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Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park this week has been highlighted
by
the presence of two rare species, both shorebirds. Although land
birds
have been difficult to find, Indicative of autumn birding conditions was the discovery of
twelve Horned Grebes and one Red-necked Grebe
in Popham Bay on September 1. Also on that date, six Great
Egrets were seen in the marsh. That species has been seen
in various parts of the Park almost every day of the past week, often
flying over. A Tundra Swan that flew past Owen Point on
September 2 may be the same individual as the one seen earlier in the
summer. Other noteworthy waterfowl present during the past week
have included a Wood Duck, three Northern Shovelers
at Owen Point on August 31 and September 4, twoNorthern
Pintails there on September 4, several dozen Teals
of both species (Blue-winged and Green-winged),
five Common Goldeneyes in Popham Bay, and three Common
Mergansers in Presqu'ile Bay. The most interesting raptors of the past week were Bald Eagles
at High Bluff Island and over Owen Point (two
on August 30 and one on the following day), and a Merlin
and a Peregrine Falconharassing the shorebirds. The two rare shorebirds referred to above are a Western Sandpiper
and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
The former has been mingling with the look-alike Semipalmated
Sandpipers frequenting the algae-laden mud flats at Owen Point
every day this month. The latter was seen on September 2 at a
distance on Gull Island and re-appeared (or perhaps a different bird
appeared) on September 4 along the shore of Beach 1 and Beach 2, where
birders were able to obtain close-up views. Among the other
shorebirds at Owen Point, where most can be observed at remarkably
close range, there have been up to seven Red Knots,
three White-rumped Sandpipers, up
to 32 of the normally uncommon Baird's Sandpipers
(September 1), up
to three Stilt Sandpipers, and as many as 21 Short-billed
Dowitchers (on September 2). A Whimbrel flew
over there on September 1 but continued south over the lake without
even slowing down. Judging
from past experience, birders spending time at Owen Point can expect to
be rewarded in coming weeks by the occasional sight of a jaeger.
When access to Gull Island becomes permissible once again in another
week, the unobstructed view to be had from that vantage point can
increase one's chances, as well as offering more shoreline viewing
opportunities for shorebirds. Six Common Nighthawks over the marsh on August 30
is the largest number seen at Presqu'ile this year. The latest
sighting of an Olive-sided Flycatcher this year was on
August 31, but there may still be others passing through. As yet, the pockets of warblers and other small passerines
that one expects to find at this time of year have been disappointingly
few. Patient searching in the still leafy tree-tops can pay off,
as evidenced by several reports this week, including Yellow-rumped,
Bay-breasted, and two Palm
Warblers. Two Orchard Orioles,
not often seen at Prequ'ile in the fall, were at the calf pasture as
recently as September 1. To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from
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