Hello Ontbirders Maureen Riggs and I went birding around Presqu'ile from 0700-1030, joined by Fred Helleiner for part of the time. While there were not huge numbers of new arrivals, there were some birds of interest plus is was just a great day to be outside.
Highlights include: 13 Com. Loon mostly flying inland 1 Great Egret - small pond near tower on Marsh Boardwalk 4 Bc Night Heron - in nest bush on Sebastopol Pt., Gull Is. 1 2nd w Glaucous Gull - Sebastopol Pt. 45+ Caspian Tern - feeding in marsh, roosting off Gull Is. 15 Flicker - mostly at the lighthouse 13 Brown Creeper - various 60+ Gc Kinglet - various 2 Winter Wren - Paxton Dr. 2 R-c Kinglet - on Paxton near the lighthouse 1 H. Thrush - same 1 Pine Warbler - bright male on Paxton (the only warbler seen) 1 Fox Sparrow - on Paxton, singing constantly The other notable sighting is that the Merlin pair are courting again at the Woodpile marsh. They nested here for the first known time last year and raised at least 3 young. Today the pair was calling to each other, copulating, and the male was doing display flights, including giving the "ticking" call, that sort of reminds me of a Purple Finch call note only more serious sounding. The best way to see the birds is to stand on the causeway separating Lk. Ontario from the Woodpile Marsh (between Pines and High Bluff Campground) and scan the dead snags - a popular perch area. Please don't play tapes to them or otherwise bother them at the nest - thanks in advance. Doug McRae Doug McRae <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
