As usual, Presqu'ile Provincial Park has rewarded some birders who have
come visiting this week with a few surprises and with a healthy variety
of more common birds. The book entitled/For the Birds: Recollections
and Rambles/, which has been out of print, is now available in pdf
format for $20. As before, the profits go to the Environmental Fund of
The Friends of Presqu'ile. Orders may be sent to Fred Helleiner at 186
Bayshore Road, Brighton, Ontario, K0K 1H0.
The marsh has had a good variety of ducks, including the first few
RING-NECKED DUCKS of the season. Three BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen on
October 5. Both SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been seen, the
former at both ends of the Park. Two WILD TURKEYS were in the Park on
October 7. Four species in the heron family were seen this week:
AMERICAN BITTERN, GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET, and GREEN HERON. A
late OSPREY on October 4 and several PEREGRINE FALCONS were the most
interesting raptors. The first AMERICAN COOT of the season was in the
marsh this afternoon. Eleven shorebird species plus an AMERICAN
WOODCOCK were found this week. Among others there were AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and BAIRD'S SANDPIPER.
For the third consecutive week, a cuckoo was found, but this week it was
a surprising YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO on October 5. An EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE
on October 4 was rather late. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were seen in unusually
large numbers today, as well as two rather late PHILADELPHIA VIREOS.
There are too few fall records of TUFTED TITMOUSE at Presqu'ile to
predict an expected arrival date, but today is the tenth anniversary of
the date when an over-wintering individual was first detected at a
feeder. Warblers are still to be found here and there in good numbers,
primarily YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but also including ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERS on at least two dates, NORTHERN PARULA on three dates, a late
MAGNOLIA WARBLER on October 4, and three BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS and a
PINE WARBLER on October 5. A VESPER SPARROW on Gull Island was unusual,
but none of the expected NELSON'S SPARROWS that forage there in the fall
could be found. Ten LINCOLN'S SPARROWS on October 5 may be the highest
fall count ever at Presqu'ile. PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS have
been showing up with some regularity, but only the former have come to
feeders.
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 water that is knee-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. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given
priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Owen Point,
Gull Island,
High Bluff Island, and part of the calf pasture are not
available for bird-watching on those days after tomorrow. 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] <mailto:[email protected]>.
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
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