Canadian culture dictates that the end of July marks the mid-point of
summer, but at Presqu'ile Provincial Park that point passed a few weeks
ago in terms of bird activity. Most birds have dispersed from their
summer territories and are wandering to other parts of the Park. Others
are newly arriving from points outside the Park.
An AMERICAN WIGEON and a male SCAUP were detected on Gull Island on July
25. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER swam near the lighthouse on July 29. A
female LONG-TAILED DUCK, perhaps somewhat disoriented if not ill, was
close to shore along the beach on July 28 and again on July 29, when it
was seized by a HERRING GULL that attempted for several minutes to drown
the duck before finally being forced to release it from its beak. A
male and three female COMMON MERGANSERS were at Owen Point in the past
few days. An AMERICAN BITTERN was there on July 30 and may well
re-appear there because of the abundance of leopard frogs. As many as
eight AMERICAN EGRETS have been counted on one day. OSPREYS have become
almost a daily sighting over Presqu'ile Bay and elsewhere. Among the
eight species of shorebirds on the beach in the past week were a single
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a WHIMBREL that stayed
briefly on beach 1 on July 28 before being flushed by beach-raking
equipment, and eight SANDERLINGS. BONAPARTE'S GULLS are patrolling the
waters of Presqu'ile Bay these days and sometimes appearing on the
beach. Two possible BLACK TERNS noticed on July 20 would be the first
this year.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were found in three different parts of
Presqu'ile this week. Six species of flycatchers in the Park this week
included both WILLOW FLYCATCHER and LEAST FLYCATCHER. Within the next
few weeks we can expect OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS to make a brief
appearance. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen on July 28. A NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH, perhaps an early migrant, was at Owen Point on July 27.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS have been appearing regularly at the feeders at
83 Bayshore Road, as have ORCHARD ORIOLES.
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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