Miscellaneous Rochester Locations

Site history/background

This web page features a few smaller, or lesser-known, spots within the confines of Monroe County. Business, travel, or lunch hour outings may require birding areas close to downtown. Or, short sidetrips on the way to bigger hotspots can sometimes highlight a trip or fill some time.

Best Birding

Each site described above has its own habitat and its best birding. Please refer to the sites above for more information.

Allens Creek Storm Runoff Ponds

This area was recently "discovered" as a new bird-watching spot. There are several ponds to collect storm run-off water. The sides of these ponds can hold shorebirds or an egret, plus the normal herons and ducks. It will be interesting to see if the location is productive in the years to come.

Directions: Within Rochester, take the I-590 to the Winton Road exit. From the exit ramp, head south (away the city). Drive south past Winton Plaza to the NYS Route 252 (Jefferson Road) intersection and turn left (east) onto Jefferson Road. After about a quarter mile, turn left into the Allens Creek Storm Runoff area. Be sure not to park in the road, do not block the gate and do not get locked behind the gate.

Downtown

Downtown is included here because of the hacking program by the Rochester Peregrine Project. Spring 1996 featured Rochester's first nesting Peregrines which can sometimes be seen on rooftops downtown. Formerly, Common Nighthawks nested on the Little Theatre.

This area 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.

Genesee Valley Park

A corridor that used to be railroad tracks runs along the eastern edge of the park and connects East River Road with the University of Rochester River Campus. The bridge over I-390 (not the one with the road on it, but the railroad bridge) connects to this corridor. It is a great spot for all sorts of things, since there is the edge of the woods, a strip of water and brush, and then a small field-type place. There is sometimes plenty of birds of note and a few birders consider this corridor better in migration than Island Cottage Woods once the warblers are here in force.

This area 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.

Highland Park

Highland Park is home to the famous Lilac Festival. Unfortunately for birders, it is held in mid-May during peak migration when warblers can drop into the park. The Rochester park, circa 1888, is home to the Lamberton Conservatory, along with a number of exotic trees and shrubs and a pinetum.

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.

Mt Hope Cemetery

This area can feature warblers and other small land migrants in spring migration.

This area 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.

Seneca Park

Seneca Park spans three miles of forested river gorge and contains 247 acres. This area can feature warblers and other small land migrants in spring migration.

It is located off St Paul Avenue, just north of NYS Route 104. To find the park, just ask directions to the Zoo, which is located within the park.

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.

Winton Plaza

Behind Winton Plaza is a small muddy canal overflow "pond" that can sometimes feature spring and fall shorebirds. Do not expect many shorebirds as the muddy area that attracts the birds is less than an acre in size. To reach Winton Plaza, take I-590 to Winton Ave, drive south on Winton Ave over the Erie Canal. At the first light, turn left into the plaza. The muddy area is behind the plaza.

NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

This page was last updated on 18 April 2001.