When April turns to May, expectations are high among birders that many
wonderful sightings will materialize. At Presqu'ile Provincial Park,
those expectations have been only partly fulfilled because of weather
conditions that were unfavourable for spring migration. Nevertheless,
some interesting reports have surfaced, especially, for the second week
in a row, among shorebirds. The forecast is for a change that is more
conducive to typical May birding conditions.
Among birds that can soon be expected to pass through Presqu'ile are the
flocks of BRANT that are more regular here than in other parts of
southern Ontario. Other waterfowl of interest in the past few days have
included five NORTHERN SHOVELERS and three SURF SCOTERS. Most
RED-THROATED LOONS have likely moved on, but small numbers are still
present in Popham Bay. GREAT EGRETS are uncommon in much of Ontario but
can be counted on at Presqu'ile, where several nests on High Bluff
Island are visible from the mainland with the aid of a scope. Given the
preponderance of that species of egret in the Park and the extreme
rarity of SNOWY EGRETS anywhere in Ontario, the report of one of the
latter on May 1 requires the submission of a rare bird report form to
the Park office.
Raptors have been scarce at Presqu'ile this week but both AMERICAN
KESTREL and MERLIN have been present at the calf pasture. The beach
from Owen Point north to the Park boundary has had several species of
shorebirds in recent days. The first BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER of the season
was on the natural beach yesterday and today. A banded PIPING PLOVER,
an endangered species, was there on May 4 but could not be found the
next morning. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was at Owen Point today. For the
second time in a week, a WILLET was at Presqu'ile, this time at Owen
Point, a more logical place than last week's, on April 30. One LEAST
SANDPIPER and up to eight DUNLINS have also been present.
The first of a few RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS arrived on May 1.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are almost a daily observation. The first
EASTERN KINGBIRDS were sighted on April 29. A record early RED-EYED
VIREO was found on April 30. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS are plentiful these
days. An AMERICAN PIPIT was at Owen Point today. Two different
BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were in the Park for a couple of days. An early
NORTHERN PARULA was seen on April 30. Two warblers reported in the past
week by the same observer are sufficiently out of range or out of season
to warrant documentation. One, a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, was only the
second ever at Presqu'ile and much earlier than the previous one. The
other, a female (!) CANADA WARBLER on May 5 was almost a week earlier
than the earliest date on record for males, which usually arrive later
in May and before the females. Another warbler never before seen in
April at Presqu'ile was an AMERICAN REDSTART on April 27. The first of
two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS appeared on May 2. For a species reputed to be
in serious trouble, the number of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS in the Park this week
seems remarkable, though the amount of standing water in the forest is
probably a factor. Both ORCHARD and BALTIMORE ORIOLES have returned to
those parts of the Park where they nest.
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.
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 [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
