Between the end of last week and the middle of this week there has been
a noticeable change in the composition of the bird life at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park, though the overall numbers of birds have not diminished.
On Sunday, the first two TRUMPETER SWANS of the season were off the camp
office viewing platform. They have not been seen since but are quite
likely still somewhere in Presqu'ile Bay. A count of 30 GADWALLS on
October 21 was the highest in some time. SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS
are being seen regularly. Two GREAT EGRETS were present on October 18,
a rather late date. A BALD EAGLE flew near the lighthouse on October 20
but the hawk migration on the previous day was exceptional for
Presqu'ile and included 85 TURKEY VULTURES and two RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS. Since a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was just outside the Park this
morning, there may be others appearing soon. PEREGRINE FALCONS were
seen on three of the past six days, including two that were doing aerial
manouevers together. Only a handful of shorebirds can still be found
(not one was reported today), but a few days ago there were several
interesting sightings: an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER on October 21; a
HUDSONIAN GODWIT on October 18; an unconfirmed report of a RED KNOT on
October 17; A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and a WILSON'S SNIPE on October 19.
This afternoon an adult LITTLE GULL was with hundreds of BONAPARTE'S
GULLS feeding with an equal number of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS near the
lighthouse.
A BARRED OWL was flushed in Newcastle Woods. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS
are likely in the Park all year, but the one near the lighthouse this
week was the first in that area for several months. Four COMMON RAVENS
were seen on one day. Twelve HORNED LARKS in the Owen Point/Gull Island
area were not as surprising as the one in the middle of Bayshore Road.
There were EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on two different days. One of Presqu'ile's
three records of TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, a bird that stayed for several
days, was in the last week of October thirteen years ago. AMERICAN
PIPITS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS have been on Gull Island. In the unwelcome
news department, the first two SNOW BUNTINGS appeared on Tuesday, and
eight were at Owen Point today. Among warblers, the following were seen
in the past week: ORANGE-CROWNED (twice), NASHVILLE, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, PALM, YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN. An EASTERN
TOWHEE was seen on October 18. The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW of the
fall was on Gull Island on October 19. FIELD and FOX SPARROWS were also
of interest. PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS have been abundant at
feeders on 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. 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. 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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