Retsof Area

River Road

Cuylerville Marsh

Rating

Fall	Winter
Spring	Summer

Site history/background

The birding to be done around the town of Retsof (Foster spelled backwards) lies in the old flood plains of the Genesee River. All of the flood plains of the Genesee River from Scottsville and to the south harbor extensive habitat that is likely for all grassland species. The Retsof area is no exception. It is primarily birded because it is a nice complement to the nearby Nations Road hotspot. Birds seen in one region are likely to be seen in the other area as well. The exploration of the Retsof area is rather recent and extensive birding records are slim. Some birders tour the two areas together and lump the two areas as the Nations Road area. It is included in a separate location here because it is a few miles away and can be birded separately. It is located on the west side of the Genesee River valley facing the town (and college) of Geneseo.

Update: These fields formerly held larger numbers of wintering raptors. Some fields have become slightly overgrown. Others have recently been renovated and are now overgrazed horse pastures, or agricultural fields. Some fields have been sold off for development and houses are encroaching. Although not as inviting as previous, it still offers some good birding during the winter.

Like the Nations Road area, the land is privately owned in this area. Thus, the entire area must be birded from the road edge or car. Please respect landowners' rights.

Best Birding

Birding is fair all year round, with the exceptional time being winter for winter raptors, and winter visitants. A few grassland birds make their appearance in summer. Shorebird might be found at the Cuylerville marsh in late August and September.

Regular Specialties

All year - Eastern Bluebirds, RN Pheasants, N Mockingbirds, Red-Tailed Hawks and American Kestrels
Winter - many raptors including the local and wintering Red-Tailed Hawks and American Kestrel; light and dark morph Rough-Legged Hawks; Northern Harriers; Short-Eared Owls; Northern Shrikes; Snow Buntings; Horned Larks; Northern Mockingbirds.
Spring/Summer - Grassland birds: Bobolinks, E. Meadowlarks, Upland Sandpipers, Savannah, Grasshopper and possibly Vesper and Henslow's Sparrows.

Areas of interest

From NYS Route 39 south of Avon, head west on Fowlerville Road.

Just west of the bridge over the Genesee River are access points to the Genesee Valley Greenway linear park. Foot and bike traffic are allowed. This may prove an interesting walk in either direction. and is relatively unexplored.

In the hamlet of Fowlerville, optionally turn right onto Casey Road and drive about a 1/2 mile to just past the working farm. The fields here have held thousands of Snow Buntings, and sometimes Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs. After looking, return to Fowlerville Road.

Turn left (south) onto River Road. The entire length of this road can be birded all the way to the town of Cuylerville (about ten miles). Just south of Fowlerville is agriculture fields that have held numerous Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs. River Road has a few valleys/gulleys/hollows that offer some protection from the winds and elements. Most have brushy undergrowth and berry bushes which makes them a haven for half-hardies. Any of the side roads in the area will produce more grassland habitat.

If you are inclined to walking, turn left (east) onto York Landing Road and drive to the end. There is an unimproved gravel parking lot and an old railroad bed. This old railroad bed has turned into a linear park and is one access point to the Genesee Valley Greenway. You can try birding on foot for 40 yards or 40 miles.

Continue south on River Road. An optional quick side trip would be to turn west (right) off River Road onto Craig Road and bird that to the railroad tracks and back to River Road. Formerly, several hedgerows provided cover for RN Pheasants, and perching sites for raptors and shrikes. These birds might still be found in the area.

Continue south on River Road to the Genesee Abbey. The area around the abbey is quite productive for grassland and wintering birds, although new tilings may drain teh damp habitat preferred by Henslow's Sparrows. (Note: this is almost directly west of the Nations Farm on Nations Road). After birding the area around the abbey, continue south across NYS Route 63 to Chandler Road, watching for N Shrikes and Raptors along the way.

None of the above is considered "Retsof", but often is productive. A quick tour would be to start birding after one passes over NYS Route 63 in the Piffard/Greigville/Retsof area. River Road from NYS Route 63 until Cuylerville is a mostly untravelled, dirt road and offers good grassland territory for winter raptors and summer grassland birds.

