Twenty years ago today, the weather at Presqu'ile Provincial Park was
wet and grey, like today, but on that day a new bird for Canada was
discovered in the Park, a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. No such momentous
sighting was repeated on this anniversary, but another rare bird
provided a consolation prize.
Horned Grebes are increasing in number, with one observer counting 15 on
September 27. Two Red-necked Grebes were seen on September 23. A
Black-crowned Night-Heron was lingering on High Bluff Island as recently
as September 24. In addition to the growing flock of Greater Scaup in
Popham Bay, three Lesser Scaup were there on September 25. More and
more White-winged Scoters are in the waters off Presqu'ile, one of the
most productive vantage points for seeing them being campsite 231.
An Osprey at the calf pasture on September 23 was rather late. On the
following day a Bald Eagle was seen near the lighthouse. Both
Black-bellied Plovers and American Golden-Plovers have been moving
around on a regular basis from beach 3 to Gull Tombolo (formerly Gull
Island). On September 28, a rare shorebird, an American Avocet (the
rarity referred to above) appeared on Gull Tombolo, but, unlike the
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, could not be relocated five hours later.
The last sighting of the Whimbrel on the tombolo was on September 24.
There were sightings of the Ruddy Turnstone that has been present since
September 11 on September 24 and 26. Two Semipalmated Sandpipers on
September 28 were the first in over two weeks. Forty Pectoral
Sandpipers suddenly appeared on the tombolo in the rain on September
28. An adult Little Gull at Owen Point on September 22 may be the same
bird as the one seen two days later at the Brighton sewage lagoon. A
single Caspian Tern was still present on September 24, but several small
terns have been in Presqu'ile Bay throughout the past week, at least one
of which was a Forster's Tern seen on September 23.
A Whip-poor-will along Paxton Drive on September 25 was an unusual
find. Small numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still present and
will soon be challenging last year's record late dates. Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers and Eastern Phoebes have been all over the Park in the past
week. A Warbling Vireo sighting on September 25 may be the latest on
record. Two Common Ravens were at the lighthouse on September 24. A
flock of Tree Swallows was high in the air on September 23.
Orange-crowned Warblers have been seen on three different days in the
past week, as well as at least twelve other warbler species. A Canada
Warbler on the weekend was rather late. A Field Sparrow was at the calf
pasture and a flock of Rusty Blackbirds was at a Bayshore Road feeder on
September 25. A flock of Common Grackles moving up the point from the
lighthouse on that date was the first of that species in three weeks.
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. It should be noted that, because
duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays, Gull Tombolo, High Bluff Island, and part of the calf pasture
are not available for bird-watching on those days. For the first time
in several years, however, birders and others will be permitted at Owen
Point on hunting days, at least for the first few weeks of the hunting
season.
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.
