Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has taken a back seat in the past
week to holiday celebrations and to weather conditions on Sunday that
would discourage even the most fanatical birders from going out.
However, the mild temperatures have allowed Presqu'ile Bay to open up as
far west as the government dock, and that has provided good waterfowl
viewing conditions. With luck, similar conditions will prevail on New
Year's Day for the re-scheduled Christmas Bird Count.
The hundreds of Mute Swans in Presqu'ile Bay should be searched
carefully with a spotting scope, as there are a few Tundra Swans and a
Trumpeter Swan that have been seen among them in recent days. A female
Canvasback that was near Salt Point on December 22 has not been
re-located, but the flock of Redheads in that area has grown to about 80
birds. A female Harlequin Duck was at the lighthouse on December 22,
and may still be in the area. White-winged Scoters are seen daily
between there and the government dock. A male Barrow's Goldeneye that
showed up late this afternoon (December 27) near the lighthouse may be
the same individual that was there almost three weeks ago.
An adult and an immature Bald Eagle were seen on December 21, and the
immature has been seen twice since then. A Cooper's Hawk flew out over
Presqu'ile Bay from the lighthouse on December 21 and another large
accipiter was briefly spotted at the lighthouse on the next day. Two
Ruffed Grouse seen in the past couple of days need to be on their
guard. On Christmas Day a Barred Owl sitting over the road beside
Denson cottage posed for a photograph.
An American Coot has been a regular sighting between the government dock
and Salt Point and will likely remain at least until the next time the
bay freezes over. The only Iceland Gull sighting this week was on
December 24.
A Northern Shrike was at the calf pasture on December 26. Carolina
Wrens continue to frequent the feeders at 83 and 186 Bayshore Road. A
flock of 26 American Robins near the end of Bayshore Road twice this
week was the largest in the Park since early November. Three European
Starlings that appeared on December 26 on a newly snow-free lawn near
the lighthouse were the first this winter except for the flock on the
islands at the west end of the Park. Could they be responding already
to a gradually lengthening photoperiod? Neither Cedar Waxwings nor
Bohemian Waxwings have been seen at Presqu'ile this winter, though the
former were just outside the Park this week and either species could be
expected in the Park wherever there is a berry crop. The only place
that appears to be harbouring White-throated Sparrows is at 83 Bayshore
Road. A loose group of Common Grackles has been opportunistically
sampling various feeders along that road. About eight Pine Grosbeaks
were seen on December 26. About 80 Common Redpolls are moving around
the east end of the peninsula. On three occasions when they were
visiting the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road a Hoary Redpoll was identified
among them.
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. Gull Island is no longer an island,
the connection to the mainland having been established several months
ago. The surrounding shoreline can be very slippery.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
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