Visiting Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Holiday Beach is a September and October destination, which makes it the natural counterweight to the spring sites. Same drive, same region, completely different kind of birding.
Getting there
| From | Distance | Drive | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leamington / Point Pelee | ~60 km | 50 minutes | — |
| Windsor, ON | ~35 km | 30 minutes | — |
| Detroit, MI | ~60 km | 1 hour + border | — |
| Toronto, ON | ~390 km | 4 hours | — |
Distances and times are approximate, and assume you are not sitting in traffic.
Which day to pick
A day with a northwest wind in the second half of September. Wind direction matters more here than anywhere else on this list. Get it wrong and the birds are simply somewhere else.
Parking and entry
Conservation area parking on site. Expect it to be busy on the September hawk festival weekend.
A day that works
Mid-morning
Up on the tower
Raptor movement builds with the thermals, so unlike the songbird sites there is nothing to gain from a pre-dawn start. Late morning to mid-afternoon is the window.
Through the afternoon
Stay put
Hawk watching is a sitting game. The official counters are up on the tower and are generally happy to point out what is coming, which makes for a very good free identification lesson.
Late afternoon
The marsh trails
Once the flight slows, the woodland and marsh edges hold sparrows, late warblers and waterfowl.
What is on site
- The hawk observation tower, which is the reason to come
- Trails through marsh and woodland for a slower morning
- Washrooms and picnic areas
- Camping on site
What to bring
- More layers than you think you need, especially after September
- A folding chair, because you will be in one spot for hours
- Sunscreen and a brimmed hat, since the tower has no shade
- Image-stabilised binoculars if you have them
Forgot something?
Pelee Wings Nature Store is at 636 Point Pelee Dr. in Leamington, open 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day. Straps, harnesses, rain covers and field guides, plus the largest stock of binoculars in Canada to compare side by side.
Holiday Beach sightings, as they happen
A short email whenever something worth driving for turns up, for the rest of the season. We will not send you a catalogue or a daily digest.
One email a week in season. Unsubscribe any time.
Official information
Fees, opening hours and shuttle times change from year to year. Check them at the source rather than taking our word for it.