As a migrant trap, Presqu'ile Provincial Park is an excellent place to
watch the fall bird migration develop week by week. Although the
progress of that event is gradual, the days when a cool front passes
bring surges of birds of many different species.
Great Egrets have become a Presqu'ile specialty in the past few years
and can now be relied upon almost every day as a likely sighting. Two
Turkey Vultures were consuming something on Beach 1 on August 13.
More than one each of Wood Ducks, Gadwalls, American Black Ducks,
Green-winged Teal, and Redheads have been seen in the Park during the
past week, as well as both Common and Red-breasted Mergansers.
Raptor sightings of the past week have included Osprey, Northern
Harriers, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Merlin.
Although shorebird numbers have been rather disappointing lately,
largely because of high water levels, nine species have been sighted
during the past week, including at least seven Black-bellied Plovers on
Augiust 19, an Upland Sandpiper on August 13, and four Whimbrels on
August 19. On the heels of a cool front, there was a significant influx
of shorebirds between August 18 and 19. One of only a handful of
sightings in recent years at Presqu'ile, a Black Tern was seen flying
past Gull Island on August 19.
One of the Barred Owls in Jobes' Woods was seen in the middle of the
morning on August 17. Every year in mid-summer, these birds are seen
more frequently than during the rest of the year, either because there
are more visitors to the Park at that time of year or because there are
fledged young augmenting their numbers, or perhaps for both reasons.
At the lighthouse there have been sightings this week of a Chimney
Swift, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, a few Purple Martins, and a handful of
warblers. Small pockets of migrant songbirds elsewhere in the Park this
week have included a Veery, two Red-breasted Nuthatches, and
Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Pine, and Canada Warblers, among others.
A Purple Finch paid a brief visit to a feeder at 186 Bayshore Road on
August 16.
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.
