The unseasonably warm weather of the past week has made for pleasant
birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park but has slowed down the fall
migration. In fact, some birds are lingering later than usual as a
result. At the same time, at least one very early winter bird has been
spotted.
There are a few dozen dabbling ducks, including the ever-popular WOOD
DUCKS, that are constantly visible to the left (west) of the camp office
viewing platform, where they are safe from hunters. This is where a
EURASIAN WIGEON was present last year from late October to early
December. Most other ducks are remaining far off shore, where
identification is almost impossible without a scope. On a calm October
11 morning, the first two RING-NECKED DUCKS of the fall were spotted in
a group of REDHEADS. SURF SCOTERS have been the most numerous of that
genus in Popham Bay this week, but both WHITE-WINGED and BLACK SCOTERS
have also been seen. Today a HOODED MERGANSER was off Gull Island and a
RED-NECKED GREBE was off the calf pasture. In the marsh an AMERICAN
BITTERN posed motionless for four lucky observers and a GREAT EGRET on
October 11 was almost but not quite a record late date for Presqu'ile.
A BALD EAGLE was seen at the lighthouse today. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
should be appearing soon, the highest ever count at Presqu'ile being
recorded in mid- to late October. A MERLIN was again harassing
shorebirds at Owen Point today. A COMMON GALLINULE and an AMERICAN COOT
have both been seen from the camp office viewing platform, and a flock
of a couple of dozen or more of the latter has been off Sebastopol
Island for the past three days. BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS
are on the beach every day, and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was there on
October 10 and 11. Among the well over 100 SANDERLINGS, "PEEPS", and
DUNLINS that are still moving around the beach and Owen Point are many
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, with 95 of them counted by one observer on
October 9. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was again flushed from the Owen Point
trail this morning. The first LITTLE GULL of the season was on the
beach on October 7. On the following day an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL was photographed there and a late CASPIAN TERN was also seen. At
noon today two SHORT-EARED OWLS were spotted on Gull Island, one of
their preferred locations in the Park. (No, they were not Spotted Owls,
just spotted owls.) No doubt there are NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS in the
Park now, but a search today was unsuccessful.
The record late date for RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at Presqu'ile was
broken twice in the past week, the first time on October 8 and then
again on October 11. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS can often be found at the
calf pasture and at 83 Bayshore Road. A record early NORTHERN SHRIKE
was at the calf pasture on October 12. A CAROLINA WREN was heard near
the lighthouse and another (or perhaps the same one) has paid a few
visits to 83 Bayshore Road. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS are not often seen
this late, but two were seen recently, one on October 9 and the other on
the 13th. A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen on October 11 . By far the
majority of the warblers still at Presqu'ile are YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS,
but a sprinkling of others has included six other species:
ORANGE-CROWNED, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, PINE, PALM, BLACKPOLL, and COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT. Up to three EASTERN TOWHEES have been frequenting the
tangles at the back of 83 Bayshore Road. PINE SISKINS have not been as
plentiful as a week ago.
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 knee-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].
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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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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/
