While winter persists meteorologically at Presqu'ile Provincial Park,
the gradually increasing photoperiod appears to have stimulated some
bird behaviour that is normally associated with February or later, while
birders continue to anticipate the inevitable, but overdue, mid-winter
thaw. Meanwhile, the outer half of Presqu'ile Bay alternates between
being totally frozen (when the wind is from the east) and being almost
ice-free (when it is from the west).
Before the bay froze over, the flock of Mute Swans numbered well over
100. Since then, only two or three dozen have returned. No dabbling
ducks have been seen in the Park for over a week. However, a few
Greater Scaup have been trickling in during the past three days, one
on January 27, three on the 28th, and about eight on the 29th. Two
White-winged Scoters found a bit of open water near the lighthouse at
the peak of this week's storm, when most of the other ducks were out of
sight in the blowing snow. The courtship display of the male Common
Goldeneyes in recent days gives hope that there will indeed be a spring.
At least two immature Bald Eagles have been patrolling the shores and
waters of the Presqu'ile peninsula, occasionally resting on the ice of
the bay.
The drumming of Downy Woodpeckers on several recent mornings has been a
welcome sound of spring, one of very few as yet. A Northern Shrike was
seen in the vicinity of one of the Park's two active bird feeders on
January 26. Although flocks of American Robins can be found here and
there in the Park, generally where there is buckthorn, a much more
unusual sighting on January 28 was of a single misguided bird flying
along the shore near the lighthouse, an area that is generally regarded
as a migrant trap and seldom harbours any land birds in mid-winter. Two
each of Song Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncoes, and Common Grackles are
regularly patronizing feeders towards the end of Bayshore Road. A lone
Common Redpoll briefly visited the feeder at 186 Bayshore Road, where
American Goldfinches appear every day, but the only other finches
anywhere near Presqu'ile were several Evening Grosbeaks at
Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area, north of Brighton.
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. Although the channel separating
Gull Island from Owen Point appears to be frozen over, the thickness of
the ice is probably unreliable because of the underlying currents.
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.
