South Coast Gardens

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The Birds of South Coast Gardens

Many gardeners enjoy attracting birds to their yards and many birders enjoy gardening with plants that attract birds. At South Coast Gardens we ourselves are avid bird-watchers and have been documenting sightings at both our home (across the road from South Coast Gardens) and among the plantings at the nursery. Our location next to Lake Erie places us in close proximity to a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats which, in turn, attracts a variety of birds. It can also lead to a concentration of land birds during migration as they follow the shoreline to avoid crossing open water. Since the spring of 2003 we have tallied 226 species. Of those, several species have been unusual sightings made on only one or two occasions. For example, we’ve spotted a White Pelican saunter by on a still August afternoon, looked up to see a Mississippi Kite being harassed by Red-winged Blackbirds following the tail end of a tropical storm and spotted Black Vultures on a couple of occasions swirling and soaring with Turkey Vultures – their much more common relative in this area.

While spotting rarities can be exciting, appreciating the diversity of the more common species is equally satisfying and we often catch ourselves talking to clients as much about the birds in the garden as we do about the plant collections! We have worked with clients to enhance or create bird-friendly gardens for their particular locations and our nursery carries a diversity of species that are good berry or nectar producers to attract birds to your yard. We have put together an annotated table charting the monthly occurrences for 161 of the 223 bird species we’ve documented in and around the gardens. Note that on any one day sightings can vary enormously depending on factors such as time of day, weather conditions or migration schedules but for those interested in stopping by the gardens to enjoy a few birds it does offer a seasonal guide as to what might be possible.

If you have an interest in birds, no matter what your level of expertise, please feel free to drop by and introduce yourself.

Other resources if you are considering a day of bird-watching in the area.

Consider visiting the Long Point Bird Observatory Banding Station at Old Cut Boulevard on Long Point which is open to the public in spring and fall migration.

An indispensible guide to visiting great birding sites in the local area is A Birding Guide to the Long Point Area by Ron Ridout. You can purchase one at the Bird Studies Canada offices in Port Rowan or order one online by visiting: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/shopping/shop.jsp

A comprehensive and detailed book for records of breeding birds in the area: The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario (2001-2005): http://www.birdsontario.org/atlas/index.jsp

Bird Studies Canada offices (open week days) are located nearby in Port Rowan: http://www.bsc-eoc.org

Birds of South Coast Gardens

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* = May be present but not regularly seen at the gardens
† = Usually around but may not be seen on a given day at the gardens
†† = Common to abundant in the area around South Coast Gardens

