Birding conditions are excellent at Presqu'ile Provincial Park these
days, with open water in much of Presqu'ile Bay as far inland as the
calf pasture. There are several vantage points along Bayshore Road from
which concentrations of waterfowl may be observed with minimal
disturbance to the birds. Judging from the long-range weather forecast,
hundreds of new migrants should appear this weekend.
The first GADWALLS of the spring arrived on March 1 and have been
present ever since then. AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and MALLARDS are also
increasing in number and NORTHERN PINTAILS should be next. RING-NECKED
DUCKS are being spotted daily. The most reliable location for finding
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS these days is immediately east of the Salt Point
lighthouse. There have been no recent reports of BARROW'S GOLDENEYE,
which is roughly consistent with their departure date in 2008 and 2009.
Thousands of noisy RING-BILLED GULLS have re-occupied their breeding
grounds on Gull Island. On the ice of Presqu'ile Bay, there have been
sightings in the past week of ICELAND, LESSER BLACK-BACKED, and GLAUCOUS
GULLS.
A single SNOWY OWL sits on the ice of Presqu'ile Bay on most days, but
today it could not be found there. Instead, it or another one like it
was at Owen Point. BARRED OWLS remain a daily sighting in various parts
of the Park and can be heard calling at night. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was
seen along Bayshore Road. The elusive CAROLINA WREN that has appeared
at various feeders periodically all winter was at 85 Bayshore Road
today. The flock of SNOW BUNTINGS that has spent the winter at Gull
Island has not yet left. The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD on Bayshore Road will
soon be joined by its conspecifics. On several recent days there was a
HOUSE SPARROW visiting the feeder at 186 Bayshore Road.
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 after March 9 to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting
birds there. In the meantime, caution in crossing the short, ice-covered
gap to Gull Island is advised. 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.
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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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