Fonthill birder Don Mills found 2 Cackling Goose associating with some 120
Canada Goose at the ponds near the north end of the fourth fairway of the
Peninsula Lakes Golf Club in Fenwick. The birds also spent time feeding in the
grass of the fourth fairway fairly close to the green. The two ponds border
Rice Road and the birds can be readily seen from the corner of Cream Street and
Tice Road in Fenwick. Birders need to know that the golf course is private
property and they will not tolerate trespassers.
Directions: Coming from Hamilton, exit the QE Highway at Regional Road 24,
Victoria Avenue in Vineland and proceed south some 18-20 kms to Regional Road
20. Turn left here and go east about 5-6 kms to Cream Street. Turn left on
Cream and go about 1 km north to where the road T's onto Tice Road. Look for
the birds from this corner.
Coming from Niagara Falls, exit the QE Highway at Highway 406 at St. Catharines
and continue south (towards Welland and Port Colborne) for about 18-20 kms to
Regional Road 20. Turn right here and drive west through the town of Fonthill,
continuing for some 3 kms to Cream Street (just past the entrance to the golf
club), then turn right for about 1 km to the Tice Road corner.
Kayo
Kayo Roy
13 Kinsman Court
Fonthill, ON
L0S 1E3
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Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 20:51:18 -0400
From: Fred Helleiner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]
Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending October 28, 2004.
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Pleasant weather and partial defoliation of the trees have made for good
birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park during the past week, despite
progressively dwindling numbers of birds.
Red-throated Loons were seen on October 22 and 26, in Popham Bay and off
High Bluff Island, respectively. Horned Grebes have been dotting the
waters off Presqu'ile in large numbers (several score) all week. Except
for one flock of about 100 near the lighthouse on October 24,
Double-crested Cormorants have dwindled to the point where only
single-digit numbers can be found on any day.
A small flock of Brant continues to forage around the shores of Popham
Bay, usually near Owen Point. There were 24 birds in the group on
October 24, but the number has gradually dwindled to five on October
28. Two Northern Shovelers were in Popham Bay on October 28, and a male
Northern Pintail has been seen regularly in the marsh.
Rough-legged Hawks have been passing through the Park in small numbers:
1 on October 22, 3 on October 26, and 1 on October 28. Two Merlins were
along the beach on October 22 and one was still there on October 28.
Shorebirds are down to six species, including a Greater Yellowlegs on
October 26, a late Red Knot on Gull Island on October 28, and single
Semipalmated Sandpipers on October 22, 25, and 26. An adult Little Gull
was with a group of Bonaparte's Gulls at Owen Point on October 25.
Four species of owls were found in the Park during the past week. A
Great Horned Owl and a Northern Saw-whet Owl were on High Bluff Island
on October 26, a Barred Owl on Paxton Drive in Newcastle Woods on
October 25 gave a fairly satisfactory view as it flew away, and a
Short-eared Owl flew to and fro off the beach for a few minutes on
October 22.
Northern Shrikes have been seen at Presqu'ile on four of the past seven
days, with as many as two different birds on October 25 and three on
October 27. The latest sighting of a Blue-headed Vireo was on October
22, but a Red-eyed Vireo at 186 Bayshore Road on October 27 was
exceptionally late. A Common Raven and a Horned Lark flew past the
lighthouse on October 26, both unusual at that location.
The main attraction for birders at Presqu'ile this week has been a
Tufted Titmouse that seems to have settled in around the end of Bayshore
Road. It has been seen almost every day, sometimes several times a day,
usually visiting feeders at 191 or 186 Bayshore Road. Hermit Thrushes
were present in good numbers at least up to October 22, and a few are
still being found. Only three species of warblers remained in the Park
since the previous report a week ago: an Orange-crowned Warbler at the
lighthouse on October 25, small numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers almost
every day, and a tail-less Palm Warbler at the lighthouse on October 22.
American Tree Sparrows were found in two different locations on October
28, a Field Sparrow was at 191 Bayshore Road on October 26, and a Fox
Sparrow was on High Bluff Island on the same day. A flock of 30 Snow
Buntings was on beach 2 on October 23, and smaller flocks have been on
Gull Island for several days. On October 28, an Eastern Meadowlark was
on Gull Island and three Rusty Blackbirds were in a mixed blackbird
flock near the lighthouse.
At the feeders at the end of Bayshore Road (#186 and 191), a few Purple
Finches and up to about 40 Pine Siskins have been daily visitors, but a
female House Sparrow at 191 Bayshore Road on October 25 was a surprise
as 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 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, 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.