Total species for the month 81 73 97 134 164 111 96 132 140 125 99 80
Common Loon * † † * * * * * * Seen flying overhead, mostly in spring migration.
Double crested Cormorant * † † * * * † * Seen flying overhead in migration.
Great Blue Heron * * † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† † * Regularly seen flying overhead to adjacent marshes.
Great Egret * * † * * † † * Most commonly seen in late summer and fall flying overhead to adjacent marshes.
Green Heron * † † † † * * Occasionally seen in summer flying overhead to adjacent marshes
Tundra Swan † * †† * † †† † Large flocks can be seen flying overhead in mid to late March to nearby fields and marshes.
Trumpeter Swan * * * * * * * * * * On rare occasions seen flying overhead to adjacent marshes, most birds are likely from re-introduction efforts in Ontario.
Snow Goose * * Relatively uncommon, occasionally seen flying overhead in migration.
Canada Goose † †† †† †† †† †† †† † †† †† †† †† Frequently seen flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes. Less so for a few weeks during the summer molt.
Wood Duck †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† † * Frequently seen flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
Green Winged Teal † †† * * † † † * Occasionally seen in migration flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes
American Black Duck † * †† †† † * * † †† †† †† † Regularly seen flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes, especially in spring and fall.
Mallard † * †† †† †† † † † †† †† †† † Regularly seen flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
Northern Pintail * † † * * * † † * Occasionally seen in migration flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
Blue-winged Teal † † * * † * Occasionally seen in migration flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
Northern Shoveler * † * * * Occasionally seen in migration flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
Gadwall * † † * * * * * † † * Occasionally seen in migration flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
American Wigeon * † †† * * * † * Occasionally seen in migration flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
Turkey Vulture * †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† * Abundant from March through October; most often seen soaring overhead on warm days.
Osprey † * * * * † * Mostly seen overhead in migration, does not appear to be resident in the area over summer.
Bald Eagle † † † † † † † † † † † † Regularly seen soaring overhead.
Northern Harrier † † †† †† † † * † †† †† †† †† Often seen hunting over the surrounding fields and marshes, especially in migration.
Sharp-shinned Hawk † † †† †† †† † * † †† †† † † Often seen hunting over the surrounding fields and marshes, especially in migration.
Cooper’s Hawk † † † †† †† † † † †† †† †† † Often seen hunting over the surrounding fields and marshes, especially in migration.
Northern Goshawk * * * * * * * * * * † * Not often seen but regular throughout the year, often seen hunting over the surrounding fields and marshes.
Red-shouldered Hawk * * * * * * * * Occasionally seen hunting over the surrounding fields and marshes.
Broad-winged Hawk * †† * Mostly observed overhead in fall migration over a relatively brief period.
Red-tailed Hawk †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common year round resident.
Rough-legged Hawk †† †† †† †† * * † †† Relatively common winter resident.
Golden Eagle * * * * * * Can be seen soaring overhead on rare occasions; mostly in late fall migration.
American Kestrel * * * * * * * † * * While easily found elsewhere in the surrounding region, this species is only occasionally seen at South Coast Gardens.
Merlin † * † * * * † * * Occasionally seen, especially in early spring and fall migration.
Peregrine Falcon * * * * * * Rarely seen; mostly in late fall migration.
Wild Turkey † † † † † * * * † † Abundant in the general region but can sometimes be hard to find, especially in the summer months when nesting.
Sandhill Crane † * †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† † Regularly seen flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes.
Killdeer †† †† †† † † †† †† * Often heard flying overhead from March through October
Greater Yellowlegs * * * * † † * Most commonly heard flying overhead from in fall migration.
Wilson’s Snipe † * * * Most often detected by its distinctive call  in early spring.
American Woodcock †† †† †† * * * * * Most easily found in early spring  when it is performing its courtship flight in the evening.
Bonaparte’s Gull * † * * * * † † * Occasionally seen in spring and late fall flying overhead to adjacent marshes
Ring-billed Gull † † †† †† † † † † †† †† †† † Regularly seen throughout the year.
Herring Gull † † †† †† † * * † †† †† †† † Regularly seen throughout most of the year; less frequent in summer.
Caspian Tern * * * * † † * Occasionally seen flying overhead to adjacent fields & marshes, especially in late summer and early fall.
Mourning Dove †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident.
Black-billed Cuckoo * † † * Secretive, most often heard rather than seen.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo * † † † † Secretive, most often heard rather than seen. Can sometimes be heard calling from the trees to the south of the gardens.
Eastern Screech-Owl † * * * * † † † † * * Year round resident. Most often heard on quiet nights.
Great Horned Owl * * * * * * * * * * Increasingly rare resident in the area. Most often heard hooting on quiet nights.
