Cobb's Hill Park

Rating

Fall	Winter
Spring	Summer

Site history/background

In New York City, Central Park has a sort of island effect. The birds drop out of the sky after a long night of migration, and all they see is buildings. They head for the green stuff - Central Park. In Rochester, Cobbs Hill Park benefits, to a lesser extent, from the same phenonenon.

Cobbs Hill Park was donated by George Eastman in 1905. The entrance described below is to a mature stand of deciduous trees known as the Washington Grove. To bird the woods, follow any of the trails. The woods are not very large and trails are few and easily walked. The east side catches morning sun and is sometimes quite active, but the main attraction is generally the steeper hillside by the blue water tower on the far end. The few Hemlock Trees in the southwest corner of the woods may hold a few different birds (such as Cape May Warblers).

This site is sometimes birded, but not by the author. If you'd like to add to the description, you are welcome to do so. Please contact the webmaster at the address below.

Best Birding

Spring for migrants, especially warblers. For some odd reason, Worm-eating Warbler has been annual here in recent years. It is largely unexplored in other seasons.

Warnings

Please note that teenagers frequent the area and may be seen cruising the trails at high velocity on mountain bikes, so morning birding is most productive. This park is a favorite dog-walking site, so watch your step. Also, the trail to the north sidles the I-490 and it is too loud to hear birds, hilly and generally unproductive.

Directions

A map that accompanies the following directions is located here (49KB).

To get to the Washington Grove from within Rochester, take the I-590 to the Highland Avenue exit. From the exit ramp, head west (into the city). The first traffic light is Winton Avenue. Turn right (north) onto Winton Avenue. Turn left (west) at Nunda Blvd (third left - no traffic light). Take Nunda Blvd to the end (two stop signs). Park and walk into the grove.

This page was last updated on 18 April 2001.