Greetings Ontbirders HIGHLIGHTS
TUNDRA SWAN PEREGRINE FALCON WHIMBREL BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER The week started with good numbers and variety of shorebirds. Numbers dropped off as the week went on only to begin to pick up again on the afternoon of August 26. Songbird migration has been steady with a high of 21 species of warblers seen by a keen birder from Algonquin on August 24. A TUNDRA SWAN was spotted amongst the many MUTE SWANS rafting in Popham Bay on August 24. A RUFFED GROUSE was flushed from the Newcastle Trail on August 20. Good numbers of PIED-BILLED GREBES can be seen from Coot's lookout all week with at least 30 individuals. For birders new to the park taking a trip down Bayshore road can be quite rewarding. Best areas to view from are Coot's lookout, both sides of the road as you approach the overpass at calf pasture for migrant flycatchers and raptors and Salt Point for shorebirds in low water years, also there are a number of cottages and homes with feeders and a good songbird migration along the road. A GREEN HERON continues to be seen at the calf pasture as late as August 26. TURKEY VULTURE on August 26, OSPREY with a high of four birds on August 24 at the calf pasture, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK August 25 and 26, COOPER'S HAWK, and a RED-TAILED HAWK August 26 were seen in the park the past week. A PEREGRINE FALCON has been terrorizing the shorebirds for most of the past week in the Owen Point area and was last reported on August 24 . MERLIN sightings have increased the past week with birds seen at various locations, interesting in that the numbers of Green Darners and other large dragonflies in general have increased as well. Fifteen species of shorebirds were reported in the park the past week mostly between lookout #1 and Owen Point. High counts include six BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS on August 21, two WHIMBREL standing at the tip of Owen Point on August 24, two juvenile RED KNOTS on August 20, twelve SANDERLING on August 20, two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (last seen August 21), and six SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on August 20. CHIMNEY SWIFTS put in an appearance this week with totals of three on August 21 and a single bird on August 24 at the lighthouse. A total of six Tyrant Flycatchers were reported in the park the past week. A high count of four OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen in the calf pasture on August 24, the lighthouse has been the best place for EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE all week with at least four birds present on August 26, LEAST FLYCATCHER seen in various places, EASTERN PHOEBE at the calf pasture August 24, GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER various locations as well as EASTERN KINGBIRDS mostly seen in the vicinity of the calf pasture. A CAROLINA WREN continues to be seen and heard from 83 Bayshore this week, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was reported last on August 22, and one breeding WOOD THRUSH on August 20 and two migrant thrushes, VEERY and SWAINSON'S were seen on the Newcastle Trail on August 26. Twenty one species of warblers were reported in the park the past week. The best day for warblers was on August 24 seen in a number of locations in the park such as the lighthouse, Paxton, calf pasture, Jobes Woods and the fingers trail. TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, a surprising number of CAPE MAY WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, MOURNING WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, WILSON'S WARBLER and CANADA WARBLER were all reported on this date and during the past week. A SCARLET TANAGER was reported from 83 Bayshore on August 21. A bit odd of a sighting was an ORCHARD ORIOLE feeding on the algae flats with the shorebirds at Owen Point on August 24. Bill Gilmour 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 _______________________________________________ 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/
