Miscellaneous Cattauraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany County Locations

Cattaraugus County

Chautauqua County

Allegany County

Directions:
Take NYS Route 16 south to Machias. From Machias, travel south on NYS Route 16 to NYS Route 242. Turn right (south) on NYS Route 242. Travel about 1.5 miles to Maple Valley Road. Bird Swamp is the lowlying area for the next four miles. At the middle of the swamp is Bird Road. Bird Road can be birded around to Maple Valley Road to complete a big circle. Near the top of the hill on Bird Road off Route 242 is some decent birding. There is an old barn on Bird Rd that may have nesting Cliff Swallows. Prairie Warbler has also been recorded and may nest in this vicinity. South of Bird Road on Route 242 towards to Sunset Hill Road, one can overlook the water/swamp areas down. Warning: Be mindful of traffic.

Nearby Birding:
Well inland from the Lake Erie shore, in the Town of Machias, in Cattaraugus County, excellent shorebird habitat might be found above the Ischua Creek Dam. Nearby Ischua Creek might hold unusual birds such as Great Egret. Lime Lake is overdeveloped and often has no waterfowl (not even Canada Geese) on most occasions. Directions to the Ischua Dam:
Heading south into Machias on NY Route 16, stop at the sign/flashing red light at the main intersection (army surplass store in the corner). Continue straight across (south) the intersection on Maple Ave for about 50 yards, turn right (west) onto Felton Hill Road (towards West Valley), pass the cemetery,and turn left (south) onto Bypass Road, park at the barrier and walk the road to the impoundment above the dam. Parts of the Ischua Dam impoundment can be seen from Maple Ave and Felton Hill Road. Much of the impoundment can be seen from the Maple Grove Cemetery.

Warning: As with other lands with public access, be wary of hunting seasons, especially wild Turkey (May/Oct) and Deer (late Nov) seasons.

Directions:
From Buffalo, travel Route 16, south to Yorkshire, left (east) on Route 39 to Arcade. Turn right (south) on NYS Route 98 south nine miles to intersection of Route 243. Stay on Route 98, travel another 4.7 miles to Bush Hill Road. Take a left (east) onto Bush Hill Road. Turn right (south) onto Stebbins Road or Peet Hill Road. Access to state land is from both these areas.

Nearby Birding :
Continuing east on Bush Hill Road, one soon runs into West Branch Road. At this point, one is at the Farmersville State Forest. Deciduous woodland birds are here.

Conewango Valley

Countryside Sand and Gravel Ponds

Conewango Swamp

Dayton

Stillson's Pond

Many species are possible in all seasons at the Countryside Sand and Gravel Ponds . Spring and fall migration holds a large variety and numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds. Winter holds wintering raptors, sometime in vast numbers. Countryside Sand and Gravel Ponds is located in the township of Dayton, betwen Dayton and South Dayton. Travel south of Gowanda on US Route 62. The ponds are located directly off US Route 62. A note on access from Brendan Klick (from a post on GeneseeBirds):
Officially, the Country Side & Gravel is marked "No trespassing." It is highly recommend that you ask for permission prior to viewing the ponds. Employees at Country Side said (at least twice in 2001) that birders were allowed to walk along the edge of the ponds that face Route 62. However, they asked that you do not walk further into the facility. They do not seem to care if you look at the Ponds as long as you are near Route 62. Luckily, most of the shorebirds congregate in this area anyways and most ducks are identifiable with a telescope.

Stillson's Pond lies just east of Randolph. Formerly, this small pond was monitored quite well as it was a migrant trap. Reports in recent years have been few, but the birding may still be good.