An excellent report, Fred. Could it be seen if any of the trumpeter swans were
bearing wing tags?
A WBFN club member brought a tick nymph she found on her property between
Grafton and Cobourg to the meeting to show members and later had the tick nymph
tested. Tick tested positive for Lyme disease. I make it a practice of wearing
tall rubber books when wading through grassy meadows, even if the weather is
hot. I also always wear long legged pants.
Don Davis
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
On Friday, February 9, 2018, 12:11:30 AM EST, Fred Helleiner via ONTBIRDS
<birdalert@ontbirds.ca> wrote:
Winter has not loosened its grip on Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Nor have
there been many signs of spring in the bird life.
Four TRUMPETER SWANS, two adults and two immatures, were off Salt Point
on Tuesday. GREATER SCAUP now outnumber by a large and growing number
all other duck species. A few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS can often be seen
accompanying the other ducks in Presqu'ile Bay, where there is usually
open water in the vicinity of Salt Point. WILD TURKEYS are being seen
regularly, some visiting feeders and others becoming more visible in the
deep snow. The edge of the ice in Presqu'ile Bay provides one of the
better opportunities to view the few BALD EAGLES that remain in that
area. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed this morning flying out of the
Park near the entrance. Twice in the past week a rather dark SNOWY OWL
has been observed from the Salt Point area, most recently sitting atop
the lighthouse there yesterday. There are likely more of that species
on the offshore islands, but few people venture out there these days and
no one has reported any to me. A BARRED OWL posed for four birders this
morning.
At noon today a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was on the feeders at 186
Bayshore Road. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at the calf pasture on the weekend
and it, or another, was near the lighthouse this morning. Five COMMON
RAVENS were seen the other day. An optimist might interpret a singing
PURPLE FINCH at 83 Bayshore Road as a sign of spring.
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. Visitors to Gull Island not using a
boat should be aware that the ice between Owen Point and the islandmay
or may not support the weight of a human. They may also encounter
aslippery coating of ice on the rocks. Ice cleats are recommended.
Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird
sightingsboard provided near the campground office by The Friends of
Presqu'ilePark 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: fhellei...@trentu.ca <mailto: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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_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
Posting guidelines can be found at
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
