At Presqu'ile Provincial Park the fall bird migration is now
unquestionably under way. That makes birding in the Park more
interesting than it has been in recent weeks, when only resident birds
could be found.
Among the ducks gathered on the flooded beach, GADWALLS, AMERICAN
WIGEONS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and GREEN-WINGED
TEALS have been found there with some regularity. An ailing female
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was on the algae-covered shore on July 8. An adult
COMMON GALLINULE and three small unattended chicks nearby were seen on
July 7. The arrival of some two dozen shorebirds of six species,
excluding the resident ones, has fulfilled the predictions that birders
have been expressing, /i.e./, that the flooding of the beach and the
accompanying build-up of algae would provide excellent shorebird habitat
(without the noxious element of sewage lagoons). Two days ago there
were two GREATER YELLOWLEGS and one LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Yesterday those
numbers had increased to about 6 and 15, respectively, along with a
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, all of which were at
the south end of beach 3. A second SOLITARY SANDPIPER was photographed
on a flooded section of lawn in the day use area. Today, all of those
species and the summering ones were still on the flooded beach, as well
as two LEAST SANDPIPERS and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. Rounding out the
sandpiper family was an AMERICAN WOODCOCK at the Park gate on Tuesday.
Several dozen BONAPARTE'S GULLS are also feeding along the beaches
nearby, raising hopes that some other small gull species may join them.
Again this week, a LEAST BITTERN and a number of GREAT EGRETS have been
seen.
One or two OSPREYS have been making infrequent visits to their nest at
Salt Point, perhaps with the intention of attempting a second brood
after the apparent failure of the first attempt this year. A
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was at 83 Bayshore Road on Saturday. A COMMON
RAVEN was being chased by blackbirds. Among warblers known to be
present in summer but not often reported were two species found this
week: OVENBIRD and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.
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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