Summer birding has definitely set in at Presqu'ile Provincial Park,
where there is no longer any hint of migration. That said, the few
surprises this week can not realistically be attributed to migratory
movements.
From Owen Point one can usually see a few REDHEADS, and yesterday an
out-of-season GREATER SCAUP was also there. It is expected that the
PIED-BILLED GREBES in the marsh will soon have young ones trailing
them. While GREAT EGRETS continue to be visible in the trees on High
Bluff Island, they are increasingly being seen in the marsh and flying
overhead. Three young birds are now in the nest of OSPREYS at Salt
Point. An AMERICAN COOT was seen from a canoe in the marsh. For the
first time since mid-April, the only shorebirds seen in the past week
are resident birds, including breeding PIPING PLOVERS, which now have
three chicks wandering around. Surprisingly, the three adults that had
been present throughout the season were joined by a fourth adult on
Tuesday, which apparently absconded (eloped?) before Wednesday with the
third of the other adults,/i.e./, the one that did not appear to belong
to the breeding pair. A BONAPARTE'S GULL at Owen Point on June 26 was
very late. Over 100 CASPIAN TERNS are usually roosting throughout the
day at Owen Point and on an adjacent gravel bar. The COMMON TERNS on
Gull Island have hatched their young.
A ROCK PIGEON was on the lawn beside the Park store today. No owls have
been reported recently, but from previous years it seems likely that
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are breeding in the Park, and their presence
might be betrayed even in July by scolding chickadees. A MERLIN was seen
on Saturday. Two birders discovered a HOODED WARBLER in Jobes' woods on
Tuesday. The bird could be heard from the trail yesterday. An
out-of-season PINE SISKIN was gorging itself on nyjer seed all afternoon
yesterday at 186 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. Access to the offshore islands is
restricted
at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting
birds there.
There is also a restricted area at beach 2, where the nesting site of
Piping Plovers has been roped off.
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].
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
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