Lake Shore Rarities

Along Lake Ontario, birds are drawn year-round to diverse wooded, brushy, evergreen, and open grassy habitats. Migrating birds follow regular routes between breeding and non-breeding areas twice each year, while irruptive migrations occur unpredictably in fall or winter, often involving species from the far north moving southward, with early signs often detected in migration concentration areas such as this state park. From late April to early June, up to 25 species of brightly colored wood warblers may appear, some passing through and others nesting locally. In spring, many migrating birds gather here to feed and rest, including hawks such as Merlin and Sharp-shinned Hawk that take advantage of concentrated songbirds, while local breeders such as Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Cardinal remain through summer. Fall migration begins by late July as species such as Yellow Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, and Least Flycatcher move south, and it lasts longer than spring migration, with some late migrants lingering into early winter. Among rare migrants are Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross's Goose, and Cackling Goose, which may stray beyond their usual range. Irruptive birds that occasionally appear include Long-eared Owl, White-winged Crossbill, Horned Lark, and Northern Saw-whet Owl, and in irruption years the evergreen groves may also shelter the very rare Boreal Owl.

Wilson, New York · United States