With much of Presqu’ile Bay having frozen over, the waterfowl count at Presqu’ile Provincial Park has become more limited. On a more positive note, the forecast of a significant snowfall on Saturday suggests that land birds will be concentrated at feeders on Sunday, when the annual Christmas Bird Count takes place. A second printing of a 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 Out on a Limb and Lighthouse Books in Brighton. All profits are being 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.
Three TUNDRA SWANS were at the calf pasture on Tuesday. A male RING-NECKED DUCK was also there, perhaps the same one that was near the lighthouse on St. Nicholas Day (December 6). The waterfowl hunters reported two KING EIDERS off Sebastopol Island, but birders could not find them on Sunday. However, they did find a female BLACK SCOTER there, perhaps the same one that had been there a week earlier. Two HORNED GREBES were off Gull Island on Sunday. A BALD EAGLE on December 8 was of interest. A COOPER’S HAWK was eyeing a bird feeder on December 8 and another was seen today. An AMERICAN COOT was near the lighthouse on December 8 and 11. The last sighting of a BONAPARTE’S GULL was at Owen Point on Sunday. On December 8 a number of birders and photographers were fortunate enough to get close-up views and photos of the LAUGHING GULL near Owen Point that was reported last week. Not only is that only the ninth sighting of that species at Presqu’ile, but it is by far the latest date on record there. There was still a SNOWY OWL on Sebastopol Island on December 8. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS appear almost daily at 83 and 186 Bayshore Road. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at the calf pasture on December 6. A HERMIT THRUSH discovered on Atkins Lane on December 8 was still there two days later. About a dozen AMERICAN ROBINS were seen today. Since its first discovery a week ago, the GRAY CATBIRD at 83 Bayshore Road has appeared sporadically every day since then but spends most of the time in hiding. A flock of 19 CEDAR WAXWINGS on December 6 was the only report of that species in the past week. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on Gull Island on December 8. A SONG SPARROW at 186 Bayshore Road and two or three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and COMMON GRACKLES at 83 Bayshore Road have been regular visitors all week. For two days, a PURPLE FINCH was at the latter address. 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 should be prepared to wade through water that is barely shin-deep, not taking into account any wave action, in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and slippery. This week it has been partly covered with ice that is not quite capable of supporting the weight of an adult birder. 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]. 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
