For the past week, birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has been fairly
typical of the period between the nones and the ides of March. The new
arrivals have included not only thousands of waterfowl but also many
songbirds, albeit of a fairly limited variety.
A Tundra Swan was seen on March 13. The first Wood Duck of the year
arrived on March 10, and a pair was present off the government dock the
next day. Gadwalls and American Wigeons are now a daily occurrence,
but, perhaps surprisingly, no Northern Pintails have yet been reported.
Two Green-winged Teal were sitting on the ice near the government dock
on March 13, which is earlier than the first reported date mentioned in
/Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park/ (1993) but not the earliest date
since that book was published. Hundreds of Canvasbacks and Redheads and
a few dozen Ring-necked Ducks have been in Presqu'ile Bay for several
days, concentrated mainly between the calf pasture and the government
dock. A few White-winged Scoters are seen almost every day between the
government dock and the lighthouse. The southerly winds that have
brought in so many new birds this week had also apparently driven away
at least one bird that has been at Presqu'ile since January. Almost
everyone who came to the first of the two Waterfowl Viewing weekends
was able to get a good look at a male Barrow's Goldeneye, and, although
it was also seen on the two days before and the two days after the
weekend, it was not seen again until after the first draft of this
report was completed. This is the second false alarm about the
disappearance of that bird. Eventually, of course, it will decide to
move on. Hooded Mergansers have been seen at several points in
Presqu'ile Bay and are now most easily seen at the calf pasture. Two
Ruddy Ducks, never common at Presqu'ile, were off the government dock on
March 13 and 14. A Horned Grebe was also there on March 13, apparently
the earliest date on record for that species in the Park. Pied-billed
Grebes normally arrive before Horned Grebes and may be expected within a
few days.
Single Bald Eagles were seen twice in the past week, as were single
American Coots. A Snowy Owl was sitting on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay on
March 10. The elusive Northern Shrike that has been at the calf pasture
through much of the winter was seen again on March 12. In all
probability there are now American Woodcocks at Presqu'ile, but a search
at the calf pasture one evening proved unsuccessful.
Eastern Bluebirds are normally among the earliest songbird arrivals and,
while never common, may soon be expected in the calf pasture or
elsewhere. American Robins are now widespread and singing at
Presqu'ile. A flock of Cedar Waxwings was at 79 Bayshore Road on March
15. Song Sparrows have been around 186 Bayshore Road since March 12. A
few Brown-headed Cowbirds have been among the other blackbirds along
Bayshore Road for several days.
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.
