Partly because of daily visits to Gull Island by one or more birders,
there have been a number of interesting bird sightings at Presqu'ile
Provincial Park during the past week, despite meteorological conditions
(a stagnant high pressure area) that favour birders more than migrant
birds. A testimony to the variety of birds that can be found in the
Park is a remarkable tally of 85 species found on September 20 by one
observer.
Horned Grebes have been in Popham Bay since September 20, but a good
spotting scope is usually needed in order to see them, let alone
identify them.
The most recent sighting of a Great Egret was on September 17. They may
have all departed by now. Both Green Heron and Black-crowned
Night-Heron were still present within the past two days, the former at
the start of the Owen Point trail and the latter on High Bluff Island
(an adult and an immature). On September 17, several observers saw a
Snow Goose among the Canada Geese at the beach, but the Tundra Swan
reported on the same day remains unconfirmed. Among the various ducks
that are now in the Park are a Northern Shoveler on Gull Island, a few
Northern Pintails around Gull Island, a growing raft of Greater Scaup in
Popham Bay, White-winged Scoters that have been seen fairly regularly
off Owen Point and Gull Island, the first Long-tailed Duck of the season
on September 23 in Popham Bay, and all three species of mergansers in
Popham Bay.
An Osprey was flying over Gull Island on September 23. An adult Bald
Eagle remained in the lighthouse vicinity from September 17 to 19. A
Broad-winged Hawk, unusual at Presqu'ile, was seen on September 19 by a
group of birders from the West Humber Naturalists. A Merlin continues
to terrorize the shorebirds around Gull Island. It caught a Sanderling
in mid-air on September 23, but failed to catch a Blue Jay that it was
pursuing when the latter ducked into a beached canoe, "thwarting" the
predator's efforts.
Sixteen species of shorebirds were present this week, including daily
sightings of one or more American Golden-Plovers, a Lesser Yellowlegs on
September 22, a Spotted Sandpiper near the lighthouse on September 21, a
Red Knot on Gull Island on September 23, a White-rumped Sandpiper from
September 20 - 22, Baird's Sandpipers on September 20 (2) and 22, and a
Buff-breasted Sandpiper frequenting a very restricted area on the south
shore of Gull Island, first seen on September 17 and seen almost every
day since, including September 23.
An adult Parasitic Jaeger around Sebastopol Island on September 22 and a
Laughing Gull that spent a few hours on Gull Island on September 21 were
two of the highlights of the week. The latter sighting is one of only a
handful of records of this rare bird for Presqu'ile. The latest
sightings of Caspian and Common Terns were on September 17 and 23,
respectively, the former on Gull Island and the latter in Presqu'ile Bay.
A Whip-poor-will calling near the marsh at dawn on September 20 was
unusual for this time of year. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still
being seen almost every day, though in much reduced numbers. A number
of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers arrived on September 19 and have been seen
on subsequent days. Four species of flycatchers and three species of
vireos were seen at Presqu'ile this week, including Eastern Wood-Pewee,
Least Flycatcher (September 20), Great Crested Flycatcher (September 18
and 19), numerous Blue-headed Vireos, and a Philadelphia Vireo on
September 18. Barn Swallows, Marsh Wrens, and Grey-cheeked Thrushes
have not been commonly seen in the Park in recent weeks but were all
found this week.
On Gull Island, Horned Larks have been present since September 18,
American Pipits are a daily sighting, and a Lapland Longspur was present
on September 20 and 21, the first of the season.
There were still many warblers present up until September 20, but very
few have been seen since then. The next cool front should bring in
large numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers, which have been scarce to date.
White-crowned Sparrows first appeared on September 19 and have been seen
regularly since then. There have been no reports yet of Nelson's
Sharp-tailed Sparrows, but the next week is the period when they often
show up on Gull Island. The vegetation there is unusually dense this
year, which may provide more suitable habitat for that species but will
certainly make it more difficult to find them.
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. Visitors to Gull Island not using a
boat should be prepared to wade through thigh-deep water in which there
is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. It
should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given priority on
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after September 24, Gull
Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not available for
bird watching on those days.
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.
