Two surprising bird sightings, both photographed, livened things up for
birders at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in the past week. At a time of
year when bird life is only beginning to emerge from the stasis of
summer, most days are highly predictable and surprises are indeed few
and welcome.
GADWALLS and MALLARDS are the commonest ducks at this time of year, the
former numbering about 15 on the north shore of Gull Island. An
unidentified SCAUP, up to three COMMON MERGANSERS, and a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, all in Popham Bay were also of interest. In the afternoon of
July 18, five years almost to the day from the previous sighting at
Presqu'ile, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flew in and landed on Owen Point,
where it stayed for the rest of the day. The occurrence of this western
species in late July or August in various places on Lake Ontario in
recent years has begun to develop into a pattern. The dispersal of
GREAT EGRETS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS from their nest sites means
that they are being seen regularly in other parts of the Park, often
flying overhead.
The fall migration of shorebirds has stalled, with only about 15
individuals, excluding KILLDEERS and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, being seen on
any given day. Among others, a few SANDERLINGS have been scattered
along the beach all week, and both species of YELLOWLEGS have also
appeared briefly. UPLAND SANDPIPERS are rare at Presqu'ile, but this is
the time when they occasionally appear where there is low vegetation
beside the beach. Single BONAPARTE'S GULLS have been seen both at beach
3 and at the lighthouse.
An intriguing record was that of a juvenile SAW-WHET OWL, the first July
record for Presqu'ile and only the second summer record, which was
discovered by a Park employee on High Bluff Island. One has to wonder
whether that bird fledged somewhere in the Park. Dozens of SWALLOWS of
various species are beginning to line the wires along Bayshore Road. A
male and female PURPLE FINCH showed up at the Owen Point trail parking
lot. Mercifully, the HOUSE SPARROWS that raised a family near the
lighthouse have not been seen for a week.
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] <mailto:[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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