As Presqu'ile Provincial Park gears up for the annual "Warblers and Whimbrels" weekend, the former have arrived in good numbers, along with spectacular showings of many other colourful songbirds. Because the long weekend is somewhat earlier than usual this year, the likelihood that Whimbrels will have arrived before the end of the weekend seems remote. - STOP THE PRESSES!!! - THE REAL NEWS FROM PRESQU'ILE, HOWEVER, CONCERNS NEITHER WARBLERS NOR WHIMBRELS, BUT TWO RARITIES THAT BOTH SHOWED UP IN THE SAME BIRDER'S YARD, 83 BAYSHORE ROAD, THIS AFTERNOON, ONE OF WHICH CALLED THIS WRITER AWAY FROM HIS COMPUTER AFTER THIS REPORT HAD BEEN BEGUN.
For a brief period each spring, thousands of Brant can be seen passing through Presqu'ile. The beginning of this movement took place at noon on May 15, when a flock of 200 flew past the lighthouse. An Osprey on May 10 and a Peregrine Falcon on May 13 were the two most interesting raptors of the week. For almost a week now, a Yellow Rail has been regaling rarity-seekers with its tantalizing ticking from the marsh. Typically, no one has yet seen the bird, but it has been heard calling every day since at least last Saturday (May 10) and perhaps as early as May 9. It is most vocal at dawn and dusk, and was still present this morning (May 15). Both Virginia Rails and Soras have also been heard this week. The shorebird migration is not yet in full swing, but two Black-bellied Plovers on May 11, two Ruddy Turnstones on May 13, and two Least Sandpipers on May 9 were of interest. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was on Sebastopol Point on May 13. UNQUESTIONABLY, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK IS A WHITE-WINGED DOVE, ONE OF VERY FEW RECORDS FROM ONTARIO AND ONLY THE FIRST FOR THE PARK. IT SHOWED UP LATE ON MAY 15 IN THE TALL TREES AND ON THE GROUND AROUND 83 BAYSHORE ROAD, COMING BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO GIVE EXCITED BIRDERS ANOTHER LOOK. (This report is posted at the request of Bill Gilmour, who first saw the bird.) A Black-billed Cuckoo was spotted several times on May 13 and 14 near the Visitor Centre at the lighthouse. Two birders camping in the High Bluff campground were awakened early on May 14 by a Great Horned Owl outside their tent, which deposited some pellets on their picnic table. At a nearby campsite, a Whip-poor-will was calling on May 9 and 10. Among the usual assortment of warblers and vireos, the more interesting ones of the past week were a Yellow-throated Vireo in the woods near "the fingers" on May 11, and the following warblers: several Orange-crowned, Golden-winged, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Wilson's, and Mourning. Just when birders had begun to wonder whether a Carolina Wren would show up again this year, one of these birds was vociferous around the lighthouse during the morning of May 15, the first of the year in the Park. A female Eastern Bluebird put in a brief appearance on May 11. For several days, the woods around the lighthouse and the adjacent forest have been a riot of colour with dozens of Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. As many as six Orchard Orioles were seen on one day, May 10. THE OTHER RARITY WHICH SPENT THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 15 AT 83 BAYSHORE ROAD WAS A SINGING MALE YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. (An earlier attempt to post this sighting to the birding network was unsuccessful.) A late Rusty Blackbird was at the lighthouse on May 14. 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 at this time of year 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. Fred Helleiner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
