Not surprisingly, given the prolonged deep freeze in which Presqu'ile Provincial Park has been immersed for the past week, the tentative signs of spring reported last week have all but vanished, and conditions have reverted to those of mid-winter.
Waterfowl are still the most reliable birds to be found, especially between Langdon Lane, where the Presqu'ile Bay ice margin has been located for the past few days, and the lighthouse. Until February 9, there were 12 Canada Geese and six Tundra Swans, which may still be hiding in some sheltered location or surrounded by Mute Swans, which spend most of these colder days sitting on the ice with their heads and necks buried in their dorsal plumage. The three Canvasbacks that were present at the government dock have also not been seen since that date. Although their numbers are greatly reduced from a week ago, there are still Redheads and Greater Scaup to be found with little difficulty. Two White-winged Scoters can usually be seen just to the right (east) of the Salt Point lighthouse. One or two Red-breasted Mergansers are present on most days. Bald Eagles, at least two immatures and one adult, have provided excitement almost every day for both waterfowl and birders. One adult on the ice near Salt Point was consuming what seemed to be a duck for an extended period on February 11, while a number of interested people on the nearby shore watched with interest. On February 13, two immatures were engaged in mid-air combat over an ailing Mute Swan on an ice floe near the lighthouse. One of them returned an hour later accompanied by an adult. An adult Sharp-shinned Hawk paid a brief visit to a feeder at 186 Bayshore Road on February 7, and two days later another accipiter, either a large Sharp-shinned or a small Cooper's Hawk, was at 83 Bayshore Road. Perhaps the most surprising find of the week was a pair of Northern Flickers that flew over the Park store parking lot on February 11, causing birders to wonder where they have been hiding all winter. On February 7, a Northern Shrike (or more likely two) was seen at widely separated locations, one near Beach 1 and the other near Salt Point. A Brown Creeper has been an infrequent visitor all winter to the tree in front of 186 Bayshore Road, where it was seen most recently on February 7. American Robins and Cedar Waxwings are also being found in the Park fairly regularly but not in any predictable location. In contrast, a Song Sparrow at 83 Bayshore Road and a White-throated Sparrow at 186 Bayshore Road have remained in those respective locations for weeks now. The three Common Grackles that have been wintering on the point alternate between visits to those two addresses. The only Snow Buntings that have been reported in the Park since early January were a small flock on Gull Island on February 11, where they were feeding in apparent oblivion to the deeply sub-zero winds that swept across the island that morning. That may be where the first Horned Larks of the season will show up when the long-awaited thaw arrives. 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. The channel separating Gull Island from the mainland has almost disappeared, making the island almost a peninsula. The channel is only a few metres wide and about 10-15 centimetres deep. However, when the channel between the island and Owen Point is frozen, as it has been recently, the ice may be unsafe to walk on without breaking through. 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. Fred Helleiner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
