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8 - Fairport Harbor
Lake Metroparks
301 Huntington Beach Dr., Fairport Harbor, OH 44077
440.639.9972
Public Access
Open daily, dawn until dusk; parking fee in summer
Amenities
Restrooms, Picnic Area
GPS Coordinates
N 41° 45'29.98"; W 81° 16'35.86"
Driving Directions
Take State Route 2 to the Fairport Harbor/Richmond
Street exit and go north to the light at the Richmond
Street/State Route 283 intersection. Proceed north
(straight) for about 1/4 mile to High Street. Turn right on
High Street and proceed to Fairport Harbor Lakefront
Park entrance.
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What To Look For
Fairport Harbor lies at the mouth of the Grand River, in the village of Fairport Harbor. The bulk of the lakefront is managed as this 21-acre park, which is owned by the village of Fairport Harbor and overseen by Lake Metroparks. It includes a beach that is nearly a ¼ mile in length. An extensive offshore breakwall protects the harbor, and large numbers of waterfowl often congregate in its protected waters. Huge numbers of Bontaparte's Gulls often mass in the harbor and near the mouth of the Grand River. November and December are the prime months for gulls and waterfowl.
The beach is always worth a look in spring. Shorebirds such as Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling can drop in, and occasionally a Willet. Terns and gulls can often be found roosting as well. Summer and the warmer months bring large numbers of people to the beach, which greatly reduces birding opportunities.
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Noteworthy Rarities
Fairport Harbor and its immediate vicinity sports a big list of rarities. A Common Eider appeared two consecutive years, providing two of Ohio's three records. Northern Gannet, all three scoter species, Red Phalarope, and Purple Sandpiper have been recorded. Snowy Owls sometimes frequent the rocky breakwalls. Numerous rare gulls have turned up, often within the hordes of Bonaparte's Gulls that congregate, including Black-legged Kittiwake, Sabine's, Black-headed, Little, and Mew gulls.
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Local Resources
Lake County Visitors Bureau & Welcome Center
Lake Metroparks
Village of Fairport Harbor
Nearby Lake Access Sites
The eastern end of Fairport Harbor, in the vicinity of the marina, can be worth checking. This area has produced Common Eider, Mew Gull, and Cave Swallow. The marina can be reached by walking to the east end of the beach; a trail skirts along the summit of the bluff that overlooks Lake Eire, and connects with Prospect Street which ends at the marina. |
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