North Shore of Lake Ontario
North Shore of Lake Ontario
Date: Saturday, 19 September, 2026
Time: 8:00 am
Duration: All day
Location: Meet at the commuter parking lot on Highway 6 just south of Highway 401. We will carpool from there.
Leader: David Gascoigne
Email: davidmgascoigne@gmail.com
Cell: 226 747-7299
Description: First stop will be at the DesJardins Canal in Dundas, ON where a wide range of waterfowl is possible, including close views of Hooded Merganser. In September this location is almost a certainty for adult and juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons. Carolina Wren has been present during recent visits.
After leaving DesJardins we will make a stop at Grindstone Creek with a short foray into Hendrie Valley Sanctuary. Here you stand a chance to have a Downy Woodpecker feed from your hand. There will be other passerines and a broad selection of waterfowl, gulls and possibly Caspian Tern.
We will then head to LaSalle Park in Burlington where the first Trumpeter Swans of the fall should be present, in addition to gulls, a few lingering terns, cormorants, grebes and waterfowl. A walk along the boardwalk through the wooded area might yield Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, woodpeckers, sparrows and, for those who enjoy doing it, the chance to hand feed Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches. Many other common passerines should be seen.
We will then check out Paletta Park where the wooded area and the lakeshore often yield good birding. Migratory warblers are often numerous at this location.
If time permits we will check at Bronte Harbour in Oakville, and Lakefront Promenade in Mississauga, where both Horned and Red-necked Grebes are possible, and possibly Fish Crows at Bronte. Migratory Common Loons are sometimes present.
There is no shortage of washroom stops along this route and we will stop somewhere to have lunch together.
What to Bring: This is a full day’s outing so be sure to pack a lunch and snacks if you need them. Dress according to the weather, bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, a field guide and lots of enthusiasm.
Registration is required.
Members and non-members are welcome but everyone will need to sign an insurance waiver.
