The wild winds of the past week may have been responsible for the
appearance of a few somewhat unusual birds for October at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park. There have also been large numbers of the more
expected species of land birds and good numbers of ducks and shorebirds.
SURF SCOTERS and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are being seen on most days. The
only newly returned ducks this week were BUFFLEHEADS. High waves have
sometimes made it difficult to see the birds off Owen Point, but two
observers managed on October 18 to see again the EARED GREBE that has
been present for almost six weeks. Both AMERICAN BITTERN and GREAT BLUE
HERON have been seen in the past week. A BALD EAGLE flew overhead on
October 16. Three RUFFED GROUSE were behind 83 Bayshore Road. A COMMON
GALLINULE and four AMERICAN COOTS were off the camp office viewing
platform today, and three GREATER YELLOWLEGS were there on October 16.
Though the variety is somewhat limited, there are still plenty of
shorebirds on the beach and on Gull Island, including an AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER, a rather late SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, and many
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS.
The biggest surprise of the week was the discovery of not one but two
record late YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS at the lighthouse on October 17, a
species of which one seldom sees more than one at a time. One of the
resident BARRED OWLS was noted. Both RED-HEADED and RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKERS were at 83 Bayshore Road on October 16. Although there are
still good numbers of EASTERN PHOEBES around the Park, other flycatchers
have disappeared except for two late stragglers on October 16, an
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE and an /EMPIDONAX/ flycatcher. A BLUE-HEADED VIREO
on October 18 was rather late. A CAROLINA WREN has showed up
sporadically at 83 Bayshore Road, and an EASTERN BLUEBIRD, never common
at Presqu'ile, was not far away. Most of the remaining warblers are
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but seven other species were also seen in the
past week, including a NASHVILLE WARBLER on October 16 and a
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER on October 15. A few BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLERS are still around. An EASTERN TOWHEE was at 83 Bayshore Road,
along with many other sparrows. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS should be
appearing soon, and the first FOX SPARROW appeared on October 19. A
late INDIGO BUNTING was seen on October 16.
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/
