Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in late October is rewarding, both
in terms of the numbers and variety of migrating birds and in terms of
surprises that keep showing up. The past week has been no exception.
Waterfowl are present in the thousands, but a spotting scope is usually
needed because most of them remain safely out of range of the hunters.
A flock of 55 Gadwalls north of Gull Island on October 25 was one of the
largest ever at Presqu'ile. Among the thousands of Greater Scaup in
Popham Bay one male Canvasback could be seen on October 21 and 25, as
well as many Redheads. Four Ruddy Ducks were also there earlier in the
week. Scoters have apparently been fewer in number this week than last,
but one or two Surf Scoters have been seen on three different days and
two Black Scoters were in Popham Bay on October 25. Buffleheads have
become more numerous each day, with one flock reaching well over 100
birds. A Red-throated Loon was off beach 1 on October 22, and dozens of
Common Loons and Horned Grebes were spread out along the south shore of
the peninsula on October 25, as well as some in Popham Bay.
An American Bittern was standing out in the open to the north of the
bird sightings board on October 22. A Northern Goshawk near Owen Point
on October 21 was one of two large accipiters seen this week. The
other, probably of the same species, was at the calf pasture on October
25, where a Merlin, the first in almost two weeks, was also seen. A
Wild Turkey, one of very few that have wandered into the Park, was along
the main road between beach 2 and beach 3 on October 21. The flock of
American Coots off 38 Bayshore Road had grown to about 100 birds on
October 24, but only half that number were visible the next day.
Of the seven species of shorebirds in the Gull Island area this week,
only six remained on October 25, including a Ruddy Turnstone, a
Semipalmated Sandpiper, and a Baird's Sandpiper, all of which are rather
late in the season. Three of the latter were there two days earlier.
In an unusual type of behaviour, four gulls (either Ring-billed Gulls or
Herring Gulls) were diving at a bat that was flying about 15 metres over
Presqu'ile Bay. For the second consecutive week, a rare Sabine's Gull
was found on October 21, but by October 23 it had died and washed up on
the shore of Gull Island.
None of the migratory species of owls has appeared at Presqu'ile this
fall, but the time is right for Long-eared Owls, Short-eared Owls, and
Northern Saw-whet Owls to be passing through, and these species should
be looked for.
October 22 was an interesting day for woodpeckers at Presqu'ile. An
immature Red-headed Woodpecker spent the whole day around 186 Bayshore
Road, periodically coming down from the trees to devour seeds from the
feeders. Further along the road near 42 Bayshore, there was a female
Red-bellied Woodpecker the same day. The most recent sightings of
Eastern Phoebes were on October 23, two birds near the calf pasture,
where they often linger late in the fall. A late Blue-headed Vireo was
near the lighthouse on that day, and a Northern Shrike, the first of the
season at Presqu'ile, was at the calf pasture on the next day. The
resident Carolina Wren near the lighthouse has begun making infrequent
visits to the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road. A second bird of that
species was near the bird sightings board on October 24. Almost all of
the remaining warblers are Yellow-rumped Warblers, but two others appear
to be the latest on record, - a Black-throated Green Warbler at the
lighthouse on October 24 and a Pine Warbler near Owen Point on October
25. Both of those birds were associating with the "butter-butts",
suggesting that it might be worth checking each individual in flocks of
that species for other possibilities. American Tree Sparrows and Fox
Sparrows have begun appearing in small numbers in various parts of the
Park. Dark-eyed Juncoes are probably the most common land bird in the
Park these days. Two Snow Buntings and an Eastern Meadowlark were on
Gull Island on October 25. Purple Finches and Pine Siskins are
patronizing several feeders near the end of Bayshore Road. A female
House Sparrow was also there for two 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. It should be noted that, because
duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays, Gull "Island", High Bluff Island, and part of the calf
pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days. Again this
year, birders and others will be permitted at Owen Point on hunting days
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.
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