The following are the additions to the HSA Birding Locations list on November 8, 2014.
5th Road, Saltfleet Township — Fields along this road often flood in spring, allowing for views of shorebirds and waterfowl.
10th Road, Saltfleet Township — A hotbed of bird activity, especially in winter months and during migrations.
Audrey Nicolson Management Area, Dundas (Conservation Halton) — From Dundas take York Road to Valley Road, then turn onto Patterson Road, and at Wesley Avenue drive to the dead end and park there. Trails are quite overgrown and rutted, most are old road allowances.
Beverly Swamp Conservation Area, Flamborough Township (Hamilton Region Conservation Authority) ? 1477 Safari Road, between Westover Rd and Valens Rd. Please be warned that unlike most conservation areas, the HCA does allow hunting on this property.
Billy Monkley Bird Sanctuary, Hamilton — parking off Dartnall Road south of Stone Church Road.
Brant Conservation Area, Brantford (Grand River Conservation Authority) — Follow signs from Highway 53 to Oakhill Drive to 119 Jennings Road. Park fee required.
Cartwright Nature Sanctuary, Dundas (Hamilton Naturalists’ Club / Conservation Halton) — see directions for Berry Tract, follow Thornapple Loop Trail to the Bruce W. Duncan Memorial Trail to enter the property.
CCIW (Canadian Centre for Inland Waters), Burlington — Also known as Northeast Shore on interpretive signs. Nesting colonies for terns and cormorants in Hamilton Harbour. Enter at junction of Lakeshore Road and Eastport Drive.
Chippewa Rail Trail, Glanbrook & Haldimand County (Hamilton Conservation Authority & Haldimand County) — Former Georgia-Pacific Rail line, runs from Hamilton to Caledonia. Starts at Dartnall Road next to the Billy Monkley Bird Sanctuary, ends in Caledonia,and can be entered at any crossing but only some have parking available.
City View Park, Burlington (municipal) From Hwy 5 turn down Kerns Road, multiple entrances. Follow Bruce Trail blue trail to open fields where many less common sparrow species are often found.
Clappison Woods / Clappison Pond, Waterdown (Municipal, Conservation Halton, Bruce Trail Conservancy) also known as RONA Ponds. Stormwater pond and woodlands with trails. Park at Wal-mart and walk behind to find trails. Alternatively, park at the dead end of Old Guelph Road (where it used to meet Hwy 6) and hike Bruce Trail in.
Coldspring Valley (McMaster University) — former RBG Sanctuary, now the West Campus of McMaster. Some habitat still remains, and restoration work of Coldwater Creek is currently underway. Parking fee is charged, some trails still present.
Confederation Park, Hamilton (Hamilton Conservation Authority) — Two parking areas. One, just off Van Wagner’s Beach Road just past Barangas at the Beach. The second is at Grey’s Road, park on the road just north of Frances Avenue.
Currie Tract — see Halton Regional Forest Complex.
Delsey Wetlands / Lake Jojo, Dundas – Near the Desjardins Canal, park at Volunteer Field, and hike past the ball field to the stormwater pond. Hidden trails lead along stream to Lake Jojo, a portion of Cootes Paradise severed from the wetland long ago. Alternatively park at Olympic Park (opposite the arena) and hike old trail along Lake Jojo.
Dofasco Trail, Saltfleet Township (Hamilton Conservation Authority & Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority) — Trail follows old Concession 4 road allowance of Saltfleet Township. Also passes through Devil’s Punch Bowl Conservation Area and Vinemount Conservation Area. Parking available at various roads that intersect, including Ridge Road, First Road E, Second Road E, 3rd Road E, Tapleytown Road, 5th Road, 8th Road, 10th Road, and 11th Road.
Edgelake Park, Stoney Creek (municipal) – Along the south side of Church Street, Stoney Creek. Take North Service Road to Teal Avenue, to Church Street.
Eramosa Karst Conservation Area, Stoney Creek (Hamilton Conservation Authority) — One of Hamilton’s newest conservation areas. From Hamilton take Stone Church Road to Stoney Creek, and at the junction with Mt Albion Road, turn right (south). Conservation area parking is on the left. (Parking fee or HCA Pass required)
Fallsview Road / Dyment’s Farm, Dundas — This road often has Snow Buntings and companion species in the winter. From Dundas take Sydenham Road up the escarpment and at the second intersection turn left. The first farm on the right is where they are often sighted.
Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve, Puslinch Township (Hamilton Conservation Authority) Parking on on east side of Concession 7 just north of Gore Road. Also a couple parking spots on Gore Road just east of Lennon Road.
Foxden Road Trail, Troy, Flamborough (road allowance) — In Troy, park along Troy Road anywhere near Foxden Road. Follow Foxden Road past the dead end, old road continues to Concession 2 W. No entrance from Concession 2 W, fenced off.
Grindstone Woods, Burlington (Conservation Halton / Bruce Trail Conservancy) — From Hwy. 6 take Old York Road east to Snake Road. Take Snake Road north until the Bruce Trail signs. Grindstone Woods is on the right (east).
