The fall bird migration at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has effectively
ground to a halt. The interesting sightings of the past week consist
mainly of birds that should have left by now. Some of them may still
move further south, but others will likely remain to attempt to winter
over, which is a choice that would be facilitated by the continuation of
open water and by the presence of numerous feeders.
TRUMPETER SWANS and TUNDRA SWANS have been much in evidence. On Sunday
a flock of 14 of the latter flew past Gull Tombolo. Eight of that
species and six of the other were in the marsh this morning. Both
yesterday and today, both of those species could be seen from the
campground office viewing deck. On most days the marsh has remained
unfrozen, allowing dabbling ducks, including two GREEN-WINGED TEAL on
Tuesday and a continuing AMERICAN WIGEON, to continue feeding there.
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been seen in small numbers. A RUFFED GROUSE
on the Owen Point trail and ten WILD TURKEYS in the calf pasture were
the only gallinaceous birds this week. On Friday morning a much
confused but otherwise healthy and very late PIED-BILLED GREBE was on
the road beside the Park entrance gate before skittering under a parked
car, where a heroic staff member was able to grab it (while being
vigorously pecked) and take it to a nearby marsh. On Tuesday morning a
flock of eight SANDHILL CRANES flew north-west over the beach, perhaps a
spinoff from a flock of almost fifty that had flown in that direction
high overhead just outside the Park a few minutes earlier. That
sighting was also a record late date for Presqu'ile. For a second
consecutive Sunday, another swarm of birders from far afield made their
way to Gull Tombolo in a successful search for a PURPLE SANDPIPER. At
the same time a DUNLIN was also present, but neither of these birds
could be found on Tuesday. Every day for the past week, BONAPARTE'S
GULLS have been seen, and a LITTLE GULL flew over on Sunday. Last year a
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was photographed at Owen Point on December 10 and
seen nearby on the following day. This morning a late COMMON LOON was
near the lighthouse.
An immature BALD EAGLE soared overhead yesterday morning and another of
that species was also seen. Several observers have seen a ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK on High Bluff Island. A SNOWY OWL was seen on Friday. A very late
NORTHERN FLICKER was seen along Paxton Drive on Monday. A PEREGRINE
FALCON was on High Bluff Island on Sunday. A PURPLE FINCH was at a
feeder on Saturday. The most recent sighting of a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
was at 83 Bayshore Road on December 2. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW spent
Tuesday afternoon at 186 Bayshore Road.
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: [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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