Most of the bird migrants that pass through Presqu'ile Provincial Park
in spring have already done so. Birders are now in a "mopping up" mode,
searching out those few that are still lingering and trying to sort out
which are going to stay and which are going to move on. The shorebird
movement, which is still quite active, is clearly in the latter category.
Five Brant were on Sebastopol Island on May 30, and one individual has
been on the beach for each of the last four days. Three Long-tailed
Ducks, eight Redheads, and two Red-breasted Mergansers, all in Popham
Bay, are the only diving ducks still around, but Common Loons are here
in small numbers. Four of the five resident species of herons and their
allies (including Great Egrets) can be found on any given day with
little difficulty. Only Least Bitterns are more elusive. Ruffed Grouse
were still drumming, albeit infrequently, as late as May 31.
After a lull of a few days when fewer than 100 shorebirds were present,
a minor resurgence took place on June 4. Among the species that arrived
on the beach that morning were a few Black-bellied Plovers, a Red Knot
(three of which were seen on May 30 but not since), a White-rumped
Sandpiper, and fifteen Short-billed Dowitchers. Away from the beach, a
noisy Willet drew the attention of a birder who was reading on his deck
near the lighthouse as it flew past, a welcome addition to his yard
list. On May 30, a Wilson's Phalarope stopped briefly on beach 1 before
disappearing. On the same day, an adult Franklin's Gull in alternate
plumage flew past Owen Point, never to be seen again in the area. Up to
ten Bonaparte's Gulls have been resting on the beach this week, and a
Great Black-backed Gull, formerly a nesting species at Presqu'ile, was
also on the beach on May 29.
The only regularly occurring land bird that has not yet appeared in the
Park this year is Yellow-billed Cuckoo. On several evenings in the past
week, Common Nighthawks have been migrating overhead, and a Chimney
Swift was seen on two evenings. Blue Jays were still migrating over the
lighthouse on May 30 and 31. On May 29, there were more Swainson's and
Gray-cheeked Thrushes in Newcastle woods than on any day earlier in the
month. Among the late migrant warblers that were still present up till
at least June 1 was a very late Palm Warbler on May 29. For the first
time in five years, the month of May passed without any reports of
Hooded Warblers in the Park. They have been known to occur in June.
There are apparently two pairs of Orchard Orioles in the lighthouse
area. A Purple Finch (or perhaps two) was at the lighthouse on June 1.
Up to six Pine Siskins are in that area on most 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,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
