From near and far, birders came to Presqu'ile Provincial Park this week
in search of one of the long-awaited specialty birds for which the Park
is noted in November. Some were more successful than others, but a good
variety of birds was available for all to see.
The only unusual swan this week was a TUNDRA SWAN heard flying over in
the thick fog. Although the number of dabbling ducks appears to have
diminished somewhat, exceptions being GADWALLS and two NORTHERN
PINTAILS, diving ducks, especially REDHEADS, are present in huge
numbers, one estimate being 4,000 of that species between Popham Bay and
Presqu'ile Bay on Sunday and another estimate being 3,800 in Popham Bay
alone. A SURF SCOTER, several WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and a BLACK SCOTER
were among the diving ducks. Nine WILD TURKEYS were again seen on
Monday at the calf pasture. On most days a few HORNED GREBES can be
seen with the help of a scope. On Tuesday a rather late BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER and 12 DUNLINS were on Gull Island (which was still an island
then). On Sunday, a lone PURPLE SANDPIPER was in the north-east corner
of Gull Island and two others were on the south shore of the island.
They have not been seen since then, despite the best efforts of
searchers, but might re-appear for Sunday's field trip of the Ontario
Field Ornithologists.. About 500 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were present this
morning, a remarkable increase from a couple of dozen on Tuesday. With
the first ICELAND GULL of the season showing up at Chatterson Point on
Sunday, can GLAUCOUS GULLS or even an IVORY GULL (which once showed up
on November 22) be far behind? A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew past the
lighthouse on Tuesday.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was perched on High Bluff Island this morning. A
BARRED OWL was near Jobes' woods. A late NORTHERN FLICKER was at the
lighthouse this morning. Several PILEATED WOODPECKERS have been seen.
This morning a MERLIN sat in a tree on Sebastopol Island and a few
minutes later a PEREGRINE FALCON was walking along the shore of that
island. On Tuesday on Owen Point, a mixed flock of birds contained
about 40 HORNED LARKS, three LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and half a dozen SNOW
BUNTINGS, while an AMERICAN PIPIT was on Gull Tombolo. Four EVENING
GROSBEAKS paid a brief visit to the feeders at 83 Bayshore Road on
Monday, and the next morning at the same location were a CHIPPING
SPARROW and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. Most passerines are now found only
at feeders, but a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW this morning was an exception.
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 (now a
tombolo) are now able
to walk there without special footwear, but under certain conditions
such as high winds
there may be a few metres of water a few centimetres deep to cross. It
should also
be noted that, because duck hunting is given
priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Owen Point,
Gull Tombolo,
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: fhellei...@trentu.ca <mailto:fhellei...@trentu.ca>.
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
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