With Lake Ontario water levels slowly dropping, there is abundant
habitat along the shores of Presqu'ile Provincial Park to attract birds
that favour mud.
The most interesting duck of the week was a male CANVASBACK that
appeared near Salt Point on July 20 and 21, perhaps the same individual
that was lingering further west in Presqu'ile Bay into the middle of
May. A pair of BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS was on the Owen Point trail. Again
this week, the abundance of shorebirds around beach 3 has been the main
attraction, with numbers and variety changing day by day. Twelve
species, not counting the American Woodcock seen nearby, have put in
appearances in the past week, the majority being LESSER YELLOWLEGS and
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. Among the others have been half a dozen
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS for the past four days, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the
weekend, up to three each of GREATER YELLOWLEGS and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS,
two STILT SANDPIPERS on Sunday and one on three of the four days since
then, and two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE on
Sunday. We are anxiously awaiting a MARBLED GODWIT, which was present
ten years ago from July 29 to August 2, and the first BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPERS, which show up almost every year as early as July 24. The
high count of BONAPARTE'S GULLS at the beach this week was 52. A COMMON
LOON was off the beach on Sunday. LEAST BITTERN, GREEN HERON, and
multiple GREAT EGRETS have also been seen.
OSPREYS often fish in Presqu'ile Bay and occasionally perch (unintended
pun) on the Salt Point lighthouse. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER has been at
83 Bayshore Road. A family group of three YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS was
at the nature centre. WILLOW FLYCATCHER and ORCHARD ORIOLE are other
species known to summer in the Park and seen this week that may interest
visiting birders. The previously reported NORTHERN PARULA was seen
again yesterday at 94 Bayshore Road.
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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