Uncover the world of birding with this day-long outdoor itinerary

Oakville is a haven for novice and experienced birders alike, with hundreds of species calling this town home. 

Grab your binoculars and your camera, and follow along with this one-day itinerary that will keep your eye in the sky. 

Note: The suggestions below are based on information available in early April. Please double check with local COVID-19 policies and businesses to confirm if offers and activities are still available.

Birding at Bronte Creek

Pick up a coffee and pastry to go at Oakville’s Best Café Talk of the Town Award-winner Vereda Central before taking off to Bronte Creek Provincial Park. 

You’ll spend your morning exploring the trails and looking for over 190 different species of bird that call this park home. 

Birds to watch for: Pileated woodpecker, turkey vulture, Baltimore Oriole, Red-tailed hawk, killdeer, eastern bluebird, bobolink, snow bunting and various types of owl. 

Waterfowl watch by the lake

Make a pit stop in Bronte Village next, and order curbside pickup for an impromptu picnic in the park. Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park and Bronte Beach Park are perfect locations to lay down a blanket, enjoy a quick bite by the lake and stay safely distanced from others. 

Take time to look out for new species of bird by Bronte Harbour, as it is known to host a variety of waterfowl. 

Birds to watch for: Canada goose, ring-billed gull, Bonaparte’s gull, common tern, mute swan, red-necked grebe, double-crested cormorant, ospreys, sandpipers, snowy owls and blue jays. 

Picnic with parkland birds

Looking for a little more before picking up dinner? Try walking through Shell Park or Village Wood Park for a look at some woodland birds. 

Birds to watch for: Songbirds, owls and woodpeckers. 

Make your way to Downtown Oakville at the end of the day and opt for a sunset picnic by the lake or a takeaway dinner to bring home. Before you leave, take one last look through the Oakville Harbour area for any signs of the waterfowl you might have missed at Bronte Harbour. 

Don’t worry if you didn’t find some of the birds on your list this time. You have all summer to explore more of Oakville in search of the ones that got away. 

Most importantly, don’t forget to tag @VisitOakville in your adventures!

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