BOTTOM LINE: A hidden gem for birds and birders Even if you've explored Point Pelee National Park, Hillman Marsh can give more intimate and close-up opportunities to watch your favourite birds (my first time here, I saw dunlins, blue and green wing teals, greater yellow legs, bonaparte gulls, blue herons, ruddy ducks, and it wasn't even migratory season yet!). From the marshy plains located just off the parking lot to the inland marshes and mudflats, there are a variety of spots for birds to chillax. One of the coolest parts of the this marsh are several long grassy "walkways" sandwiched between bodies of water so it gives you the feeling of walking through the middle of a lake. These walkways are quite elevated, so don't worry (too much) about flooding. The whole conservation area is a 5 km loop consisting mostly of grassy paths, minor elevation changes, and the occasional board walk - it's fairly easy to spend 2 hours here. And because it's a loop, there's basically no way to get lost, and so there are almost no signs either, lending itself to a very "natural" experience. read more