On the first full day of summer, finding birds at Presqu'ile Provincial
Park is challenging. There are plenty about, but many of the songbirds
have gone quiet. Those that are best found by sight are easier to
locate, but most of the same ones appear day after day, which is not a
problem for birders spending just a day in the Park.
Several hundred CANADA GEESE are in Popham Bay, and may be responsible
for the pollution-related beach closure of the past two days. Over 100
MUTE SWANS are also there, prompting questions about where they have
been in such numbers for the past few months. Up to a dozen WOOD DUCKS
are present in the marsh these days, best seen from the camp office
viewing stand. Among the other ducks visible from Owen Point in the
past week are GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, and RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER. Two observers saw a LEAST BITTERN on the causeway just
outside the Park and both LEAST and AMERICAN BITTERNS on the marsh
boardwalk. GREAT EGRETS are still nesting on High Bluff Island, but
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS appear to have abandoned Sebastopol Island.
Both of those species can be seen late in the day flying over the marsh.
Two OSPREYS were at the calf pasture this morning, and two NORTHERN
HARRIERS were at the marsh on Sunday, as well as a VIRGINIA RAIL. A
COMMON GALLINULE was visible from the campground viewing stand this
morning. The only shorebirds seen these days are KILLDEER and SPOTTED
SANDPIPER, but LEAST SANDPIPERS may be showing up soon, perhaps after
the imminent cold front. The COMMON TERN research on Gull Island
involves putting lemon yellow on the necks of birds that have been
counted, to avoid double counting. Some of those birds can be seen
sitting at Owen Point. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was at the calf pasture
today. BARRED OWLS are calling occasionally behind 83 Bayshore Road.
A recently fledged RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was at 83 Bayshore Road this
evening.The behaviour of a few BLUE JAYS over the lighthouse yesterday
morning was not unlike that of migrants a month earlier. One of the
commonest birds around the lighthouse is the PURPLE MARTIN, since there
are four occupied nesting boxes within half a kilometre of there. A
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER nest was found yesterday at the beach 1 parking
lot, with young being fed. On two subsequent visits no sign of
occupation could be detected. Among the five species of warblers being
heard regularly are both BLACKBURNIAN and PINE WARBLERS. There are a few
EASTERN TOWHEES around. ORCHARD ORIOLES continue to be seen and heard
in various places. PURPLE FINCHES and young PINE SISKINS have been
coming to 83 Bayshore Road.
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].
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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/
