Judging from the past week at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, there seems to
be an inverse correlation between fine (/i.e./ pleasant) weather and
abundance of birds. On the weekend, when there was steady rain on
Saturday and intermittent rain on Sunday, the woods and beaches were
alive with birds. One group of birders saw 79 species in the pouring
rain on Saturday and another group saw over 100 on Sunday. In both
cases, almost all of the birds were within the Park. Since then, the
weather has been superb and the bird migration has slowed to a crawl,
though that meatphor may be inappropriate for winged creatures. There
are still some good finds in the Park, but they are in most cases birds
that have lingered since the weekend or earlier.
The REDHEAD flock in Popham Bay has grown to about 120 birds and is
accompanied by a few GREATER SCAUP. A few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, HORNED
GREBES, and RED-NECKED GREBES have also been there. A GREAT EGRET and
an OSPREY were seen on Saturday. Among the 15 shorebird species seen in
the past week, highlights included the following: AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVERS (still present on Gull Island today); WHIMBRELS (also on
Gull Island since at least Sunday and still present); WHITE-RUMPED,
BAIRD'S, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS; the first DUNLIN of the season on Gull
Island; last but not least BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, the first of which
were one on the beach and three on Gull Island on Tuesday, with four
being seen on Gull Island today. Most CASPIAN TERNS have left, but a
group of nine COMMON TERNS was at the lighthouse on Friday and two were
there on Monday. The most recent BARRED OWL record was today.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS continue to visit the feeders at 83 Bayshore
Road. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on Tuesday. Most of the remaining
flycatchers are EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES and EASTERN PHOEBES, but there were
reports of both YELLOW-BELLIED and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS. A GREAT CRESTED
FLYCATCHER yesterday was late. Both BLUE-HEADED and PHILADELPHIA VIREOS
have been accompanying the warbler flocks. Again this week there were a
few COMMON RAVEN sightings. The most recent swallow sightings were on
Sunday and Tuesday, both of which were BARN SWALLOWS. A BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER on Sunday was rather late. All of the regular
"brown-backed" thrushes except HERMIT THRUSH were seen this week. With
AMERICAN PIPITS now being seen almost every day, we can expect the
imminent arrival of the first HORNED LARKS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS.
Despite their frustrating habit of flitting through leafy canopies,
warblers in all their autumn glory (!) were ubiquitous for a few days.
At least 22 species were recorded on Sunday and smaller numbers have
been present all week. One of them was a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and
another was a rather late YELLOW WARBLER. Several ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERS have appeared this week. Another bird was tentatively
identified as a CONNECTICUT WARBLER, but experts who have seen its photo
believe it to be a NASHVILLE WARBLER. The first onslaught of migrant
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS has not yet reached Presqu'ile, but a few were
seen on Sunday. There were anonymous reports of BALTIMORE ORIOLE and
PINE SISKIN.
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 up to the thighs
of moderately tall people (not allowing for waves) in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. 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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