Common Nighthawk * * * † * Most commonly encountered migrating in September when flocks feed overhead early in the evening
Chimney Swift * * * * * Occasionally seen from May to September. More easily seen in nearby towns where it nests in chimneys.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird †† †† †† †† †† * Common garden resident from May through September, frequenting hummingbird feeders and flowers throughout the garden.
Belted Kingfisher † † † † † † † † * Regularly seen and heard flying overhead.
Red-bellied Woodpecker †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker † * * † Most commoml;y encountered during spring and fall migration, especially April & October.
Downy Woodpecker †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident.
Hairy Woodpecker † † † † † † † † † † † † Year round resident but can sometimes be hard to find.
Northern Flicker † † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident, somewhat less frequent in mid-winter.
Pileated Woodpecker † † † † † * * * * * * * Uncommon year round resident.
Eastern Wood Pewee † †† †† †† * Common summer resident.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher * * A visitor to the gardens mostly in early fall migration.
Willow Flycatcher * † † Uncommon summer resident in adjacent fields.
Least Flycatcher * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Eastern Phoebe † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† A regular resident at South Coast Gardens from late March through October.  Birds often perch on the surrounding fencing and will sometimes enter the greenhouse through open vents to hunt for insects.
Great-crested Flycatcher * † † † † † Regular summer resident. Can often be heard calling from the surrounding trees.
Eastern Kingbird † † † †† * Regular summer resident. Can often be seen perched on the hydro wires and fencing around the gardens.
Horned Lark † † † * * * At South Coast Gardens, most commonly seen flying overhead in winter months at which time small flocks can be found along roadsides or on nearby plowed fields.
Purple Martin †† †† †† †† †† * A small breeding colony is established at South Coast Gardens.
Tree Swallow * †† †† †† †† †† † * * Common spring and summer resident.
N. Rough-winged Swallow † † * † † * Present throughout the summer but in relatively low numbers. Most easily spotted in August during migration.
Bank Swallow † † * † † * Present throughout the summer but in relatively low numbers. Most easily spotted in August during migration.
Cliff Swallow * * † At South Coast Gardens, this species is most most commonly seen in early August during fall migration.
Barn Swallow † †† †† †† †† * Common spring and summer resident.
Blue Jay †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common year round resident.
American Crow †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common year round resident.
Black-capped Chickadee †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common year round resident.
Tufted Titmouse * * * * * * Occasional visitor to the gardens.
Red-breasted Nuthatch † † † * * * † † † † Most commonly found in winter at feeders, occasionally in spring and fall migration.
White-breasted Nuthatch †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common year round resident.
Brown Creeper † † † †† * † † * Most commonly seen at South Coast Gardens in early spring migration.
Carolina Wren † † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common year round resident often heard more than seen.
House Wren * †† †† †† †† †† * * Common summer resident in the gardens.
Winter Wren * * * † * * * * * Most commonly encountered in the gardens in spring and fall migration.
Golden-crowned Kinglet † † † †† * † † * Most commonly encountered in the gardens in spring and fall migration, especially April when small flocks can frequent the display gardens and nearby row of Norway Spruce.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet † † † † * Most commonly encountered in the gardens in spring and fall migration, often mixed in flocks with Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher † † † † † * Regular summer resident.
Eastern Bluebird † † † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† † Year round resident often seen perching on overhead wires or fencing while hunting for insects. Large migratory flocks can pass overhead in October and early November.
Swainson’s Thrush * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Hermit Thrush † † * Common early spring and late fall migrant in the gardens.
Wood Thrush † † † † * Uncommon summer resident in adjacent forests.
American Robin † * †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† † Year round resident although scarce in mid-winter. Abundant in summer an present throughout the gardens.
Gray Catbird * †† †† †† †† †† †† * * Common summer and early fall resident of the gardens. Has even nested in the greenhouse!
Northern Mockingbird * * * * * * Occasional visitor to the gardens; its cheery disposition is always welcome!
Brown Thrasher * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Cedar Waxwing * * * † †† †† †† †† †† † * Common summer and fall resident of the gardens. Occasional at other times of the year.
Northern Shrike * * * * * Uncommon winter resident.
Blue-headed Vireo * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Yellow-throated Vireo * * * * * Uncommon summer resident in adjacent forest areas.
Warbling Vireo * † † † † * Summer resident in adjacent forest areas.
Philadelphia Vireo * Rare fall migrant in the gardens.
Red-eyed Vireo † †† †† †† †† * Common summer resident of the gardens.
