Miscellaneous Lake Edge Locations
Both beaches and piers are sometimes good for gulls, terns and shorebirds (when joggers do not flush them).
Waterfowl can be viewed in migration over the lake, or wintering in the
protected Genesee River. The region's first Tufted Duck was found here
near the railroad bridge. The railroad bridge can be seen when you first
enter the parking area off Lake Avenue. It can be a good spot for
waterfowl as well. Snowy Owls and Purple Sandpipers might be found on
the pier in season. The beaches offer some of the only regular habitat for
shorebirds.
Directions: From I-390, travel north to the Lake Ontario Parkway. Take
the parkway east to the very end (Lake Road). Turn left (north) and drive
a few lights to a small incline over railroad tracks. Turn right into
the parking area for Charlotte Beach and drive around to the parking lot.
Directions: From Island Cottage Woods, travel west on Edgemere Drive. The
first stop sign (about a half-mile) is Long Pond Road. The Fire Station is
on the SW corner. Park behind the firehouse.
Directions: From I-390, travel north to the Lake Ontario Parkway.
Take the parkway east to Dewey Avenue. Turn right (south) and continue a
few traffic lights.
At the intersection of NYS Route 18 (Latta Road), turn left (east). The
entrance to the park is a few hundred yards down Latta Road and the
ballfields can be seen (1100 Latta Road). Drive to the end (near the
playground) and start birding.
This park 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.
Directions: From I-390, travel north to the Lake Ontario Parkway. Take
the parkway east to Dewey Avenue. Turn left (north) onto Dewey Avenue. Take Dewey to the lake. Turn right onto Edgemere Drive. About a half mile further is Russell Station.
Look for the twin yellow brick smoke stacks (and the seemingly ever-present
fishermen).
Rigney's Bluff is where Dewey Ave meets Lake Ontario (just west of Russell Station). There is no overlook and parking can be dangerous. Sometimes water birds can be seen from the bluff overlooking the lake.
This park 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.
This page was last updated on 12 March 2003. Comments or questions regarding this page should be sent to Webmaster. Charlotte Beach Area (Ontario Beach/Summerville Pier)
The Genesee River empties into Lake Ontario at Charlotte. A stone pier
stretches into Lake Ontario from either side of the river. On either side of
this pier, is a span of sand beach. On the west side is Ontario Beach (sometimes
called Charlotte Beach or the beach at Charlotte), which is a public beach
providing public viewing opportunities. The east side pier is known as the
Summerville Pier and is private and not open to the public. But, the
Summerville Pier can be viewed from the west side of the river and parts
of the Summerville beach can be seen with a scope as well.
Fire Station (Greece)
The Fire Station holds similar habitat to Island Cottage Woods. Namely,
it has trees that provide shelter for small migrating land birds. The
area is quite small and can easily be covered in a short amount of time,
depending on whether or not waves of migrants are passing through or static.
From the parking lot behind the firehouse, one can see the low cover and
the tall canopy. Walk the edge of the woods from Edgemere Drive, behind
the firehouse, and up Long Pond Road. Just up Long Pond Road (perhaps
30 yards or so), is a few outbuildings, and a gravel path. Take the gravel
path back (only about 50 yards or so) into the woods, birding along the
way.
George Badgerow Park
(formerly Dewey-Latta)
George Badgerow Park is slightly inland from Island Cottage Woods. Local birder Bob Marcotte ahs proved that on most days, it can hold the same variety of species that Island Cottage
holds in migration, and is certainly less crowded. Much of the 65 acres
in this public park is for ballfields and playgrounds, but the back
portions are still undeveloped and have a few nature trails in them.
Recently, a pipeline was dug through the center of the park and destroyed
some habitat, but nature is rebounding with succession already. On a
birding note, a local birder always manages to find Olive-Sided Flycatcher
here in the spring.
Russell Station (sometimes called Slater Creek)
Rochester Gas and Electric has a power plant that discharges warm water (used for coolant purposes only) into Slater Creek which immediately empties into Lake Ontario. This occurs at Russell Station. Because of the warm water, it is open year-round and
can hold numbers and variety of waterfowl in winter, but mostly semi-tame Mallards. Park in the fishermen's parking lot. Be wary of cars or fishermen
streaming into or out of the parking lot area. Be sure to walk the edge of the stream to look in the back, but be careful of muddy ground or ice. Also of note, the Rochester Peregrine Project hacked five Peregrine Falcons in 1994 from Russell Station and, rarely, one can be seen perched there in early morning. Accidental hot water releases has killed fish
and attracted large numbers of gulls (including white-winged) and ducks. Tufted Duck, although found elsewhere, sometimes fed here during the winter 1995-1996. Four shorebirds (Killdeer, Dunlin, Sanderling and Purple Sandpiper) had been found here in January 2003; some lingered and survived the winter here.
Turning Point Park
Turning Point Park (sometimes called Boxart Street) is a Rochester park of about 100 acres on the Genesee River.
This park can feature warblers and other small land migrants in spring
migration. It can be reached by taking Lake Ave south to Boxart to the end.
Copyright, © Kurt Fox, 1999-2003. <
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