Inevitably as the fall migration winds down, the variety of birds in the
past week at Presqu'ile Provincial Park is somewhat diminished, but
birders are still finding plenty of birds. Some of them are not as
likely to be seen in other seasons.
One species that has yet to be found this fall is BRANT, which often
pass through Presqu'ile in late October. Between now and freeze-up, the
marsh is a good place to find dabbling ducks, of which six species have
been present this week, including several WOOD DUCKS but no EURASIAN
WIGEON, which was a regular there earlier in this decade from late
October onward and is worth looking for. Among diving ducks, in
addition to the numerous REDHEADS and GREATER SCAUP, there have been one
or two RING-NECKED DUCKS, a female SURF SCOTER, several WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS, and increasing numbers of LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BUFFLEHEADS, and
COMMON GOLDENEYES. HORNED GREBES can be seen daily in Popham Bay and
elsewhere, and a RED-NECKED GREBE was at Salt Point. Ten shorebird
species have been present this week, including eight on Gull Island
within a space of twenty minutes, most of which were DUNLINS. Of the
twelve BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS that were there on October 16, only ten
were there two days later, accompanied by an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, and
they had totally disappeared by this morning. Six GREATER YELLOWLEGS
and two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were resting on a mud flat in the marsh. On
Gull Island and at Owen Point there have been small numbers of
SEMIPALMATED, LEAST, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. The time is right for
a stray RED PHALAROPE to appear; the only occasion when two of that
species were seen was on this very date 23 years ago.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen at several feeders and in
Jobes' Woods. A few MERLINS have been seen. The most surprising report
was of an EASTERN KINGBIRD on October 16, the first October record for
Presqu'ile, which is sufficient reason for the observer to submit a rare
bird report to the Park. A COMMON RAVEN was being harassed by AMERICAN
CROWS on October 16. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were calling in the open area of
Jobes' Woods this morning. Also this morning there were still AMERICAN
PIPITS at Owen Point and the first SNOW BUNTING of the season on Gull
Island. The most recent warbler sighting was on October 18, a
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on Gull Island. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS have begun
to show up. A HOUSE SPARROW, never common at Presqu'ile, has been
visiting a feeder at 186 Bayshore Road for the past five days.
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 at the
deepest point,
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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