Today's cold front has brought a spate of winter birds, including a
couple of rarities, to Presqu'ile Provincial Park. As well, the past
week has offered steady birding throughout the Park, albeit not in the
numbers of a month earlier, the only exception being the large number of
ducks off shore.
Up to five WOOD DUCKS and a few GADWALLS and AMERICAN WIGEONS were among
the more interesting dabbling ducks, but the NORTHERN PINTAIL reported
last week has not been seen since October 16. Three RING-NECKED DUCKS
dropped in on October 17. There are still hundreds of REDHEADS and
thousands of GREATER SCAUP in Popham Bay. Both REDHEADS and LESSER
SCAUP have been in Presqu'ile Bay near Salt Point. WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS, a few LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and increasing numbers of BUFFLEHEADS
and COMMON GOLDENEYES have been off shore recently. Accompanying a
flock of BUFFLEHEADS for two days was a female HOODED MERGANSER. COMMON
LOONS and HORNED GREBES have been easy to find, and at least one
RED-NECKED GREBE was also discovered.
A late OSPREY has been at the calf pasture for the past several days,
and a BALD EAGLE has also been in that vicinity. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
was fighting the wind over Gull Island this morning, while a PEREGRINE
FALCON coasted nearby and landed momentarily on the rocky spit. A
MERLIN has been a regular for most of the week in the eastern end of the
Park.
Shorebirds have been most plentiful in the traditional areas along the
beach, at Owen Point, and on the offshore islands, but this week smaller
numbers have been at the lighthouse, at Chatterton Point, and even in
the marsh. Within the past week there have been ten species, including
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, RUDDY TURNSTONE, LEAST
SANDPIPER, and a few WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. An adult LITTLE GULL was
seen on Sunday. Two COMMON TERNS flying past the lighthouse on October
16 established a new late date for that species at Presqu'ile.
BARRED OWLS were the only members of that family seen this week, but
LONG-EARED and SHORT-EARED OWLS can be expected.
Two RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were in the Park today, one (a female) at
the bird sightings board and the other (a probable male) at 191 Bayshore
Road. A huge woodpecker spotted by a non-birder was identified by a
birder as a PILEATED WOODPECKER, not rare in the Park but not often
seen. EASTERN PHOEBES have been seen up to October 19. The first
BOREAL CHICKADEE in a number of years was spotted at noon today but
could not be re-located. Four EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were at the calf
pasture on October 18. HERMIT THRUSHES are still appearing here and
there, but a GRAY CATBIRD on October 18 was rather late. The only
warblers seen at Presqu'ile in the past week were an ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER on October 16, a NORTHERN PARULA on four consecutive days up to
November 20, and, of course, numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. CHIPPING,
FOX, and SWAMP SPARROWS were all at Presqu'ile this week. LAPLAND
LONGSPURS were on Gull Island on October 17 and 21, and the first SNOW
BUNTING of the season was at Owen Point today. PURPLE FINCHES and two
flocks of PINE SISKINS have been present this week, but the most
surprising winter finch was a male EVENING GROSBEAK near the bird
sightings board this morning, a species rarely seen here in recent years.
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 shin-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given
priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island,
High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not
available for bird-watching on those days. 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/
