Presqu'ile Provincial Park has been flooded with migrating birds during
the past week. Most of the land birds are members of the sparrow
family, but others, as well as water birds and shorebirds, have also
been well represented. To spice up the birding trips to the Park,
visitors have been able, with little difficulty, to find at least one
rarity.
Common Loons and Horned Grebes (up to 200 of the latter on October 12)
have been congregating in the offshore waters. Red-necked Grebes have
been observed off the lighthouse and in Popham Bay, where most of the
Horned Grebes have been seen. Sporadic sightings of Great Egrets have
occurred, on October 12 and 13.
Five Wood Ducks were in the marsh on October 10. The lookout opposite
the campground office generally yields a good number of dabbling ducks,
that are feeding on the marsh vegetation, including a number of
Green-winged Teal. American Black Duck numbers in their usual haunts
along the south shore of the peninsula are building up already towards
the hundreds that can be expected there by December. On the Christmas
Bird Count last year, 1397 were counted. In the large rafts of Greater
Scaup in Popham Bay, there are a few Redheads, and on October 12 a Black
Scoter was also swimming with them. A Surf Scoter near the lighthouse
on October 13 and a number of White-winged Scoters off the south shore
rounded out the tally of scoters this week. The first Buffleheads of
the season were off the south shore on October 12, and a few more were
off Gull Island on October 14. Three Common Goldeneyes were in Popham
Bay on October 14, as well as several hundred Red-breasted Mergansers.
Three species of falcons were in the Park during the past week. As
recently as October 14, a Merlin was still patrolling the shores of Gull
Island. A Peregrine Falcon was sighted on October 8 and 12. A Ruffed
Grouse that was flushed from beside the Visitor Centre on October 11 was
accompanied by a second bird on the following day.
There was still a reasonable selection (ten species) of shorebirds on
the beach and on the offshore islands since the latest report last
week. Three Greater Yellowlegs were there on October 11. On October 8,
two Hudsonian Godwits and a Long-billed Dowitcher, both fairly rare in
this area, showed up. One of the godwits disappeared after that day,
perhaps the victim of a Peregrine Falcon or of a misidentification
during the waterfowl hunt (that happened to a Marbled Godwit here 25
years ago), but the other godwit was seen every day until at least
October 13. Two Semipalmated and one White-rumped Sandpiper were on
Gull Island on October 14. Little Gulls were seen on October 10 at the
lighthouse and on October 13 in Popham Bay, where there are many
Bonaparte's Gulls.
Among the land birds at Presqu'ile, Eastern Phoebes can still be found
every day. The first-ever fall sighting at Presqu'ile of a White-eyed
Vireo near the lighthouse on October 13 has caused a stir of excitement
among local birders. Blue-headed Vireos are also still present, with
one observer counting three individuals on October 10. Good-sized
flocks of Tree Swallows moved past the lighthouse on October 9 and 10.
A somewhat elusive Tufted Titmouse, also the first-ever fall record at
Presqu'ile, was found at a feeder at 191 Bayshore Road on October 9, and
has been seen at least once every day since then, either at the original
location or at the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road or in the trees and
bushes between there and the lighthouse. Endless patience seems to be
the requisite strategy for finding this bird, but speculation has begun
among birders that it might stay now for some time, perhaps even until
the Christmas Bird Count in December or even all winter.
The bushes and trees around the lighthouse have been alive with birds
all week, including Winter Wrens, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned
Kinglets (almost to the point of annoyance!), Hermit Thrushes, a thrush
whose description fitted that of Swainson's Thrush, and five species of
warblers (Orange-crowned, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped,
Black-throated Green, Blackpoll). An Orange-crowned Warbler, a
Nashville Warbler, and a Northern Parula were seen elsewhere in the Park
on October 9.
As mentioned at the outset, sparrows and their allies have been
ubiquitous this week. An Eastern Towhee has been patronizing the feeder
at 83 Bayshore Road, and a Fox Sparrow was at the lighthouse on October
11 and on the Owen Point trail on October 12, but the large flocks of
sparrows have consisted mostly of Chipping, Song, White-throated, and
White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncoes. No American Tree Sparrows
have yet been reported from the Park, but they may be expected soon. A
Lapland Longspur was on Gull Island on October 14, soon to be followed,
I fear, by Snow Buntings. They arrived on October 19 last year and on
October 20 the year before. A late Rose-breasted Grosbeak was at the
lighthouse on October 13. Seven Eastern Meadowlarks were at the calf
pasture on October 12. Purple Finches and Pine Siskins have begun to
accompany the numerous American Goldfinches visiting feeders along
Bayshore Road.
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 should be
prepared to wade through knee-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, High Bluff 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.
