Not many reports have reached me with information about bird life in
Presqu'ile Provincial Park in the past week, but those few contained
several interesting sightings. At least one of those would be a real
bonus if it stayed until Sunday, when an outing of the Ontario Field
Ornithologists will be visiting the Park.
The two SNOW GEESE first spotted on November 8 were still present
yesterday. Three TUNDRA SWANS seen on Monday were the only ones of that
species this week. Dabbling ducks of eight species have been seen
fairly regularly from the camp office viewing deck overlooking the
marsh. Included among them have been WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, NORTHERN
SHOVELER, and NORTHERN PINTAIL. Thousands of REDHEADS continue to
produce quite a spectacle in Presqu'ile Bay, successfully dodging at
least some of the hunters by congregating in large rafts towards the
lighthouse. SURF, WHITE-WINGED, and BLACK SCOTERS have all been
present in the waters around the Park. Two RING-NECKED DUCKS and a
HOODED MERGANSER on Saturday and a RUDDY DUCK yesterday were among the
less frequently seen ducks.
Two RUFFED GROUSE were heard drumming in "the fingers" on Sunday, and an
anonymous observer reported six WILD TURKEYS. In the wild weather of
last Friday, an observer standing in the wind hoping for CAVE SWALLOWS
at Chatterson Point saw a procession of westbound RED-THROATED LOONS
(but no swallows). DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and GREAT BLUE HERONS are
still around in small numbers, most recently two of the former yesterday
and two of the latter today. A hawk that resembled a NORTHERN GOSHAWK
disappeared into the trees near Owen Point before being conclusively
identified. Another was apparently reported in Jobes' Woods some days
earlier. Until today, the only shorebird species of the week was
DUNLIN, but that was eclipsed this morning by a repeat appearance of a
RED PHALAROPE on the beach and a subsequent sighting of it at Owen
Point, possibly the same individual that was seen on November 3 and 4
but not found since then. Strong westerly winds that blew a number of
rare FRANKLIN'S GULLS into southern Ontario have not yet brought any to
Presqu'ile but those gulls are worth watching for. The Park has none of
the agricultural fields that they favour but does have habitat suitable
for the 'WHITE-WINGED" GULLS that are now due. The SNOWY OWL that first
appeared a week ago was found again on three offshore islands on Sunday
and Wednesday.
BELTED KINGFISHERS are not common at this time of year in the Park, but
one flew past the lighthouse on Monday. SNOW BUNTINGS were on Gull
Island and on the beach in good numbers on Sunday . Single
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen on two different days near Owen Point
and on one of those days (Sunday) at Chatterson Point. Good numbers of
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (up to 65) and COMMON GRACKLES (at least 8) doing
the rounds of Bayshore Road feeders were accompanied on Friday by a
RUSTY BLACKBIRD. A small number of HOUSE SPARROWS now makes their home
at Presqu'ile.
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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