Birding Hotspots in The Kawarthas 

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1. East of Peterborough Airport (Mervin Line, Moncrieff Line, Fire Route 9) 

Just east of the Peterborough Airport lies a patchwork of swamps, forests, and open fields that make for excellent, easily accessible birding. While aircraft noise can interfere with sound-based ID apps like Merlin, the sheer density and variety of species more than make up for it. This is an especially rewarding spot for marsh birds and flycatchers. 

Key Habitats 

• Swampy Wetlands: Home to marsh specialists and such as rails, swamp sparrows, and flycatchers. 

• Mature Forest: Good for woodpeckers, warblers, and vireos. 

• Brush and Field Edges: Support a wide range of sparrows, yellowthroats, and blackbirds. 

Noteworthy Bird Species Spotted Here! 

• Virginia Rail: This elusive marsh bird’s pig-like grunt can be heard echoing from reed beds in the spring. 

• Common Yellowthroat: Their bright yellow chest and black mask make them easy to find—and they are even easier to hear. 

• Belted Kingfisher: Flashy and noisy, these birds hover and dive with pinpoint precision to catch fish in local creeks. 

2. Nassau Mills Road & County Road 32 

It may just look like a backroad, but this scenic drive winding along the Otonabee River between Trent University and the town of Lakefield is a magnet for birds and even the occasional rare sighting. There are multiple vantage points to see ducks and other waterbirds, for example, the open water near Lock 25 and Hickey Road attracts an impressive array of species. This is a great lazy drive with several safe pull-offs so bring your binoculars and you might just see something remarkable. 

Key Habitats 

• Fast-Flowing River Sections: Remains open in winter, crucial for overwintering waterfowl such as common goldeneyes, trumpeter swans, and scaups. 

• Riverbanks and Marshy Edges: Used by waders and occasional shorebirds spotted sandpipers, greater yellow-legs, and grebes. 

• Adjacent Wooded Corridors: Attracts cedar waxwings, cardinals, and blackbirds. 

Noteworthy Bird Species Spotted Here! 

• Bald Eagle:  A powerful bird of prey easily recognized by its white head and tail, yellow beak, and massive wingspan, it is often seen soaring near bodies of water where it hunts fish. 

• Greater Yellowlegs: Often found probing shorelines for insects and crustaceans—tall, elegant, and vocal. 

• Rusty Blackbird: A declining species that prefers wooded wetlands, offering a special sighting opportunity in spring and fall. 

3. Lakefield Sewage Lagoons 

Don’t let the name deter you! The Lakefield Sewage Lagoons is among the very best birding spots in The Kawarthas and it is a beautiful spot to spend an hour or an afternoon. With its combination of open water, forest edge, and agricultural surroundings, it creates a habitat mosaic that attracts a rich diversity of bird species. You can focus on the tree line looking for warblers or find yourself mesmerized by the swallows darting over the water. It’s also one of the few places in the region where you might spot every swallow species in a single visit. 

Key Habitats 

• Open Water Cells: Attract large numbers of waterfowl and migrating shorebirds such as wood ducks, blue and green winged teals, and upland sandpipers. 

• Mixed Forest: Supports songbirds like vireos, nuthatches, and warblers. 

• Open Grasslands & Farmland: Ideal for grassland specialists like bobolinks and meadowlarks. 

Noteworthy Bird Species Spotted Here! 

• Northern Shoveler: This duck’s oversized bill makes it easy to recognize—and it’s a thrill to find locally, as it’s not commonly seen in the county. 

• Barn swallow: A sleek, agile songbird known for its deeply forked tail, glossy blue back, and graceful flight as it catches insects mid-air near open fields and water. 

• Marsh Wren: A small, secretive songbird with a bold voice, often heard chattering from dense wetland reeds where it builds elaborate nests and flits among the cattails. 

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Article and Photographs by Robin Morgan