Blue-winged Warbler * * * * * * Uncommon summer resident.
Golden-winged Warbler * Uncommon spring migrant in the gardens.
Tennessee Warbler * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Orange-crowned Warbler * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Nashville Warbler * * * † * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Northern Parula * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Yellow Warbler * †† †† †† † Common summer resident of the gardens.
Chestnut-sided Warbler * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Magnolia Warbler * * * † Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Cape May Warbler * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Black-throated Blue Warbler * * † * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Yellow-rumped Warbler † † * * †† * Common spring and abundant fall migrant in the gardens.
Black-throated Green Warbler * * * * † * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Blackburnian Warbler * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Pine Warbler * * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Palm Warbler * * † * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Bay-breasted Warbler * Rare fall migrant in the gardens.
Blackpoll Warbler * * * * Uncommon late spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Black & White Warbler * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
American Redstart * * * † * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Ovenbird * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Louisiana Waterthrush * * * * * Uncommon summer resident in adjacent  forested ravines
Mourning Warbler * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Common Yellowthroat †† †† †† †† †† † * Common summer resident of the gardens.
Wilson’s Warbler * * Uncommon fall migrant in the gardens.
Canada Warbler * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Scarlet Tanager * * * * * Occasional summer visitor to the gardens.
Northern Cardinal †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident throughout the gardens.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak * † † † † * Regular summer visitor to the gardens.
Indigo Bunting † † † † * Regular summer visitor to the gardens.
Eastern Towhee * * † † † † † † † * * Regular summer visitor to the gardens, occasional at other times.
American Tree Sparrow †† †† †† †† * * †† †† Common resident of the gardens from November through April.
Chipping Sparrow †† †† †† †† †† †† †† * Common summer resident throughout the gardens.
Field Sparrow * * * † † † † † † † * * A summer resident in old fields adjacent to the gardens; can often be found in the gardens in fall feeding on perennial seed heads.
Savannah Sparrow * * * * Rare spring and summer visitor to the gardens.
Fox Sparrow * * † † * * * Regular in early spring during migration, some occasionally remain through the winter at feeders.
Song Sparrow † † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† † Year round resident in the gardens, often heard singing from March through August.
Lincoln’s Sparrow * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Swamp Sparrow † † † † † † † † † * * Can be heard singing  in the early morning and evening in the neighboringTurkey Point marsh where it is a common resident.
White-throated Sparrow †† †† †† †† †† † †† †† †† Abundant from October through mid-May.
White-crowned Sparrow † † † †† †† * †† †† †† Abundant fall and spring migrant, a few remain through the winter.
Dark-eyed Junco †† †† †† †† * * †† †† †† Abundant from October through April.
Bobolink * * * † * Seen occasionally in adjacent old fields, especially in late summer.
Red-winged Blackbird †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident throughout the gardens.
Eastern Meadowlark * * * * * Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the gardens.
Rusty Blackbird † † †† †† † * * * * Present from September through May mixed in with large blackbird flocks. Often heard singing in March and April.
Common Grackle † † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† † Common permanent resident throughout the gardens; less frequent through the winter months.
Brown-headed Cowbird †† †† †† †† †† †† †† * * † † Common fall, winter and spring resident; can be difficult to find in late summer & early fall.
Orchard Oriole † * * Uncommon  late spring and summer resident.
Baltimore Oriole * †† †† †† †† * Common, colourful and vocal summer resident in the gardens.
Purple Finch † † † † * * * * † Regular late fall and winter visitor.
White-winged Crossbill † * * * Rare and irregular late fall and winter visitor.
Common Redpoll * * * * Irregular late fall and winter visitor; when present it can be abundant with flocks feeding on perennial seedheads or at feeders.
Pine Siskin † † † † * * * * † Late fall and winter visitor; when present it can be abundant with flocks feeding on perennial seedheads or at feeders.
American Goldfinch †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident throughout the gardens.
Introduced, non-native species
Ring-necked Pheasant * * * Infrequently seen or heard, most often in spring.
Rock Pigeon * * † † † † † † † † † * Surprisingly (and thankfully) uncommon; mostly seen flying overhead in the summer months.
European Starling † † †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common year round resident.
House Finch †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident throughout the gardens.
House Sparrow †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† †† Common permanent resident throughout the gardens.