For the past week, there have been ideal conditions for birding at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park. That and the reports of new and interesting
birds have brought birders to the Park in good numbers and as a result
few if any of the wintering birds have been missed and the newly
returned and newly singing birds have made for an excellent week of
birding in February, which is traditionally a slow month.
The highlight of the week was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE which was
present from February 3 to 6 and may still be somewhere in the area.
That species has been seen at Presqu'ile only twice before, in April,
1986 and December, 2002. At the same time, five TUNDRA SWANS were
visible on the opposite side of the bay. NORTHERN PINTAILS were at
Owen Point on February 4 (two birds) and 7 (four birds). RING-NECKED
DUCKS have been seen every day for over a week, up to half a dozen on
one day. Single LESSER SCAUP were seen twice. The male BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE at the lighthouse has been seen every day for over a month.
Accompanying a small group of COMMON GOLDENEYES in Presqu'ile Bay on
February 3 and 6 was a male duck with COMMON GOLDENEYE and HOODED
MERGANSER genes. That hybrid has the head shape of the latter without
any white on it and has a suggestion of the tan sides. Otherwise it
resembles the former species.
Both adult and immature BALD EAGLES have been present, with at least one
on four of the past seven days and three sitting together on the ice of
Presqu'ile Bay on February 4. NORTHERN HARRIERS have been seen on three
of the past four days, both male and female. An adult COOPER'S HAWK was
eyeing the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road and another young one was at
Owen Point. While RING-BILLED GULLS are apparently returning, they have
not yet begun milling around their breeding territories on Gull Island,
as they usually do some time in February. On February 7 one observer
spotted four SNOWY OWLS, three in the usual places on the beach and the
offshore islands and one at the day use area, where there has not been
one all winter. Two live birds and a dead one were found today. At
least one BARRED OWL was seen on February 4.
BELTED KINGFISHERS have always been absent from Presqu'ile in winter
because of the absence of open water. Thus the arrival of one at the
calf pasture on February 4 constitutes a new early record date,
eclipsing the old record of March 15 by almost six weeks. In addition to
the RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER that has been regular at 83 Bayshore Road,
one was heard at the lighthouse on February 8, the first in that part of
the Park this year. It was also giving the traditional spring call, as
was the other one today. A NORTHERN FLICKER at the calf pasture on
February 3 was likely the same bird that was seen there in December.
NORTHERN SHRIKES have been seen in three different parts of the Park. A
COMMON RAVEN was calling on February 8 at the lighthouse. The wintering
CAROLINA WREN was heard near the government dock on February 3. An
AMERICAN ROBIN was singing its spring song this morning. The wintering
SAVANNAH SPARROW was at 85 Bayshore Road this morning and seems destined
to survive the winter, and a PURPLE FINCH was seen there on February 4.
There is a belated report of a flock of 15-20 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on
February 1.
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 ice-choked water of unknown
depth, in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is
somewhat uneven and slippery. Moreover, there is a great deal of ice on
the surrounding shore. 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/
