Long Point Provincial Park.
Long Point Provincial Park is a sandspit that extends out from the north shore of Lake Erie with extensive marshes, wooded dunes, and beaches. This land formation tends to funnel the birds and during migration is a prime spot for migrating species of waterfowl and warblers and other migrating passerines. Rarities are often sighted here in spring and virtually all the warbler species seen in Canada pass through here. The Long Point Bird Observatory has a bird banding station located there, which gives one the opportunity to get a close look at common and not-so-common species as they are caught in the mist nets. Their telephone number is: 519-586-3531. The nearest town is Port Rowan. From highway #401 west of Woodstock and east of London - take #19 south to #3 east and south on #59 to the park at Lake Erie.
Ottawa and surrounding area.
Located within city limits, The Britannia Conservation Area is a 5 kilometer stretch of shoreline and conservation area bordering Lac Des Chenes and the Ottawa River. Regarded as the best year-round birding hotspot in Ottawa, and nearly 250 species have been recorded here. Migration is the best time, and some of the areas to bird include the ridge on the north side of Cassels, where thrushes, vireos, warblers, and sparrows can be abundant, the stand of mature white pine and the pond and the trails leading off from the northwest corner of the pond. This is a good area for flycatchers, thrushes and sparrows. The narrow patch of scrub-land, bordered by a silver maple swamp near Pinecrest Creek can be good for thrushes, vireos and warblers. Warblers can be abundant throughout the area and 34 species have been recorded, including Yellow-throated, Prairie, Cerulean, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Connecticut, and Yellow-breasted Chat, which are some of the scarcer ones found in Ottawa. Ottawa Beach which can be accessed from Carling Avenue, is the best single locations for shore and water birding in Ottawa. The best time to bird here is late summer and autumn and 30 waterfowl and 35 shorebird species have been recorded. Merlin and Peregrine Falcon can both be found here at this time. Dick Bell Park a little further west along Carling Avenue is a good site in fall for ducks gulls and jaegers. Check the break-wall carefully for Purple Sandpiper as this is the most consistent location in Ottawa to find that species.
Carden Plain.
Carden Plain is located in central Ontario and consists of grassland and alvar, interspersed with scattered cropland, mixed woods, freshwater lake and marsh and some large wetlands. Breeding birds include Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Sandhill Crane, Least Bittern, Upland Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebirds and Eastern Meadowlark. Golden-winged and Chestnut-sided Warbler, Henslow’s, Clay-colored, Vesper, Field and Grasshopper Sparrow and Eastern Towhee can all be seen. It is also a reliable site to see Yellow Rail, which breeds here. Carden Plain is near Kirkfield, north of Toronto and to the east of Lake Simcoe.
Guildwood Park
Guildwood Park, 11 miles (18km) east of Toronto has a good mix of coniferous and deciduous woodland. Spring and autumn are probably the best times to birdwatch here, as during migration, large numbers of passerines pass through. Warblers can be abundant, and Tennessee, Blackburnian, Magnolia, Wilson’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers are all seen here. Vireos and flycatcher numbers can also be impressive. In winter, check out the shoreline for ducks. To get to Guildwood Park, take Highway 2 for 10 miles (16km) and exit south on Galloway Road. This takes you to the park entrance.
Niagara Falls.
The Niagara River above the Falls is generally acknowledged as the best place in North America to watch gulls, with 19 species recorded. Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls are regularly seen and Little, Iceland, Glaucous, Thayer's and California Gulls occur, but not as regularly. Black-legged Kittiwake, Sabine's, Franklin's, Laughing, Common Black-headed, Mew, Slaty-backed (recorded only once), Ross's are vagrants. Wintering Waterfowl include Loons and Grebes, Red-Breasted and Hooded Merganser, Mallard, American Wigeon, Common Goldeneye, Scaup, Canvasback and Redhead. Some recommended places to bird on the river are Peace Bridge, the International Railroad Bridge and Nichol's Marina. At "the falls" area itself, there are a several vantage points and any area overlooking the river holds possibilities. The hydro station between the falls and Queenston, “Sir Adam Beck” is a good spot for gulls late in the day. It is the best site for California Gull, and Thayer's, Iceland and Glaucous Gull can often be found around here.
Point Pelee National Park
Located 50 km (30 miles) south-east of Windsor, Ontario, this 10-kilometre sandspit on the southernmost tip of Canada's mainland is famous for its birding migration. This area is one of North America’s top ten “birding hotspots”, with an impressive checklist of 383 species. Each spring and fall thousands of birds are funnelled through this area. Warbler passage is fantastic in early to mid May and on many a day, over 20 species can be seen, along with large numbers of thrushes, sparrows and flycatchers. Warblers to look for during migration include Hooded, Blue-winged, Blackburnian, Prothonotary, Cerulean, Connecticut, Chestnut-sided, Golden-winged, Kirtland’s, Swainson’s, Mourning, Canada, Magnolia, Blackpoll, Nashville, Kentucky, Palm, Pine, Prairie, Worm-eating, Cape May, Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green and Wilson's Warblers, Northern and Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Parula, American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. Le Conte's, Grasshopper, Henslow's, Clay-coloured, White-crowned, White-throated and Harris Sparrows and all of the empidonax flycatchers occur during migration.
Rondeau Provincial Park.
Another peninsula of land on the north shore of Lake Erie east of Point Pelee and approximately 20km southeast of Blenheim is Rondeau Provincial Park. This migrant trap is excellent in spring and much less crowded than Point Pelee, but still has virtually all the same bird species passing through. Carolinian hardwoods occupy the main area of the park. Wet wooded sloughs occupy the area at the south point, which is excellent habitat for Prothonotary Warblers and Acadian Flycatchers. It is also a well known site for Grey-cheeked thrush and Red-headed Woodpecker as well as the many warbler species. Look for waterfowl in the bay, Woodduck in the wet wooded sloughs and shorebirds along beach areas and mudflats. To access the park, if travelling on the 401, get off at exit #90 and take Highway 40 south to Blenheim. From Blenheim take Highway 3 east and then Highway 51 south, which ends at the park gates.
Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto
If you are birdwatching around Toronto, then Tommy Thompson Park, which is a headland that juts out into Lake Ontario, is a highly recommended birding hotspot. It is an “all year” hotspot with large numbers of wildfowl in winter. The wooded areas are a migrant trap in spring and autumn for warblers, flycatchers and vireos, and the muddy margins hold good numbers of waders. In summer, ducks and herons breed and gulls and terns are plentiful. To get to the park from the city center take Lakeshore Boulevard to Leslie Street and go south to the park entrance. It is about 4½ miles (7km) from downtown Toronto.