The past week has been surprisingly productive for birding at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park, considering that the weather has not always been
co-operative and that birding is typically slow in November.
Offshore there are good numbers of Common Loons and Horned Grebes.
Although most Double-crested Cormorants left during October, single
birds have been seen on five of the past seven days, the most recent
being at the calf pasture on November 6.
Four Turkey Vultures soared westward over the Park on November 6.
After a flock of 117 Brant was at Owen Point on October 28, two birds
remained on November 4 (flying past Gull Island), and one on November 6
(swimming past Gull Island). A Trumpeter Swan, first seen in the marsh
on October 31, has been seen almost daily since then and was still
present on November 6. Northern Pintails and Green-winged Teal are also
present there every day. The number of Canvasbacks and Ring-necked
Ducks off 16 Bayshore Road has grown to at least 8 and 200,
respectively. In Popham Bay there are thousands of Greater Scaup. On
the south side of Gull Island on November 6 there were numbers of
White-winged Scoters and two Black Scoters.
A Merlin was seen on November 4 at Gull Island, and another posed for a
long time near the lighthouse on November 6.
Among the eight species of shorebirds seen along the beach and on Gull
Island this week, the vast majority were Dunlins. A Semipalmated and a
Least Sandpiper on November 4 were unexpected at this late date. What
is expected, however, is the arrival of Purple Sandpipers, for which
Presqu'ile is noted, yet none has appeared so far.
A Great Horned Owl was being harassed by American Crows near the park
store at mid-day on November 6. Two Northern Shrikes were seen on
November 4, and the one at the calf pasture was still present on the
following day.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the week was a Red-eyed Vireo that flew
in and began eating wild grapes while the observer was watching a nearby
bird feeder on November 5, by far the latest date on record in the
Park. The location is the parking lot at the south end of the "pioneer
trail" leading to the group campground. Six Eastern Bluebirds at the
calf pasture on November 6 flew off out of sight. Two American Pipits
on November 2 and a "Northern" Horned Lark on November 6 were at the
tail end of their normal migration periods. There are still flocks of
Yellow-rumped Warblers here and there in the Park.
While large numbers of Fox Sparrows are being reported from points
farther west in Ontario, only one bird has been reported this fall at
Presqu'ile. It was at the lighthouse on November 1 and at a nearby
feeder the next day. A few Chipping, White-throated, and White-crowned
Sparrows can be found at various feeders along Bayshore Road, along with
Purple Finches and Pine Siskins. Although Evening Grosbeaks have shown
up at three feeders outside the Park this week, they have not yet been
reported in the Park. At 116 Bayshore Road, a House Sparrow was
patronizing the feeder on October 31. This species is rarely seen at
Presqu'ile.
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. Visitors to Gull Island not using a
boat should be prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. It
should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given priority on
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, Owen Point,
and part of the calf pasture are not available for bird watching on
those days.
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.