Another quick side trip would be to turn east (left) off River Road onto Chandler Road and travel that almost NYS Route 63, turn left onto Flats Road, turn left onto NYS Route 63 and come full circle back onto River Road. Most of the terrain is the same, but little of this side route is travelled twice.

Bird River Road south to Cuylerville. This is part of what is colloquially called "Retsof". Near the end of River Road, the road starts to slope downhill and the grasslands become a shrubby, thorny area on the west side of the road. This is a prime location to look for Northern Mockingbirds and Northern Shrikes. Just past here is the local gun club and their "refuge". The open grasslands are good for wintering raptors and evening owls. Continue south, paying attention to the birds in the shrubs near the roads as decent birds are sometimes be found here.

Just downhill and to the southeast of the gun club is the Cuylerville Marsh (sometimes called the Cuylerville Pond). It can be seen (but not birded) from River Road. The former railroad bed (now the Genesee Valley Greenway) sidles this pond. The NYS DEC may be planning an easy access point to the Genesee Valley Greenway linear park here. Cuylerville Marsh has held quite a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl in the recent past. Bitterns and rails are heard. It is one of the few dependable sites for Marsh Wren in Livingston County. The Genesee Valley Greenway can be accessed via a one mile walk from NYS Route 20A/39 in Cuylerville, or cutting crosslots just north from the gunclub.

(Note: River Road actually jogs through Cuylerville and into and past Mt. Morris to Portage, NY. Reference the east side portion of the Letchworth State Park writeup for details of River Road in the Mt. Morris area. As stated several times, it is much of the same habitat as described above and in the Nations Road area.)

Once the the town of Cuylerville is reached, turn right (west) onto Caledonia Road. The road bends north and heads back to NYS Route 63. Again, all spots are just as likely as the next for good birding. Some of the best habitat is the area north of Peoria Road to Chandler Road. This is the other part of what is colloquially called "Retsof". The farmlands offer prey for wintering raptors and the corner near the Akzo salt mine can be the best spot in the area for winter raptors. Turning right onto Chandler Road and birding to River Road completes a loop.

The Retsof area must be birded by car. This is just a suggested route. Any of the side roads are likely to have the sought for birds.

Directions

Located on the Delorme NYS Atlas and Gazetteer on page 57, block B6. A map of the southern portion of the "Retsof" area is located here (35KB).

Most area birders visit this area in conjunction with Nations Road. The Areas of interest section below will start a birding-by-car tour from the intersection of Nations Road and Fowlerville Road. To reach this intersection:

From the North: From NY Route 5 & 20 (west of exit 10 from I-390), head south on NY Route 39. Travel south past the Five-Arch bridge and the town of Ashantee. The next right past the Five-Arch bridge is Fowlerville Road. Take this right. The first left is Nations Rd.
From the South: From NY Route 20A (west of exit 11 from I-390), head north on NY Route 39. Travel north through the town of Geneseo, and past the high school. Although the next left past the high school is Nations Road, continue a few miles on NY Route 39 to Fowlerville Road and take this left to provide a common starting point for the tour given above.

Nearby Birding

Because of the proximity, Retsof is often birded on the same trip for the same species in the same habitat as Nations Road. Letchworth State Park is just a few miles to the south.

Facilities

There are no restroom facilties in the Retsof area. The closest facilities depends upon where you are.

If you are in Fowlerville, head east on Fowlerville Road to NYS Route 39 north to Avon is the quickest. Avon has a supermarkets, chainfood restaurants, hotels and local diners and many other services (i.e.: restrooms).

For a decent meal (or fast-food meal), restroom break or a quick exit to all points east, south or north, take Chandler Road east to NYS Route 63, turn right (south) onto NYS Route 63. Travel about two miles into Geneseo and NYS Routes 39 and 20A. Take NYS Route 20A east to I-390 (about four miles). Geneseo has a few supermarkets, department stores, chainfood restaurants, hotels and local diners and many other services (i.e.: restrooms).

If you are in Retsof proper, gas, restroom and telephone facilities, junk food, local diner might be found on Route 63 in Retsof, a mile west in Greigsville, or Piffard.

If you are in Cuylerville, one can head east to Geneseo for all the amenities, or a mile west to Leicester to find gas, telephones, and restroom facilities at a local gas station at the NYS Route 39/20A and 36 intersection.

This page was last updated on 18 April 2001.