This has been an exciting week for birding at Presqu'ile Provincial
Park, as the fall migration ramps up and more and more birders are
showing up. Since tomorrow (July 21) is Healthy Parks Healthy People
day in Ontario Parks, there will be free admission to Presqu'ile and
perhaps even more birders will take advantage of that.
What appears from a distant photograph to have been a NORTHERN PINTAIL
was among the other dabbling ducks on the beach. There was an
incredible report of a COMMON EIDER, with no details offered except the
location. As this species is very rare in southern Ontario and
virtually unknown in summer, this report begs for documentation in the
form of a rare bird report to the Park. At least two BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOOS have been sighted this week. Shorebirds have been foraging all
week in the algae at the end of the beach 3 access road. Among the
eleven non-resident species present in the past week were two that are
of particular interest. Two STILT SANDPIPERS showed up on Monday
morning and were still present yesterday morning. At the same time and
place were two WILSON'S PHALAROPES. Others that had not been seen since
the spring were a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, two SANDERLINGS, and two PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS. Almost all of the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN records for
Presqu'ile Park have been in late July or August, so birders should be
aware of the possibility that history will repeat itself. The number of
GREAT EGRETS that can be seen on their High Bluff Island nests from the
mainland varies daily, but on two occasions this week 12 and 14 were
counted. A GREEN HERON was feeding on the flooded lawn of the day use
area. On another flooded area, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was sitting
on one of the Park roads.
An intriguing sighting was that of a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK flying over the
Park on July 16, a species that is not known to nest anywhere near the
Park and should not yet be in migration mode. The earliest previous
fall record was on August 6, 2002. There were two RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER sightings this week, and one of a MERLIN. Other resident
birds that are not often detected were also observed this week: WILLOW
FLYCATCHER; three BROWN CREEPERS together; WINTER WREN (twice);
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (twice); OVENBIRD. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES are
also resident in the Park, but the sighting of three at the lighthouse
and two at the calf pasture on July 16 may represent newly arrived
migrants rather than individuals that have dispersed from nearby
breeding locations. Surprisingly, a northern breeder and almost
certainly a migrant, a NORTHERN PARULA, was seen on July 13 and heard
again a few days later, eclipsing by two weeks the previous early date.
Two family groups of ORCHARD ORIOLES at the calf pasture on July 16
contained a total of nine individuals.
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: [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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