Hi Ontbirders, In addition to the male Barrow's Goldeneye, I also had an American Bittern on the Marsh Boardwalk, a first-winter Iceland Gull on Sebastopol Pt., plus 8 "winter" Red-throated Loons off Beach 1. The loons are often only possible to see when it is quite calm (early in the morning is often the best time) as they can be some distance out. The goldeneye was with a group of a dozen or so Commons and was most often swimming just offshore from Gull Island in line with duck hunting blind number 16 (left side of island) or up to two binocular fields left of the blind. There are only about four previous park records in spite of substantial waterbird coverage.
Also, this morning an immature White-crowned Sparrow turned up at my feeder in Brighton, even singing occasionally. I am quite certain it didn't winter in my yard but it seems far to early for a real migrant to be here. Perhaps it wintered nearby and was "dislodged" by warm weather? Cheers, Doug McRae P.O. Box 3010 Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0 Directions: Presqu'ile is best reached by taking the Cty. Rd. 30 exit from Hwy. 401, and following it south through the town of Brighton, then follow park signs to Presqu'ile. Note that the main streets in Brighton are about to be paved so they are somewhat dug up and muddy right now.
