For rather obvious reasons, not many birders have been out and about at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park in recent days, yet a number of interesting
birds were found by those who did venture out.
Large numbers of waterfowl are to be seen both in the marsh and in the
waters surrounding the peninsula. Among others, there were four
Ring-necked Ducks in the marsh and a Surf Scoter at the calf pasture on
October 16. Dozens of White-winged Scoters are offshore, and single
Black Scoters were seen in Popham Bay and Presqu'ile Bay. The first
Buffleheads of the season appeared on October 15, and their numbers have
been growing since then. No one has yet reported a Long-tailed Duck.
On October 19, a Northern Goshawk flew past and a Peregrine Falcon was
sitting on a branch on Gull Peninsula (recently referred to as "Gull
Tombolo" until I was corrected about the true meaning of that word by a
regular reader and by Google; if it's not a tombolo or an island, what
is it?). A Merlin has also been there recently. A few shorebirds
remain on that feature and on the beach, mostly Black-bellied Plovers
and Dunlins, but there have also been a few Semipalmated Plovers and
singles of Sanderling, White-rumped Sandpiper, and, /mirabile dictu/
(loosely translated as "surprise, surprise"), a Red Phalarope on October
18. A Greater Yellowlegs flew over the marsh, calling, on October15.
The other surprise of the week was a Parasitic Jaeger off Owen Point on
October 19.
The most recent sightings of a Blue-headed Vireo and a Tree Swallow were
on October 19. A late Veery was reported on October 14. A flock of
Eastern Bluebirds near the Park entrance on October 18 contained about
two dozen birds. A Gray Catbird at the lighthouse on October 14 was
rather late. Before the end of the month, there might be a Northern
Shrike somewhere in the Park.
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.
