With a very few exceptions, the only birds found at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park these days are the expected breeding birds, which have
been present for the past many weeks. Nevertheless, the solstice is
behind us, and there are historical records of early fall migrants at
Presqu'ile in the first few days of July, notably SOLITARY SANDPIPERS,
which are among the first shorebirds to return in the fall and which
might find an ideal habitat in the algae build-up where the edge of the
beach used to be.
One pair of MUTE SWANS has successfully fledged a cygnet in the marsh
despite record high water levels. While very few ducks have been
reported in the past week, unusual sightings of unmated individuals in
summer are not unheard of. In that category are an AMERICAN WIGEON this
week a few kilometres outside the Park and a EURASIAN WIGEON that
lingered from June 23 to July 1 seven years ago. Both COMMON GALLINULE
and AMERICAN COOT have been seen in the marsh this week. An AMERICAN
WOODCOCK was on the main entrance road on Tuesday. BONAPARTE'S GULLS
have been staying surprisingly late this year, with at least two dozen
on the "beach" on Sunday and two near the lighthouse yesterday. Near the
lighthouse on Tuesday was an adult COMMON LOON closely followed for
several hours by a second of that species whose plumage, behaviour, and
perhaps size suggested that it might have been a young bird fledged this
year, despite what seems to be a very early date. GREAT EGRETS are
being seen regularly, and a GREEN HERON and a few BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS have also been seen.
While passerine birds are ubiquitous in summer at Presqu'ile, none of
those reported this week can be considered sufficiently unusual to merit
mention.
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
restrictedat this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial
nesting birds there. Birders are encouraged to record their
observations on the bird sightingsboard provided near the campground
office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Parkand 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.
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
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