With a number of active birders beating the bushes at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park every day for the past week, it is not surprising that
well over one hundred species of birds have been found in the Park in
that period. In fact, on Sunday (probably the best day of the past week
- which suited working people and students very well), one group of
experts and novices recorded 85 species in just over six hours. Even the
past few summery days have seen new arrivals every day.
Among the hundreds of Canada Geese on the beach there is a lone Brant,
which is often difficult to spot among its larger cousins. It
occasionally wanders as far away as Owen Point. Much more conspicuous
was a white domestic goose that at a distance could have been mistaken
for a Snow Goose, which has been known to arrive at Presqu'ile in
September. A raft of Redheads and Greater Scaup in Popham Bay has been
growing steadily. The first White-winged Scoters of the season, a group
of seven or eight birds, were seen on September 14 and 16. A small
number of Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneyes provided a foretaste
of winter birding.
Almost 30 Pied-billed Grebes were in the marsh on September 19. In
Popham Bay a careful scan with a spotting scope usually reveals Horned
Grebes, lately over a dozen, and on at least three of the past four days
a single Red-necked Grebe, the first of the season. A Green Heron was
in the woodpile marsh on September 15, followed by two on the 16th and
three on the 17th.
Ospreys are being seen approximately every second day, but only one Bald
Eagle, a sub-adult bird that flew past the lighthouse on September 20,
was encountered. Merlins are seen almost every day.
A Common Moorhen swam into view in the marsh, where it has probably been
lurking all along. The variety of shorebirds around Owen Point and Gull
"Island" this past week (18 species) has fulfilled most people's
expectations, with a few uncommon species being noted. At least half a
dozen American Golden-Plovers, up to seven Whimbrels, and a few Baird's
Sandpipers have been among them almost every day. Two or three Dunlins
and two Stilt Sandpipers were present on September 16 and 17.
Unfortunately, the three Buff-breasted Sandpipers that were on Gull
"Island" a week ago had dwindled to two by September 14 and one by
September 16. That bird was last seen on September 17 and then by only
two observers of the several who searched the island. One other
shorebird that has yet to be found this year is a Long-billed Dowitcher.
The odds, however, are much reduced this year because, unlike last year
when Owen Point remained open during the early part of the waterfowl
hunt and unlike most previous years when most of the Owen Point trail
was publicly accessible during all of the waterfowl hunt, that entire
area has been posted as off limits to all but hunters on four days of
each week. As happened last year, negotiations by one angry birder to
re-open the Owen Point trail as far as Lookout #3 may yet prove to be
successful, but he is only one person and he does not officially
represent the birding community.
Two Barred Owls in Jobes' woods responded vocally to imitations provided
by an expert at calling in that species. Two sedentary nightjars were
discovered in the Park this week, a Whip-poor-will sleeping high in a
willow near the lighthouse on September 16 and a Common Nighthawk in a
tree in the "fingers" on September 19, the latter quite late in the
season for that species.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are being seen with increasing frequency,
especially at the calf pasture. A Pileated Woodpecker at Owen Point
made repeated sorties out over the open water in the direction of High
Bluff Island, as if to try to follow the lead of the Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds that have been using Owen Point as a jumping-off point on
their migration. Several Eastern Wood-Pewees and Eastern Phoebes and a
late Great Crested Flycatcher on September 16 are the only members of
that family noted this week. Four species of vireos seen this week
included a Philadelphia Vireo that gave a group of birders exceptionally
close-up views at below eye level. As noted in other parts of the
province, the Blue Jay migration is in full swing.
The first of several Horned Lark sightings on Gull "Island" was of two
birds on September 15. Two flocks of Tree Swallows and a few Barn
Swallows moved through the Park this week. The first migrant Brown
Creeper was at the lighthouse on September 16. At least until further
notice, a Carolina Wren has taken up residence at the lighthouse but can
easily be missed if it is not singing or calling. A Winter Wren was in
the Pines campground on September 19. The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet
appeared on September 18. At least one Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, and
perhaps two, were in the lighthouse area on September 16. The
appearance of the first Hermit Thrush of the fall is probably imminent.
American Pipits are numerous on Gull "Island" and elsewhere in the
Park. Among the seventeen species of warblers seen at Presqu'ile in the
past week were Orange-crowned Warblers and Cape May Warblers, each on
two different days. A few Scarlet Tanagers have been spotted.
The sparrow migration has begun to eclipse the warbler migration. Among
others that are much more plentiful now, there have been Field Sparrows,
Lincoln's Sparrows, and White-crowned Sparrows, one of the latter
appearing on the fairly early date of September 16. The first Lapland
Longspur of the season arrived right on schedule on September 20.
Single Pine Siskins have been observed at three different feeders on
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. It should be noted that, after
September 21, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Owen Point, the Owen Point trail,
Gull Island, High Bluff Island, 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]
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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.
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