In Presqu'ile Park today, Sunday August 23, the first wave of southbound shorebirds fed on the algae from Beach 4 to Owen Point, about 120-150 birds all told, a great improvement on the low numbers so far this fall. Most were Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers and Sanderlings with a few Semipalmated Plovers, and at least 2 juv. Baird's and one White-rumped. One Sanderling had a green tag on its left leg, CP5. We looked very hard for a Western without any luck. The best lookouts are 1, 2 and 3 - 5 & 6 are overgrown with phragmites and loosetrife, but it looks as if there is work ongoing here - hope so anyway. We were sorry to see that Beach 4 had been heavily raked, contrary to the Park's latest management plan, leaving very little food there for these birds.
As an adendnum, there was a wonderful flight of Common Nighthawks over Cobourg harbour tonight, with over 100 travelling west between 7.15 and 8pm. Directions: follow signs to Presqu'ile Provincial Park from Brighton, south off Hwy.401, Exit 509. Margaret Bain Cobourg [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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/
