Sodus Bay

Rating

Fall	Winter
Spring	Summer

Site history/background

Sodus Bay resides on the Lake Ontario shore. A large breakwall is needed to protect portions of the bay. Needless to say, choppy water is present during the winter. Choppy water means open water, which means a gathering of waterfowl. Additionally, the protected bay slowly freezes in and gulls seem to prefer congregating at the edge of the ice.

Best Birding

Good in Spring and Autumn for migrant waterfowl. Great in Winter for open water bay and diving ducks, Harlequin Duck, and gulls. Purple Sandpiper possible in November/December. The bay itself is lousy in Summer due to water recreationists (boaters, fishermen, etc.)

Regular Specialties

Spring, fall and wintering waterfowl. Wintering white-winged gulls

Noteworthy Records

Common Eider, King Eider, Harlequin Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, Ivory Gull, Sabine's Gull, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Purple Sandpiper, Northern Gannet, Fish Crow, Common Raven

Areas of interest

The Sodus Point Lighthouse offers a nice vantage point to watch over Lake Ontario. The parking lot reaches almost to the bluff's edge. One can probably bird from within a car on a cold, wintry day or rainy day, but it is not always recommended.

At Sodus Point State Park Beach, a breakwall protects the bay from the choppy Lake Ontario water that is present during the winter months. Sometimes Purple Sandpiper, Snowy or Short-eared Owl is found on the breakwall or nearby pier in November. Harlequin Duck, if found in the winter, seems to prefer this area. Numbers and variety of gulls and waterfowl, such as bay and diving ducks, can be found here.

Tip Number 1: Dress Warm. For some reason, it always seems windy here and twenty degrees colder than elsewhere.
Tip Number 2: The restrooms that provided shelter to block the fierce winds have recently been removed. Because the breakwall protect of the bay, calmer water hosts additional waterfowl, such as puddle ducks. Due to calmer waters, the bay is more susceptible to freezing. Gulls seem to prefer congregating at the edge of the ice and this is a good place to look in winter for Iceland, Glaucous and other odd wintering gulls.

After checking out Sodus Point beach, turn south onto Route 14. Sometimes the bay can be viewed between residences and marinas. Most of the land at the water's edge is privately owned in this area. Stop when and where oncoming and following traffic allows. Please respect landowners' rights. Turn left (east) onto Red Hill Road. Follow it around a big bend until it reaches a stop sign. Turn left (east). Follow this down to a cove at the south end of Sodus Bay. Observe the bay from here for waterfowl, gulls and shorebirds. Be sure to check up the creek for rails, and herons.

Continue east. Soon you will reach another nook in the bay. Stop on either side of the floating bridge. About three telephone poles west of the floating bridge is a gravel road heading south. This is the public access point to NYS DEC lands (hunting). The inlet stream and marsh can be seen from here. The area around the floating bridge is good for waterfowl, and can offer suitable shorebird habitat.

The Sodus Bluffs offers an almost birds-eye view of the lake. Birders in the 1970's used this vantage point. Among the many rarities seen here included a pair of adult Sabine's Gulls. The bluff itself is owned by the state. The road to the bluff is winding and seemingly private but public access is allowed. Directions: Under construction.

Directions

Located on the Delorme NYS Atlas and Gazetteer on page 73, block B6, C6. A map that accompanies the following directions is located here (38KB).

From Rochester:: Travel out NYS Route 104. Drive over the Bay bridge and out into the hinterlands. After about 20-30 minutes, depending on road conditions, you shall pass the hamlet of Sodus. At the next (?) traffic light, turn left onto NYS Route 14. Travel this for 6 miles or so into the town of Sodus Point. Follow the edge of the bay until you reach Lake Ontario (Turn right at the T intersection, left at the gas station, right and the T intersection and take that to the end). This is Sodus Point State Park Beach, where the breakwall and restrooms are.
From the thruway (I-90):: Take exit 41 (Montezuma, NYS Route 414). Turn north onto NYS Route 414. Drive through Clyde, past NYS Route 31, and norht for several miles. At NYS Route 104, turn left (west). Drive about 3-5 miles. Turn right (north) onto NYS Route 14. Travel this for 6 miles or so into the town of Sodus Point. Follow the edge of the bay until you reach Lake Ontario (Turn right at the "T" intersection, left at the gas station, right and the "T" intersection and take that to the end). This is Sodus Point State Park Beach, where the breakwall and restrooms are.

Nearby Birding

South of Sodus...

Huckleberry Swamp is 79 acres of diverse, high quality wetlands for bird and wildlife habitat conservation. Huckleberry Swamp provides significant functions including storm water retention, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat, and possibly rare plant habitat. The site is maintained by The Olga Fleisher Ornithological Foundation, Inc. The site is located outside of the village of North Rose, NY (between Syracuse and Rochester for you out-of-towners). It's south of Sodus Bay. From Route 104, turn south on Brick Schoolhouse Road. Keep straight until the road ends at a T-intersection with Catchpole Road. Turn right on Catchpole Road, and Huckleberry Swamp is just ahead on the left...just look for our big green sign.

The Olga Fleisher Ornithological Foundation, Inc. also manages the 75 acres Fifth Road Sanctuary. This Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary hosts a great variety of migratory and year-round resident birds due to its habitat diversity. On a visit, one would be likely to run into Great Blue Heron, American Bittern, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Cedar Waxwing, and Eastern Bluebird. This site is located at the corner of Rt. 104 and Fifth Road and is very accessible with a small parking area and a short, easy trail for walking.

Montezuma NWR is about 20 minutes to the south. From NYS Route 104, drive east to NYS Route 414, turn right (south) through Clyde and over the thruway (I-90). Turn left (east) at NYS Route 318 (in the town of Magee). Take that to the end (NYS Routes 5 and US Route 20), turn east and drive about a mile to the headquarters.