hamilton area, then stop by the Dundas Marsh.  It is great for Herons/Egrets and the occasional Pelican. You can see Blue, sometimes Green, Black-crowned Night, and many other species of birds (Warblers, Sparrows...).

Also, the Dundas Hydro Ponds sometimes have Herons.  Blue, Black-crowned Night, Green.   And probably some Egrets too.  There was a rare White-faced Ibis seen here 4 years ago.   Good luck!

[Wingnut]

Great Egrets are plentiful right now along the Upper Niagara River. They can be seen feeding in Frenchman's Creek along the Niagara Parkway. I live here and today I spotted two Black-Crowned Night Herons in a tree along the Parkway. Lots of herons around this year. Saw my first two Ruby throat Hummingbirds today fighting over our backyard feeder. Upper Niagara has a lot to offer not only in the Spring but all year round.

My wife & I went to Turkey Point on Saturday. Bumped into a bunch of birders at a lookout overseeing a nice view of low wetlands adjacent to Long Point. I lived in Ontario most of my life and this was my first visit to this part and I must say it is quite a beautiful area. The birders were telling me that this weekend mark the beginning of a birdathon. Is that some kind of contest? There was a couple of guys and gals in that group who were quite knowledgeable and if one of you are a reader in this forum I thank you for sharing some of your knowledge with me on that roadside. There were many birds sighted while at the lookout, from Kingbirds to Turkey Vultures. Don't know if they saw the vultures because when we left the group we spotted two about a kilometer up the road. Anyway, Long Point seems like a birdwatcher's paradise too.

[egret]

Hello:

Yesterday
we saw a Great Blue heron
at Hall's Road near Lynde Shores

lovely out that way

be sure to visit

Egret

[dbellilo]

Thanks so much for the tips, folks...
I had a wonderful visit to the Second Marsh in Oshawa and its surrounding areas. Was delighted to see at least 8 g.b. herons, a green heron, and four sandhill cranes. Was able to get very close to a pair of trumpeter swans, always a treat.
Speaking of Long Point...I was there two weeks ago and was very disappointed with the lack of access to the better birding areas. Turkey Point, too. It is the provincial parks that have always disappointed me the most. But who knows? One of the great joys of birding, as we all know, is the element of surprise! I have a few favorite local spots that are very different from hour to hour, day to day, season to season, and it is a great pleasure to visit and re-visit these spots...
Many thanks again for the great tips...