Birding in John E. Pearce Provincial Park along the Trans Canada Trail

There’s nothing sweeter than hiking to the soundtrack of birdsong. But if you’ve ever tried birding at a busy provincial park, you know how difficult it can be to truly enjoy the experience amongst crowds and noisy trails. As an avid birder, I set out to find a quieter park in southwestern Ontario that offered excellent birding opportunities without the constant bustle of visitors. And I found one!

Set along the shore of Lake Erie in Elgin County, about 25 minutes west of Port Stanley, is a hidden gem for nature lovers. John E. Pearce Provincial Park offers peaceful trails, diverse habitats, and incredible opportunities to spot migrating birds thanks to the park’s location along two major flyways. It’s also home to a section of the Trans Canada Trail, making it an especially special place to hike.

This spring, I planned a trip to go birding in John E. Pearce Provincial Park, and it completely exceeded my expectations. Between the quiet forest trails and impressive variety of birds, it quickly became one of my favourite birding destinations in southern Ontario. Plus, with the onsite museum and cozy cafes nearby, it’s easy to turn a birding outing into a full day trip.

If you’re searching for a lesser-known place to go birding in southern Ontario that combines peaceful hiking trails, rewarding birdwatching, and nearby hidden gems worth exploring, this guide is for you.

What to Know Before You Go

John E. Pearce Provincial Park is definitely a hidden gem when it comes to provincial parks in Ontario. The park covers 68 hectares and is free to visit. Located in Elgin County, the park makes for a great day trip from London, as it’s a scenic hour drive south.

There are 2 distinct trails in the park:

• Spicer Trail – 1.5 km (takes roughly 1 hour)
• Wetland ‘Storey’ Trail – 1. 5 km (takes roughly 1 hour)

Spicer Trail is part of the Dutton-Dunwich Trail, which is also a section of the Trans Canada Trail. It’s an easy trail that is relatively flat that travels through hardwood forest. The trail is named after a WWII veteran who was also a local naturalist.

Wetland ‘Storey’ Trail is a relatively newer trail, opened in 2017, that takes you around three restored wetlands and through a pine forest. The trail is named after the original owner, Mary Storey.

John E. Pearce Provincial Park is a prime place for birding in Ontario. Set along the shores of Lake Erie, the park is on both the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways. This brings a large number of warblers, waterfowl and other species through the region during the spring and fall migrations. E-Bird has reported over 200 bird species in the park.

Beyond the trails, the park is also home to a museum, the Backus-Page House Museum. So, the park is great for nature and history buffs alike.

All of the above is on the north side of Lakeview Line. There is also a portion of the park that is on the south side of the road, where you can enjoy a short hike to a lookout over Lake Erie.

Parking is free and available at the Backus-Page House Museum. (see on map)

Birding in John E. Pearce Provincial Park

A flash of blue caught my eye. I looked up from where I stood beside my car, still in the parking lot. Another flash, as a bird flew from the tree above me and perched perfectly on an old wooden fence post for one of the gardens at the Backus Page House Museum 20 feet away. A brilliant Eastern bluebird sat posing for the camera. I couldn’t believe my luck!

Little did I know that the bluebird was just the start of an excellent morning of birding in John E. Pearce Provincial Park.

Heading to southwestern Ontario for a birding festival at Rondeau Provincial Park, I looked up parks along my route. I stumbled upon a hidden gem of a park that looked like an ideal place to visit during the spring migration.

I’d never heard of John E. Pearce Provincial Park but once I discovered that a section of the Trans Canada Trail ran through it, I was sold!

After spotting two bluebirds before even hitting the trail, my friend and I were buzzing with anticipation. The park is home to an array of species at risk, including the Prothonotary warbler.

There are two main trails in John E. Pearce Provincial Park. The Spicer Trail, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail, and the Wetland ‘Storey’ Trail. Both can easily be hiked in a couple of hours and both are essentially loops.

Wetland ‘Storey’ Trail

We started off on the Wetland Trail, which is home to a number of ponds and part of a restoration project in the park. The 1.5 km trail is short by hiking standards. However, for those who have never done it, birding along a trail is a much slower pace and involves patience and frequent stops.

The trail weaves through open meadows, around ponds and has a small lookout platform over one of them. From the platform we spotted an array of marsh birds like red-winged blackbirds, bank swallows, and an Eastern kingbird.

Keep an eye out for the nest boxes along the first portion of the trail. We spotted a number of tree swallows utilizing them.

We watched as a pair of lesser scaup gracefully floated along in one of the large ponds. While a pair of green herons, spooked by our approach, flew to a safe spot in the forest.

While birding, don’t forget to look down! We spotted fresh deer tracks along the edge of one of the ponds. But the park is home to wildlife beyond birds, like chipmunks, wood frogs and red-backed salamanders.

Spicer Trail

After the Wetland trail we finished our hike along the Spicer Trail. This trail takes you through more forest terrain, with pines as well as trees found in Carolinian forests like sugar maple and oak.

A wood thrush made its strange song and buzz from the forest. Goldfinches and song sparrows sang in the bushes near the trail. Yellow and common yellowthroat warblers danced along the branches. While woodpeckers provided a drum beat to our walk.

John E. Pearce Provincial Park is home to a large number of woodpecker species, from downy to pileated. And it’s a popular spot to find the red-headed woodpecker.

Upon nearing the back end of the museum, where it was more open, a vulture soared over the nearby trees, riding the air currents.

It was near the end of the Spicer Trail that we encountered another two women walking for the first and only time in the park.

Birding in John E. Pearce Provincial Park exceeded my expectations. We saw dozens of species and heard even more. With a museum, two great trails, one being a part of the Trans Canada Trail, it’s a wonderful addition to any southwestern Ontario road trip or day trip.

Things to do Near John E. Pearce Provincial Park

Visit Backus Page House Museum

Set right within the park is the Backus Page House Museum. This charming 1850s house is a museum that shares the history of both the Backus and Page families that lived in the home.

The museum depicts life in Victorian times and is full of unique pieces. You can take a tour of the building and property to learn more. Beyond the house there’s also an Agricultural History Centre located in the old barn beside the museum.

But don’t miss the grounds of the museum! You’ll find gardens with heritage an heirloom plants, fruit trees and even one that is filled with items that the family’s would have grown to feed themselves.

Fuel up at a Local Cafe

A great place to eat near John E. Pearce Provincial Park is in Dutton. Located roughly 10 minutes north of the park, this cute small town has a number of shops and a great cafe.

The Daily Press Cafe is newly opened and made the perfect spot to grab a coffee and bite to eat before we hit the trails. You’ll find a variety of drinks and light fare on their menu. But the owners told us many love their breakfast sandwiches.

I loved the cool vibes inside, with an exposed brick wall, plants soaking up the sun coming through the windows, and the large shelving unit at the back with a cute little selection of books to read.

If you are looking for a local spot to eat before or after your hike, this is the spot! The owners were so friendly and welcoming, it felt like walking into my local favourite coffee shop, even though it was my first time.

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Whether you’re looking for a quiet section of the Trans Canada Trail in southwestern Ontario or keen to find a great alternative to the popular birding parks in the area, John E. Pearce Provincial Park ticks all the boxes.

Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Trans Canada Trail, but as always, all opinions are my own.

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