Among the many and varied birds at Presqu’ile Provincial Park this past week, only a few have been deemed worthy of drawing to this compiler’s attention. For more reasons than mere comfort, birders are eagerly awaiting the next cold front and the concomitant first stirrings of fall migration.
The only noteworthy ducks were a flock of LONG-TAILED DUCKS in Lake Ontario a few days ago. A family of COMMON LOONS (two young) was found just over a week ago. LEAST BITTERNS are being seen almost every day, either in the marsh (up to six at a time) or along the causeway leading into the Park. Some GREAT EGRETS are still on their nests on High Bluff Island, while others are making frequent foraging trips to and from there. On July 10, a SNOWY EGRET was identified on the basis of its size (smaller than a GREAT EGRET). A GREEN HERON and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON were along the causeway leading to the Park. TURKEY VULTURES are being seen regularly. Two NORTHERN HARRIERS were seen on July 12. Two VIRGINIA RAILS and 12 COMMON GALLINULES were in the marsh on July 11. Since both SOLITARY SANDPIPER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS have reached the Brighton sewage lagoon, which is not far from Presqu’ile, those species may be imminent in the Park. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK collided with a window at the Park office but seems to have been unharmed. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at the lighthouse yesterday was the first at that location this summer. A COMMON RAVEN yesterday was also the first this summer. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and a few BANK SWALLOWS seem to be sharing the colony at the day use area that was occupied in previous years by larger numbers of the latter. A BROWN CREEPER was singing in Jobes’ Woods yesterday. A PINE SISKIN visited two different feeders this week. A new book entitled For the Birds: Recollections and Rambles, by Fred Helleiner, is available from the author (see below) for $20 plus $2.50 for postage. It is also being sold at the Lighthouse Gift Shop in the Park and at Out on a Limb and Lighthouse Books in Brighton. All profits will be donated to the Friends of Presqu’ile’s 25th Anniversary Environmental Fund, which sponsors long-term projects like the eradication of invasive species. This message is authorized by the Ontbirds Coordinator. 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 K0K 1H0 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
