With numerous freshwater lakes, wetlands and wooded areas, Ontario County has many places for birding. Whether you’re a casual birdwatcher or an avid birder, there’s a spot nearby just waiting for you and your binoculars.
Cumming Nature Center
Sitting on 900-acres of land with an environmental education center and hiking trails, Cumming Nature Center (6472 Gulick Rd., Naples, N.Y.) is one of the best places in the county to see woodland birds. During migration, you’re likely to spot all of the common warblers and even some of the harder-to-spot ones, like the black-and-white warbler. If you're interested in wildlife beyond birds, considering joining in on a program like their Wild Walk series where you can learn more about the local ecology and the animals that call the area home.
The song sparrow and nuthatch are among the woodland birds at Cumming Nature Center in South Bristol.
Sandy Bottom Park
Located at the northern end of Honeoye Lake, Sandy Bottom Park (Jack Evans Dr., Honeoye, N.Y.) offers a variety of species and environments for birding and is also on the New York Birding Trail. If you're looking to spot waterfowl, take a seat by the beach and look out over Honeoye Lake. For a more woodsy experience, you’ll find a mile long nature trail that leads you through a wetland. This is a great place to see migrating warblers in the spring and fall, as well as beautiful resident species of songbirds.
Red-winged blackbirds & herons can be spotted in Sandy Bottom Park in Honeoye. Photo: John Van Niel
Canandaigua City Pier
Really, anywhere overlooking Canandaigua Lake is a fantastic place to view water birds and migrating snow geese. If your thing is dabbling and diving ducks, this is where you want to be. You won’t find many songbirds, so don’t expect too many pretty melodies. As far as viewing waterfowl, nothing beats this scenic lake.
MaryFrances Bluebird Haven
Known locally as "Victor's living classroom", MaryFrances Bluebird Haven (235 County Road 9, Victor, N.Y.) was specifically created to preserve New York’s state bird, the eastern bluebird. Trails take visitors through open field and wooded areas where you can see bluebirds and many common species in their natural habitat.
Risser Road Swamp
Risser Road Swamp (between Canandaigua-Farmington Townline Rd. and Emerson Rd., Canandaigua, N.Y.) is a swamp that straddles the road. Pull off to either side and you may encounter someone fishing on a lunch break, but if you go early or later in the day, you’ll likely see a warbler or two, some woodpeckers and a whole lot of swallows. During migration, this spot that is fairly ignored by humans is not ignored by shorebirds like yellowlegs, sandpipers and wigeons. The swampy, shallow waters provide a great stopover habitat for visiting birds. Note: there is no parking area at this site, be sure to watch safely or consider this a scenic detour!
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