Camping at MacGregor Point Provincial Park
This weekend was fantastic, I was really looking forward to this trip, the park is in a great area and we had a bit of time to prep for it. We took the Corolla Camper out to MacGregor Point Provincial Park for a couple nights and using the car as a camper is getting better each time we go out. I was not disappointed and would definitely go back to MacGregor.
The Friends of MacGregor
The Huron Fringe Birding Festival was going on at the time, we got to meet a few people who share the same interest. On this trip we also started looking at some wild flowers and other plant life as well. I enjoy trying to take a photo I will be happy with and I’m just using the cell phone I carry. It’s a lot of fun and helps us try to identify things.
The Friends of MacGregor were very welcoming and easily offered information about the birds, trails, and the different classes that were available during the festival. Had we known, I would have tried to get us into a few events. We took walks with the Friends of Point Pelee during the Festival of Birds and it was a great experience. Personally, this has been the best part of starting this process, kind people willing to share their experiences and give their insight into the evolution of birding. We will be prepared for next year as registration begins March 17, 2023.
From their tent we were able to grab a sandwich and a spicy hot chocolate cookie, that was fun and it helps support the park, it’s a win-win. Following that there was a nice boardwalk around the water and it wrapped back to the visitor’s center.
While Hiking through McGregor we identified 35 birds, the one that stands out the most to me is the Black-throated Blue Warbler. It was spectacular to watch this little guy, he sang his heart out in the open and we stayed for the show. He flew around and caught his dinner and didn’t seem to be too bothered by our presence. Our new binoculars are great and exactly what we needed, now Meki can see even further.
Hiking the Trails
The trails are really good and there are so many. You can walk for quite some time if you want and see a large variety of life. The trees in this area are amazing to look at, some of the trails were closed due to nesting Osprey so you could not walk the loop. The Friends of MacGregor told us how to navigate that situation, and not to disturb the birds. In light of that we only went a short distance along the closed trail and just turned around. They were also trying to protect nesting turtles, they nest in loose gravel so paths are ideal. There was a marsh boardwalk where I saw a frog and tried to get a photo. It’s truly amazing the variety of environments you can move through while on a walk like this, it is incredible.
When you’re walking a long trail and you eat the last of the snacks!!
Our eBird checklists are below, we got to see some pretty cool birds. More so it was amazing to wake up to this very vocal House Wren each morning. Then in the evenings we got to listen to many birds but the Wood Thrush really stood out. We got to see and hear a few different woodpeckers, a couple little warblers stuck around long enough for us to watch them for a while.
Ontario Parks
The campsite is very nice, I like it when there is a bit of a driveway. We are surrounded by trees and brush, we will wake up to singing, its the best sound. I got super excited when Meki returned from the Park store, he brought me a scratch map, a puzzle and the discovery pass. Well played, Ontario. Challenge accepted. 100 parks, how many years can this take? The idea is quite intriguing and when I realize how remote some of these places are, I wonder am I ready?
Nature on the trails
This Chestnut Sided Warbler decided to grace us not only with his song but he sat around for us to watch for a while; such an attractive looking bird.
Gallery
eBird checklists
MacGregor Provincial Park – 11 species
MacGregor Point Provincial Park – 25 species
MacGregor Provincial Park – 4 species
MacGregor Provincial Park – 1 species
MacGregor Provincial Park – 11 species
MacGregor Provincial Park – 13 species
GPS Tracks
Below in both green and blue are a couple GPS tracks of walks we took here.
MacGregor Point Provincial Park Maps
MacGregor Point also has a pretty interesting trail system for the winter. You can also book winter season sites here.
Friends of MacGregor Point Park | Macgregor Point Provincial Park | Ontario | FOMPP
MacGregor Point is one of the most ecologically diverse natural places along the Lake Huron shoreline. A complex ecosystem unfolds at this all-season park on a seven-kilometre stretch of coast, just south of Port Elgin.