Birding the north shore of Lake Erie
Four sites within an hour of each other, each peaking at a different time with a different set of birds. Which one is worth your day depends entirely on the week you are coming, and on what you are willing to carry.
We write these from 636 Point Pelee Dr. in Leamington, about three kilometres from the Point Pelee gate. The timings come from watching the same seasons arrive, year after year, from behind the counter.
Three kilometres from the park gate
Point Pelee National Park
The best spring warbler migration in North America. We happen to be the closest optics shop to the gate.
- Season
- Late March to early June
- Next
- Late March – mid April
In season nowTen minutes north of the store
Hillman Marsh Conservation Area
The shorebird half of a Point Pelee trip, and the reason to bring a scope.
- Season
- Late April to early June, then again July to September
- Now
- July – September
In season nowFifty minutes west of the store
Holiday Beach Conservation Area
One of the largest autumn raptor migrations in North America, watched from a tower you can stand on.
- Season
- Late August to late November
- Now
- Mid – late September
An hour east of the store
Rondeau Provincial Park
Point Pelee’s quieter neighbour, with Carolinian forest and breeding Prothonotary Warbler.
- Season
- Late April to early July
- Next
- Late April – mid May
Plan next spring migration at Point Pelee
We send arrival timings and trip-planning notes ahead of each season, so you can pick your dates before the good weekends fill up.
One email a week in season. Unsubscribe any time.
Coming from out of town?
Every destination has a trip-planning page with drive times from Toronto, Detroit and Ohio, parking, and a day plan that actually works.