Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
Rattray Marsh
Located in Mississauga and easily accessible from Jack Darling Park or other side streets, Rattray Marsh offers a quick, natural escape from city life with trails, and a nice viewing area overlooking the marsh area where you 
can observe shore birds effectively. The Rattray Marsh trail system is an easy walk with gentle hills, raised boardwalks and bridges so it is not an exhausting walk. Weekends can be busy though and somewhat noisy and also keep in mind that after wet weather, some spots can be muddy. The best time is just after sunrise during the week where the marsh is quiet and not inundated with people. You might even get to meet some new birding friends along the way! My favourite spot is actually not on the boardwalk, but is in fact just at the mouth of the marsh where it meets the lake. This requires a short walk along the beachfront where you might be able to spot some interesting brachiopod fossils in the rocks along the beach. It’s best to be as non-intrusive as possible at that location and just blend in with as little noise as possible.
- Trails: Easy with raised boardwalks
- Washroom Facilities: No (Washroom facilities located at Jack Darling Park adjacent to the Marsh)
- Parking: Limited at Jack Darling Park, 1180 Lakeshore Rd West
- Walking access from 50 Bexhill Road
A sample of popular Bird Species at Rattray Marsh:
- Great Blue Heron
- Green Heron
- Northern Harrier
- Belted Kingfisher
- Red-wing Blackbird
- Great Egret
- Mallard Duck
- Ring-billed Gull
- Canada Goose
- Killdeer
Rattray Marsh was featured on Marc Fitkin’s blog in late Summer, 2013. Have a look at his adventures here from his blog, The Backyard Astronomer.
For more information, please contact us at neweyesoldskies@gmail.com or if you wish to be notified about our Birding Excursions, please email us at neweyesoldskiesobs@gmail.com
A sample of some pics from the Marsh over the years. For a complete set of photos from Rattray Marsh, please visit Marc’s Photography Page on Photobucket
Photos by Marc D. Fitkin
