Depending on how far you want to travel.......
One of the hottest birding spots on the entire North American continent is in Ontario: Point Pelee. But its in far southwestern Ontario, just south and east of Detroit, near Leamington, along the northern shore of Lake Erie.
And in the latest (July-August) issue of WildBird magazine is an article on Amherst Island, which is in the northernmost end of Lake Ontario, just 12 miles west of Kingston, Ontario. I hadn't evevn heard of this place until this article arrived a few days ago, but it refers to Amhest as the "Owl Capital of North America". Let me quote from a short sidebar to the article:
"Although owl invasion years are the best time to visit Amherst Island, a trip during any winter can be exciting and productive. The first migrant Northern Saw-whet and Long-eared Owls start to arrive in late October, with lesser numbers found from December through February; peak numbers occur in early to mid-March. This results from a combination of northward migrants and lingering winter birds.
Boreal Owls are not always present, so it is a good idea to check the local bird reports. The most productive owling times are late February through March for a maximum number of migrants and wintering birds. By late March, Boreal Owls (if present) begin to disappear, but a wave of migrant saw-whets may be found in late March and early April. By mid-April, the owl show ends.
During spring, summer and fall, Amherst Island is a wonderful place to combine resident and migrating birds with a peaceful getaway. Ospreys and Wood Ducks nest on the island, and more than 20 shorebird species may be seen in late July and August during migration."
The island is accessible via ferry, for $5 round-trip, with departures beginning at 6:20 a.m. through 1:30 a.m., every 30 minutes, from the village of Millhaven.
You might check out
www.amherstisland.on.ca/index.html, which is a local website.
Ontario Fields Ornithologists are at
www.ofo.ca
