Presqu'ile Provincial Park, like other parts of southern Ontario, has
seen a rush of spring migrants this week, especially waterfowl, as the
long-delayed southerly winds finally blew in.
The first flocks of CANADA GEESE have been moving over the Park in the
past two days, including, in the first flock, five SNOW GEESE, a record
early date. That species is uncommon at Presqu'ile, but should be
looked for among the migrating goose flocks, especially in the first
weeks of the migration. Twenty TUNDRA SWANS flew in on March 10 and
rested on Presqu'ile Bay. Two were still present today. Several
species of ducks made their first appearances this week: WOOD DUCKS on
March 9, AMERICAN WIGEONS on March 7, NORTHERN PINTAILS on March 8.
Each of those has increased in number since first arriving. EURASIAN
WIGEONS are rare but appear almost every year at Presqu'ile from
mid-March onward. No loons or grebes have yet been reported, but both
are expected soon.
An AMERICAN KESTREL appeared on March 7. The oft-reported WILD TURKEY
was seen twice in the past week. The first KILLDEER of the year was on
the beach on March 11. No one has yet noticed any AMERICAN WOODCOCKS
here but they have undoubtedly arrived. Two record-early BONAPARTE'S
GULLS were in Presqu'ile Bay on March 8, and a GLAUCOUS GULL was there
on the previous day. The most recent sighting of a SNOWY OWL was on
March 5, but BARRED OWLS continue to be seen almost every day, including
one that flew in and sat mere feet from an astonished observer. A
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was photographed on March 7.
Two of the resident PILEATED WOODPECKERS were found on March 7. A
NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on three consecutive days in two different
parts of the Park. Two HORNED LARKS flew over on March 7. The
wintering CAROLINA WREN appeared again at 83 Bayshore Road. A rather
early EASTERN MEADOWLARK showed up today. Large numbers of migrating
AMERICAN ROBINS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and COMMON GRACKLES flew over
the lighthouse this morning, augmenting the few that had arrived earlier
in the week, along with a SONG SPARROW and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD. The
0ver-wintering WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at 83 Bayshore Road was still
present this 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. 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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