With one notable exception, land birds have been rather scarce at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park this week. Compensating for that, however,
has been a wealth of water bird sightings.
A flock of geese flying overhead on November 4 contained five CACKLING
GEESE and three CANADA GEESE. The former were the largest group ever
seen at Presqu'ile, as well as the latest ever in the fall. The past
three days have been TUNDRA SWAN days. Apart from the 52 that were in
the water and on the shore of Popham Bay on Tuesday, flock after flock
have been flying overhead, mostly headed eastward and some very high.
Exact numbers are impossible to tally since so many observers were
watching them, but the total must certainly greatly exceed the estimated
100 that passed over on November 13, 2012, which was the previous high
number in 8 to 11 flocks, far fewer than those seen on Tuesday alone
(perhaps 20? flocks). Not to be outdone though overshadowed by the
swans, ducks have also been plentiful. One observer reported five
NORTHERN SHOVELERS and twelve CANVASBACKS near Sebastopol Island
yesterday. Others were seeing thousands of REDHEADS and GREATER SCAUP,
as well as 20 SURF SCOTERS, 85 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and 20 BLACK
SCOTERS, among others. Two or three RUDDY DUCKS were off the calf
pasture on Tuesday. The tally of 115 HORNED GREBES on that day was
also a rather high count. A RED-NECKED GREBE was off the beach on
Saturday and Sunday. Only three shorebird species were seen this week
(four if one counts the AMERICAN WOODCOCK flushed on November 7): RUDDY
TURNSTONE, SANDERLING, and DUNLIN. The first ICELAND GULL of the season
was on Gull Island on Sunday. Two observers scanned Popham Bay looking
for a possible PACIFIC LOON, which would be a new bird for Presqu'ile.
Although none could be found, they did see a record number of
RED-THROATED LOONS, 50, and an astonishing 275 COMMON LOONS.
Though not as late as the December bird seen two years ago, the GREAT
EGRET seen on November 4 was a late sighting. On Tuesday evening a
LONG-EARED OWL was calling opposite the beach 2 entrance road. Two
PILEATED WOODPECKERS were at the calf pasture. MERLINS and COMMON
RAVENS are still being seen regularly. Three HORNED LARKS flew over
Gull Island. A HERMIT THRUSH and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on November 3
were the most recent sightings of those species. A late GRAY CATBIRD
was at 83 Bayshore Road on November 2. Several dozen SNOW BUNTINGS were
on Gull Island. A male BALTIMORE ORIOLE surprised two observers on the
very late date of November 3.
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 prepared to wade through water that is
knee-deep when it is absolutely calm; this does not take into account
any wave action. There
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and
slippery. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given
priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island,
High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not
available for bird-watching on those days. 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 <mailto:fhellei...@trentu.ca>.
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park
_______________________________________________
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
