The past week at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has seen bird migration take
place at its normal pace for early September. A few surprises have made
it interesting to be out scanning the waters, beaches, and thickets.
Some of them might still be around for the annual Presqu'ile excursion
of the Ontario Field Ornithologists on Sunday, September 9 (8 a.m. at
the lighthouse parking lot).
One of these surprises was an exceptionally early Brant that showed up
at beach 1 and at Owen Point early this morning. Another was a
Trumpeter Swan that has been consorting with a few Mute Swans off Owen
Point. Over 100 of the latter have congregated in Presqu'ile Bay, a
prelude to winter, when that number is likely to double or triple. A
female scaup was in Popham Bay on September 3. Another surprise on that
date was an early Horned Grebe surrounded by algae at the base of Salt
Point. Three Black-crowned Night-Herons were on Sebastopol Island on
September 5, perhaps reconnoitring that former breeding site as a
possibility for next year.
A Turkey Vulture flew over the Park on September 6, a Northern Goshawk
was in Jobes' Woods on September 2, and both Merlins and Peregrine
Falcons have been seen repeatedly, usually around Owen Point.
Depending on such factors as heat haze and the presence or absence of
predatory falcons, shorebirds have either been frustratingly distant and
difficult to identify or fairly cooperative on the algae flats at Owen
Point, Chatterton Point, and Salt Point. After public access to Gull
Island resumes on September 11, much of the frustration recently
experienced by visiting birders should dissipate. Among the more
interesting shorebirds of the past week were two American Golden-Plovers
on September 2 and 3, three Whimbrels on the same two dates, two Red
Knots on September 5, a White-rumped Sandpiper from September 4 to 6,
daily sightings of several Baird's Sandpipers, a Pectoral Sandpiper on
September 5, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on September 1 to 3. A
Lesser Black-backed Gull was at beach 2 on September 5. At least two
Great Black-backed Gulls have been present this week, the first since
mid-July. We are still awaiting our first phalaropes and jaegers of the
season.
A Black-billed Cuckoo has been seen sporadically near the lighthouse. A
Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Tufted Titmouse were reported on the bird
sightings board with no details. If anyone reading this report knows
of the circumstances of either of these reports, especially the latter,
please contact David Bree at 613-475-4324, ext. 225. Another southern
bird of interest is the Carolina Wren that has been in the lighthouse
area, and frequently vocal, almost daily since August 27. A Wood Thrush
was at the lighthouse on September 1, and up to three Brown Thrashers
have been patronizing the feeders at 83 Bayshore Road. Surprisingly, no
American Pipits have yet been reported at Presqu'ile this fall.
Flocks of migrating passerines (especially vireos, warblers, and
tanagers) have been moving through the Park, though one may go for some
time without seeing any. One such flock contained eleven species of
warblers in one small tree. Species of interest have included
Philadelphia Vireos, a Blue-winged Warbler, a Northern Parula, and
increasing numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers, which will soon be
outnumbering all others. One or more Evening Grosbeaks have been
visiting the feeders at 83 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
restricted until after September 10 to prevent disturbance to the
colonial nesting birds there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
R.R. #4,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm