Birding at Long Point / Port Rowan

Date:     Saturday, 25 October, 2025

Time:     8:30 am

Duration:     All day

Location:    Meet at the commuter parking lot on Homer Watson Blvd. just south of Highway 401, where we will carpool as much as possible.

Leader:    David Gascoigne
email:    davidmgascoigne@gmail.com
Phone: 519 725-0866 Cell: 226 747-7299

Description:   

Our first stop will be at Port Rowan Harbour, when winter ducks should have started to move in, and some Tundra Swans will still be on the water. Bald Eagles are often seen here, and passerines around the shore; sometimes even a few late migrant warblers.

From there we will go to the headquarters of Birds Canada to look out over the pond where several duck species often congregate. One year an Eastern Screech Owl had taken up residence in the Wood Duck nest box and was there to greet us all. A walk though the grassy area should turn up a variety of sparrows.

As we travel along Lakeshore Drive towards Lee Brown Waterfowl Area we will scan the fields for Sandhill Cranes, sometimes present by the thousand. Large flocks of Canada Geese are often intermingled with them.  Lee Brown sometimes hosts a remarkable mix of waterfowl and at other times is empty. We’ll take our chances.

As we drive along the causeway we’ll stop when safe to do so to view the waterfowl on Lake Erie. American Coot is often present. Bald Eagles are generally seen, feeding on fish and injured waterfowl. Sometimes a Merlin pursues songbirds through the trees that line the causeway. We’ll probably check from the observation tower at Big Creek Marsh. Who knows what we might see?

At Old Cut we’ll walk through the woodlot, where a variety of passerines are possible. Woodpeckers and nuthatches make their home there. In recent years a Tufted Titmouse has often been seen at the feeders near the banding station.

Depending on time, and participant enthusiasm and stamina, we’ll check out other spots, especially if we are privy to news of “good” birds in the area.