Hello Ontbirders: A record 65 participants enjoyed a consistently productive day at Presqu'ile Provincial Park and area. 86 bird species were collectively observed under near cloudless skies and a perfect 22*C.
A solid collection of songbirds greeted visitors at the Lighthouse area, with the best birds being an incessantly calling YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER as well as BLACKPOLL, WILSON'S AND BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS. A SCARLET TANAGER showed fairly well, as did fly-by OSPREY and AMERICAN KESTREL. In an attempt to beat the heat haze, the group next ventured to Owen Point where an immature dark morph POMARINE JAEGER was briefly seen by 2 observers flying west over Gull Island. MERLINS and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS were afoot, meaning the shorebirds in the area were skittish. Fortunately, good views were had at 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS (one exhibiting no rufous colouring on the scapulars and the other showing plenty) amidst frequent group flights. Many SEMIPALMATED, some BAIRD'S and LEAST and 1 adult WHITE-RUMPED made for a rare "peep sweep". Pairs of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS fed at close range in excellent light. Farther north, some observers enjoyed close-range views of a juvenile STILT SANDPIPER. An adult BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER roosted in the Beach 3 area near an adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. An immature BALD EAGLE soared high overhead just before lunch and a second immature was seen catching a fish off of Calf Pasture Point just after lunch. One of the best birds of the day was a juvenile DARK-EYED JUNCO--quite likely from a rare resident pair--that fed at close range at Calf Pasture. Briefly stopping at the first viewing deck on the Marsh Boardwalk proved fruitful as a targeted NORTHERN HARRIER was seen immediately. The day ended with a stop at the Brighton Constructed Wetland (BCW). As has been the case for much of the past 3 weeks, the north cell was very productive, with highlights including SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, WILSON'S SNIPE, another Short-billed Dowitcher and many LESSER YELLOWLEGS. In total, all observers tallied 16 shorebird species on the day. The sunny weather made for excellent insect diversity for the time of year, as 14 butterfly species were seen, including hundreds of migrating Monarchs. The extensive dragonfly flight attracted the attention of Merlins and Kestrels all day. Perhaps the most significant sightings of the day were 2 Northern Map Turtles at the Calf Pasture Lagoon just after lunch. This species at risk is exceedingly rare at Presqu'ile and had hitherto been unseen in the Park by the report writer. Many thanks goes to the contingent of Brighton-area birders who always lend a hand on this outing, as well as the many others who offered their scopes to accommodate a large and keen group. A special thanks goes to Keith Lee from the Municipality of Brighton who went above-and-beyond the call of duty at BCW. Finally, Presqu'ile Park staff are to be commended for a first-rate job on preparing the viewing stations along the Owen Point Trail for shorebird season. Presqu'ile Provincial Park is located south from Highway 401 exit 509 (Brighton/Campbellford) after which it is well-signed. The Brighton Constructed Wetland is just east of Brighton on Highway 64 and is accessible with the purchase of a $5.00 annual pass. Good birding and we'll see you in 2015! Ian Shanahan Toronto On Sun, Sep 7, 2014 at 10:13 PM, Ian Shanahan <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Ontbirders: > > A record 65 participants enjoyed a consistently productive day at > Presqu'ile Provincial Park and area. 86 bird species were collectively > observed under near cloudless skies and a perfect 22*C. > > A solid collection of songbirds greeted visitors at the Lighthouse area, > with the best birds being an incessantly calling YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER > as well as BLACKPOLL, WILSON'S AND BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS. A SCARLET TANAGER > showed fairly well, as did fly-by OSPREY and AMERICAN KESTREL. > > In an attempt to beat the heat haze, the group next ventured to Owen Point > where an immature dark morph POMARINE JAEGER was briefly seen by 2 > observers flying west over Gull Island. MERLINS and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS > were afoot, meaning the shorebirds in the area were skittish. Fortunately, > good views were had at 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS (one exhibiting no rufous > colouring on the scapulars and the other showing plenty) amidst frequent > group flights. Many SEMIPALMATED, some BAIRD'S and LEAST and 1 adult > WHITE-RUMPED made for a rare "peep sweep". Pairs of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS > and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS fed at close range in excellent light. Farther > north, some observers enjoyed close-range views of a juvenile STILT > SANDPIPER. An adult BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER roosted in the Beach 3 area near > an adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. > > An immature BALD EAGLE soared high overhead just before lunch and a second > immature was seen catching a fish off of Calf Pasture Point just after > lunch. One of the best birds of the day was a juvenile DARK-EYED > JUNCO--quite likely from a rare resident pair--that fed at close range at > Calf Pasture. > > Briefly stopping at the first viewing deck on the Marsh Boardwalk proved > fruitful as a targeted NORTHERN HARRIER was seen immediately. > > The day ended with a stop at the Brighton Constructed Wetland. As has been > the case for much of the past 3 weeks, the north cell was very productive, > with highlights including SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, WILSON'S SNIPE, another > Short-billed Dowitcher > _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. 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