Among the more active local birders who frequent Presqu'ile Provincial
Park, two have been away on holiday in the past week, two have had to
reduce their birding for medical reasons, and another has been hiding
from the cold while catching up on some writing. Visiting birders have
also been scarce. Partly for that reason, reports of bird sightings
have been few, but not without at least one of particular interest.
Despite persistent below-normal temperatures, there has been much open
water in Presqu'ile Bay during the week, largely because of steady
westerly winds. The temporary shift on Wednesday to a southerly
component to the winds was accompanied by an influx of ducks that had
left for a couple of weeks.
Over 300 each of Canada Geese and Mute Swans were in Presqu'ile Bay on
February 7, accompanied by a possible Trumpeter Swan (a sleeping swan
with a yellow tag on its back) and two Tundra Swans, of which four had
been present on the day before. Also on February 7, a single
Canvasback, a couple of dozen Redheads, and a couple of hundred Greater
Scaup were in the bay, the highest count of any of those species in
almost two weeks. Searches for the previously reported Barrow's
Goldeneye were sporadic and unsuccessful except for two sightings at the
lighthouse, the most recent being on February 7. Visitors to Presqu'ile
should be aware that the staging of migrant diving ducks in Presqu'ile
Bay usually begins early in February and continues to build up during
the next month or more. Two different Bald Eagles, an adult and an
immature, were seen this week.
Only one Golden-crowned Kinglet was found this week, although the
species is likely present wherever there are extensive conifer stands.
A few American Robins continue to show up in various parts of the Park,
including one that appeared in the morning of February 7 with the
southerly wind. It was near the lighthouse, where migrants first make
landfall and where the species is usually absent in winter. A Northern
Cardinal, probably responding to a lengthening photoperiod, was heard
singing on February 6, one of the coldest mornings of the year. During
a raging snowstorm on February 3, a male House Sparrow gorged itself on
a feeder at 186 Bayshore Road. No others of that species have been
reported at Presqu'ile this winter.
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. The channels separating Gull Island
from Owen Point are no longer considered safe to cross.
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.
