In a normal year, the many competent and aspiring birders who visit
Presqu'ile Provincial Park during the annual Waterfowl Festival are able
to find several newly returned spring birds in addition to the
waterfowl. This year, however, persistent northerly winds, while
keeping the winter storm well to the south where it belongs, have also
almost completely stalled the bird migration. With a few exceptions,
the only birds seen in the Park in the past week have been the same
species that have been here for weeks. Once the dam breaks, as expected
next week, there will surely be a massive influx of species that are
normally here by mid-March, as well as perhaps some TREE SWALLOWS and
EASTERN PHOEBES.
There are still hundreds of ducks in Presqu'ile Bay, often favouring the
receding ice margin, but no new species were recorded. The HARLEQUIN
DUCK that was present for a week was last seen on Saturday. RUFFED
GROUSE were seen on two different days, and one was observed drumming.
WILD TURKEYS continue to be seen regularly. The first AMERICAN WOODCOCK
of the spring was flushed from a trail. This afternoon a "white-winged"
gull, either ICELAND GULL or GLAUCOUS GULL, was soaring over Presqu'ile
Bay. The only BALD EAGLE seen in the past week was on Saturday.
COOPER'S HAWKS were seen twice. At least two SNOWY OWLS were present
this week, including one that sat atop a vault toilet in plain view of
passersby. BARRED OWLS have become almost a daily sighting.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are putting in more frequent appearances, and
one PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen. A MERLIN was seen on Friday, a
NORTHERN SHRIKE on Sunday, and a COMMON RAVEN on Saturday. A male
PURPLE FINCH was at a feeder on Monday.
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 sightings
board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park
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. Regular readers of these weekly
reports will note a change in next week's report.
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
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