No mega-rarities from the bird world have been spotted at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park during the past week. Nevertheless, a few surprises
have been noted, which have made up for the diminishing number of land
birds.
A lone BRANT was swimming off Gull Island on October 26, and three
species of swan were there in a group two days later: a few MUTE SWANS,
two TUNDRA SWANS, and a TRUMPETER SWAN. Four NORTHERN SHOVELERS were in
Popham Bay on that day. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen on two consecutive
days. Up to six SURF SCOTERS have been present in the outer part of
Presqu'ile Bay every day. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been here and there
on most days, and two female BLACK SCOTERS were off Sebastopol Island on
October 28. Viewing conditions on that day helped to spot eight RUDDY
DUCKS with a large raft of other ducks in Popham Bay. A MERLIN was seen
on two consecutive days. The following shorebirds were still present in
the past week: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (10 on October 28 and still two
today); GREATER YELLOWLEGS (two today); SANDERLING (both Sunday and
Tuesday); WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (two today); PECTORAL SANDPIPER (two
still present today); DUNLIN (seven on Tuesday). November is the month
when PURPLE SANDPIPERS, a Presqu'ile specialty, are expected to arrive,
but a careful search of likely locations on recent days has not yet
revealed any. Yesterday was noted as an owl day. A bird that is rare
at Presqu'ile, an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL (grey phase), was found by a group
of noisy BLUE JAYS and remained for several hours in a neighbourhood
yard, where numerous residents and birders could see it and photograph
it. Earlier in the day, a birder had found not one but two BARRED OWLS,
one of which, in Jobes' Woods, acted as if it might have been a
juvenile. Another was spotted last Friday.
Several PILEATED WOODPECKERS have shown up this week. A BLUE-HEADED
VIREO and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER on October 28 were very late.
The only other warbler this week was a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, also on
that date. Although PURPLE FINCHES, that were abundant last week, have
mostly moved on, PINE SISKINS remain plentiful. An accurate description
was provided of two female EVENING GROSBEAKS on October 25.
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 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. 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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