The past week has been a memorable one for birding at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park. Birds engaged in the fall migration, after being
dammed up by summery weather for much of the first week of October,
inundated the Park as if the floodgates had been opened after a cool
front passed through last Friday. By Saturday morning there were birds
in every nook and cranny of the peninsula. On each successive day, the
numbers have continued to be overwhelming, though thinning out a bit
from the first wave of the tsunami (to mix watery metaphors).
The first Red-throated Loon of the season was far out in Popham Bay on
October 11, along with at least one and possibly two Red-necked Grebes.
There has been only one sighting of a Great Egret this week, on the
rather late date of October 10. One observer saw 20 Turkey Vultures
passing overhead on October 8. In addition to all of the usual dabbling
ducks in the marsh, some diving ducks out in the lake are worth
mentioning: 100 White-winged Scoters on October 11, two Buffleheads on
October 8, and 30 Red-breasted Mergansers on October 13.
A rather late Osprey flew overhead on October 9. A Cooper's Hawk
appeared on October 13, and a Rough-legged Hawk on October 11. Three
species of falcon were in the Park this week: American Kestrel on
October 11, Merlins in two widely separated locations on October 12, and
Peregrine Falcons on October 9 and 12.
Among the twelve species of shorebirds seen during the past week were an
American Golden-Plover on October 8, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs
(the latter on October 13), a Hudsonian Godwit on October 8, two Ruddy
Turnstones and two Least Sandpipers on October 9, and up to three
White-rumped Sandpipers. An American Woodcock was flushed from the calf
pasture on October 8. A Forster's Tern was discovered near Owen Point
on October 8, and subsequent sightings of what was likely the same bird
were on October 11, 12, and 13.
A bird far more often heard than seen is the Whip-poor-will, but the one
that sat on a limb in full view after being flushed from a cedar grove
near the lighthouse on October 8 was a welcome exception.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were unusually plentiful in the Park on the
weekend. In contrast to the Whip-poor-will, the Eastern Wood-Pewee that
was at the calf pasture on October 11 emitted a song, which is not often
heard in fall. A bird seen briefly in flight at Owen Point on October
13 was probably the first Northern Shrike of the season. Blue-headed
Vireos have been fairly common this week, but the Red-eyed Vireos seen
on October 8, 9, and 12 were fairly late. Three Tree Swallows, the
first in several weeks at Presqu'ile, were present on October 11, two
near Owen Point and one near the lighthouse. Hermit Thrushes have been
ubiquitous all week. A Brown Thrasher on treeless Gull Island was in an
unexpected location. Ten species of warblers were found in the past
week, including at least two Orange-crowned Warblers, a Chestnut-sided
Warbler on October 12 that was apparently a record late date for
Presqu'ile, and a Palm Warbler of the eastern ("Yellow") race. A
Scarlet Tanager was still at the lighthouse on October 6. Eastern
Towhees were seen on October 8 and 9. A good variety of sparrows was
present this week, including a Field Sparrow, several Fox Sparrows, and
a Lincoln's Sparrow, but no American Tree Sparrows, which should be
arriving next. Single Lapland Longspurs were seen on Gull Island on two
different days. Single Indigo Buntings were seen in two different parts
of the Park on October 8 and 12. Both Purple Finch and Pine Siskin have
visited the feeders at 186 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 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.
