Although bird migration at Presqu'ile Provincial Park is still several weeks away from its spring peak, many birders who visited the Park over the Easter weekend expressed satisfaction with the variety of migrants that could be found with a bit of searching. Below normal temperatures and northerly winds for the past two days have slowed things down a bit, but in general migration is close to being on schedule.
The first American Bittern of the year appeared in the marsh on April 18. That is also the best location for finding Great Egrets at this time of year, with six in view at one time on April 23. Birders with a spotting scope can see up to nine Black-crowned Night-Herons around their nests on Sebastopol Point, but several also show up at dusk in the marsh, where no scope is needed. Two Northern Shovelers were in the woodpile marsh on April 20, and eight Northern Pintails were also seen on that day. Approximately 50 Green-winged Teal are regularly frequenting the beach area. There still are two Canvasbacks among the Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, and Scaup in the inner part of Presqu'ile Bay. About 15 White-winged Scoters were off the lighthouse on April 23. Ruffed Grouse began drumming along Paxton Drive on April 19. Evening sounds along the marsh boardwalk from now on will make for interesting bird listening, with Common Moorhens, Wilson's Snipe, and Marsh Wrens likely to join the chorus of bitterns and woodcocks that are already present. Two very early Dunlins that appeared off Owen Point on April 19 raised speculation that they may have been the same individuals that were present until January 1, having possibly over-wintered undetected on nearby High Bluff Island. A Little Gull accompanied a procession of 49 Bonaparte's Gulls flying towards the lighthouse on April 18. On April 24, a Glaucous Gull was sitting on the gravel bar off Owen Point. Five species of swallows were huddling in the cold on the morning of April 23 near the lighthouse, the only regular species missing being Purple Martin. Other newly arrived migrants during the past week at Presqu'ile included large numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, several each of Hermit Thrushes, Brown Thrashers, Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers, Eastern Towhees, and Chipping, Field, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows. Six Savannah Sparrows on the Owen Point trail on April 19 represented an unusually high concentration. There was also a significant migration this week of Eastern Meadowlarks, with ten being seen near the lighthouse on April 19 and 4, 2, and 1 on the next three days. To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, R.R. #4, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0 VOICE: (613) 475 5309 If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Fred Helleiner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
