The Ontario Field Ornithologists' (OFO) outing to Presqu'ile Provincial
Park was a great success. At least two other naturalists' clubs visited
the Park on the weekend to enjoy the delights of birding.
MUTE SWANS are beginning to gather in Presqu'ile Bay, where hundreds
winter, with 140 individuals being counted today, largely from one
vantage point. Many more may have been hidden. Even though the
waterfowl hunt in the Park is only nine days away, there has not yet
been much of a build-up of ducks, perhaps because of the continung warm
weather. Among the few that have been present in the past week were two
NORTHERN SHOVELERS, several REDHEADS, a reported LESSER SCAUP in an
unusual location (Popham Bay), and a HOODED MERGANSER. Two RED-NECKED
GREBES were in Popham Bay on September 12 and two HORNED GREBES on the
following day. One of the latter was off beach 1 on September 16. Two
AMERICAN BITTERNS were stalking the shore of Gull Island while the OFO
trip participants watched from the mainland. OSPREYS were seen on two
different dates and a BALD EAGLE on September 16. In addition to the
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS noted in last week's report, another was over the
Park on September 13.
During the past week, sixteen species of shorebirds were feeding and
resting on the beaches and on Gull and Sebastopol Islands, flying to and
fro among those places, and dodging MERLINS. Highlights were AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WHIMBRELS, RUDDY TURNSTONES,
WHITE-RUMPED, BAIRD'S, and STILT SANDPIPERS, and a single LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER that was not reported after September 13. A RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE sighting just over a week ago, on September 9, was drawn to my
attention, along with that of a PARASITIC JAEGER on the same date, after
last week's report went out.
Two ROCK PIGEONS flew past the lighthouse and another, apparently a
racing pigeon, spent a few days on the shore of Gull Island. BARRED
OWLS were heard in two different parts of the Park. The latest COMMON
NIGHTHAWK sighting was a group of eight on September 14. A RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER continues to visit the feeders at 83 Bayshore Road, as did a
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER for the past three days. Most flycatchers have
already left, but reports were received of a LEAST FLYCATCHER on
September 13 and of ALDER and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS on the following
day. An EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was still present on September 15. This is
also the time of year when stray flycatchers from the west and
south-west occasionally appear, like the WESTERN KINGBIRD that was in
nearby Prince Edward County this week and might make its way to
Presqu'ile, or the SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER that came to the Park in
late September one year. There have been several sightings of
BLUE-HEADED and PHILADELPHIA VIREOS this week and one of a WARBLING
VIREO. Warblers are not as plentiful as they were, and the appearance
of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and increasing numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS indicates that the warbler migration is drawing slowly to a
close. A few SCARLET TANAGERS seen this week are also likely the last
of those until next May. On the other hand, the sparrow migration is
just getting under way. The vanguard of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS has
appeared, and keen birders will soon be searching Gull Island for the
newly re-named NELSON'S SPARROWS as well as LAPLAND LONGSPURS.
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. Visitors to Gull Island not using a
boat should be prepared to wade through knee-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the
bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends
of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not
listed there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [email protected].
--
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
_______________________________________________
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/
