This week, most of the interest among birders visiting Presqu'ile Provincial Park has been focused on the "natural beach", which extends northward from Owen Point for about a kilometre. That is where southbound migrant shorebirds have been congregating.
The nightly fly-past of various heron/egret species that takes place towards dusk during the latter half of the summer has already begun, and can often be observed from the natural beach, from the marsh boardwalk, or from Bayshore Road. At dusk on July 5, seven Great Egrets, a group of five and a pair, flew westward past a lookout near 18 Bayshore Road. On the previous day, a Green Heron, one of very few seen at Presqu'ile this year, was near that location. There was also a third-hand, unconfirmed report of a Tricolored Heron in the marsh on July 5. It was in July last year that the first observation was made of a Cattle Egret that later became a regular member of the evening fly-past. Among dabbling ducks along the beach and on Gull Island, there have recently been two Gadwalls (July 9), three American Wigeons (July 10), and varying numbers of Green-winged Teal. Two male Lesser Scaup were in Presqu'ile Bay on July 9, and one was at Owen Point on the next day. Four mergansers, probably Common Mergansers, flew past Owen Point on July 10. A Merlin appeared along Bayshore Road on July 5. Other than that, and an owl (likely a Barred Owl) in Jobes' Woods, reports of raptors have been scarce in the Park. The composition of the shorebird flocks between beach 3 and Owen Point seems to change daily. Although Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers are there every day in gradually increasing numbers, there have also been an early Greater Yellowlegs on July 7 and 8, a very early Pectoral Sandpiper on July 9, and two Stilt Sandpipers on July 7 (all of which are earlier than the previous records published in Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park). One of the latter individuals had not yet moulted from its summer breeding plumage, a rare sight at Presqu'ile. A Laughing Gull first spotted on the beach on the evening of July 5 was seen by a number of observers before it disappeared. There are only a handful of previous records for that species in the Park. Ten Bonaparte's Gulls were also there on July 10. Swallows of several species have begun congregating on the wires along Bayshore Road prior to departing, and only a few Purple Martins remain at their nesting boxes. Two Orchard Orioles visited the feeders at 83 Bayshore Road on July 4. 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.