Halton Regional Forest Complex, Halton Region (Conservation Halton) — See this PDF map for trails and parking spots: http://www.halton.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=26361
Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail (Hamilton Conservation Authority & Grand River Conservation Authority) — 32 km trail that passes through many good birding spots. See GRCA webpage for details: http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=21&Sub1=86&sub2=0
Hardy Road Trails, Brantford (Grand River Conservation Authority) — A number of trails along the Grand River. Parking at approximately 260 Hardy Road.
Kerncliff Park, Burlington (Conservation Halton) — From Burlington take North Service Road west, then turn at Kerns Road. Park entrance is just before the road climbs the escarpment.
Kitchens Road Trail, Copetown (road allowance) — From Dundas take Governor’s Road west. After Copetown, park at the T-junction of Orkney Road. The closed road heading south is formerly Kitchens Road, which can be hiked to Powerline Road. You can also park at Powerline Road, though there is less room to do so.
Lafarge Trail, Flamborough (Hamilton Conservation Authority) – Non-continuous trail that fills in between old sections of Middletown Road. Passes through significant portions of the Beverly Swamp.
McCormack Trail, Dundas (Hamilton Conservation Authority) Park at end of farm laneway on Governor’s Road just west of the DVCA main entrance. The laneway is the trail for a while, and two main loops exist, one is sometimes closed depending on farm activities. Small pond off the laneway up the hill sometimes has Wood Ducks.
McMaster Conservation Corridor / Mac Forest, Ancaster (McMaster University research space) — from Hamilton take Main Street West towards Ancaster until it becomes Wilson Street, then take Lower Lion’s Club Road at the bend. 100m in, park on the north side of the road.
Meister Tract, Flamborough (Grand River Conservation Authority) – North of Lockie Road / Concession 6 W on Sager Road. Full loop trail.
Old Westover Tract, Flamborough – Take Concession Road 6 W west of Westover, park where the powerlines pass over. Trail leads north, narrow public tract.
Olympic Woods, Dundas (Royal Botanical Gardens) — Park behind Olympic Ice Surface Arena at 70 Olympic Drive. Trails behind the garden, good spot for winter species. Overgrown in summer.
Rockcliffe Trails, Waterdown (Conservation Halton) 73 Rockcliffe Road, numerous trails, connects to Clappison Woods.
Ruthven Park, Haldimand County — National Historic Site and Bird Banding station. Address is 243 Haldimand Hwy. #54.
Safari Road Marsh, Flamborough — Between Kirkwall Road and Westover Road, marsh is on both sides of the road. Parking is sparse, and there is not enough room at the marsh. Park on the side of the road on either side of the marsh, or at Hyde Tract up the road and hike down.
Shade’s Mill Conservation Area, Cambridge (Grand River Conservation Authority) 412 Avenue Road, east of Franklin Boulevard. Fee required.
Shaw Tract, Flamborough (Ministry of Natural Resources crown land) Very small parking spot, just north of Transcanada facility on Valens Road north of Safari Road. Be aware this is crown land where hunting is legal.
Skunk’s Misery, Ancaster (Hamilton Conservation Authority) West end of Dundas Valley CA, referenced many times in the Birds of Hamilton book. Park at end of Powerline Road E, Ancaster, or near the tower at Paddy Greene Road (no winter maintenance).
Spencer Creek Trail, Dundas — Trail is non-continuous, multiple access points. Mill Street Section: Park along Mill Street, trail runs beside Mill Street and loops over into the wooded area across the creek. Downtown/Chegwin Park section: Park along road where Chegwin Street and Central Park Avenue meet. Eastern/Rotary section: Former Dundas & Hamilton Rail line, park across from Canadian Tire, trail runs to Cootes Drive. Cootes Section: Park on side of Hamilton-bound lane of Cootes Drive, can access Rotary section, or cross Cootes Drive and enter Cootes Paradise from here, in the one remaining section of “The Willows” that is still open to the public.
Spencer Woods, Dundas (Hamilton Conservation Authority) – At Cootes Drive, take Reg. Road 99 (Dundas St) to Thorpe, go across bridge to Meadow Lane, park at dead end. Trails lead along Spencer Creek and past some marshland.
Sulphur Creek Trail, Dundas (Hamilton Conservation Authority) — From Dundas take Old Ancaster Road to Turnbull Road, and park at the dead end. Trail starts here.
Summit Muskeg Preserve, Copetown (Hamilton Conservation Authority) Parking lots at junction of Powerline Road and Trinity Road south of Copetown. Take Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail east to observation platform at Summit Station to view the muskeg.
Urquhart Butterfly Garden, Dundas – Parking just off King Street next to Hamilton Airforce Club.
Warren Park, Dundas (municipal, Hamilton Conservation Authority) — from Dundas take Governor’s Road to Tally Ho (street), and follow until you reach its junction with Lantern Lane. Across from Lantern Lane is the entrance.
Waterdown North Wetland Trails / Joe Sams Leisure Park, Waterdown. From south end park on Victoria Street, trail begins at Parkside Drive. From the north end, park at Joe Sams Leisure Park along Centre Road.
Westover Road Tract, Flamborough (Hamilton Conservation Authority) – Old closed section of Westover Road from Concession 3W and Westover Road T-junction. Take trail south to the creek. Creek is shallow so with proper gear one can cross the creek to other side.