The past week has been a typical summer week at Presqu'ile Provincial
Park as far as birding is concerned. That is to say that few new
sightings have been reported, while the diversity of bird life continues
to make the Park worth a visit.
Both a Great Egret and a Black-crowned Night-Heron were observed perched
in trees near their nesting sites on High Bluff and Sebastopol Islands,
respectively.
The Trumpeter Swan erroneously identified as a Tundra Swan and reported
as such in last week's report was still present as recently as June 28
in the created wetland in the south-east corner of Brighton (outside the
Park). Alongside the causeway leading to Presqu'ile, a family of Wood
Ducks (five young) was seen on June 29. Three Green-winged Teal were
at the beach on the same date. Also on June 29, a surprisingly late
male Bufflehead was in the marsh.
What was probably the first fall migrant of the year appeared on the
beach on June 29: a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Some early July dates for
that species are mentioned in Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park as
spring migrants. However, other returning shorebirds are being found
elsewhere in eastern Ontario, and can also be expected at Presqu'ile at
this time of year.
Summer is also the time of year when campers arrive in the Park and from
time to time report hearing Barred Owls. This year it was a cottager
who supplied the first such report of the season, at 3 a.m. on June 27,
behind 83 Bayshore Road.
No unusual songbirds have been reported this week.
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.
