Although the spring bird migration has certainly slowed down at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park, it is far from over, especially in reference
to shorebirds.
The best opportunity to see Great Egrets seems to be in the early
morning, when birds are flying from their nesting area on High Bluff
Island to the mainland. The leafing out of the vegetation on Sebastopol
Island is making it more difficult to see the Black-crowned Night-Herons
there from Owen Point, the best vantage point.
On May 28, a lone Trumpeter Swan flew in and landed in Popham Bay. Four
Hooded Mergansers on June 1 and a Red-breasted Merganser on May 29 were
seen near Owen Point.
A Merlin was seen on two different days during the past week, which
suggests that the species may again be nesting somewhere in the Park.
A Virginia Rail has been very vocal recently in the wetland beside the
road to the Owen Point trail. As expected, many shorebirds have been
landing on the beach and on Gull Island this week. The highlight is a
Piping Plover, perhaps the same one that was around for a few days
around the long weekend and then vanished until May 28. It has been
seen almost daily since then and was still present on June 2. Both
birds wore identically coloured leg bands, which indicate a Michigan
origin. Whimbrels were seen daily from May 28 to May 31, but mostly in
ones and twos. The largest number reported was five. Ruddy Turnstones
have put on a good show. Red Knots reached a peak on June 1, when a
flock of 18 birds put in a brief appearance before moving on and leaving
only two or three behind on another part of the beach. Two of the birds
in that flock had been colour-banded in Chile a few years ago. Among
the "peeps", most are now Semipalmated Sandpipers, but small numbers of
Least Sandpipers and White-rumped Sandpipers have also been present.
Dunlins have been by far the most numerous shorebirds. Three
Short-billed Dowitchers were on the beach on May 31.
Bonaparte's Gulls were still present on May 30. On June 2, a very rare
Arctic Tern was on the gravel bar off Owen Point.
A Black-billed Cuckoo, only the second of the spring was near 83
Bayshore Road on May 29. Red-bellied Woodpecker sightings have become
sporadic, the most recent being on June 2 at the lighthouse. One has to
wonder whether they breed somewhere in the Park. Flycatchers of various
species suddenly became very numerous during the past week, including
two Yellow-bellied Flycatchers on May 27. A late Blue-headed Vireo was
seen on May 28. The Blue Jay migration, which can be quite spectacular
in spring, reached its peak on May 29.
A Sedge Wren has taken up residence beside the Owen Point trail parking
lot. A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher was just north of there on June 2.
Warblers are still trickling through, with both a Golden-winged Warbler
and Mourning Warblers being seen. A Yellow-rumped Warbler on May 30 was
apparently a late migrant. Clay-colored Sparrows are usually found with
little difficulty along Atkins Lane, and Orchard Orioles at 83, 85, 186,
and 191 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. 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]
.
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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.
